Materials ideas to replace Trac Tec with

[oregonknifenerd]

Hope I didn't get on Thomas' nerves with my question about cutting vinyl decals.. anyway, to put my cutter to use I've decided to cut inserts for my various knives with Trac Tec.
What would be some cool things? I'm going to run by Rockler or Woodcraft and then cut some veneer to make a burl wood insert. I'm also planning to order some silver and some blue Texalium like the SG10/ANN Blurs had. I think the silver Storm II I have would look good with some blue Texalium.

Someone made a blue Blur with silver Texalium long ago but said they were using a Dremel for shaping. I think I can pull the inserts out, scan them on a flatbed scanner, trace them with my software and cut to precise fit so that I don't have to do manual fitting with my Dremel.

Can anyone else think of some thin materials that could be cut with a small blade? e.g. rigid carbon fiber sheet is out but the thin adhesive backed stuff like Texalium should be cuttable.

 

[amnesia997]

Would 0.25mm Ultra Thin CF be too thick?

 

[oregonknifenerd]

It isn't just the thickness of CF it is the strength. I think it would just snap the blade if it could even puncture it to start the cut. Texalium is like a fiberglass composite with aluminum or colored
aluminum on the outer fibers and they say it can be cut with an exacto knife. I might be able to score CF and snap it but I've never worked with thin CF sheets so I don't know for sure.

 

[Willieboy]

Decal Grip makes pistol grip wraps and they also sell patches of this rubberized material that could be used for any purpose. There is also a wood veneer material that might be useful. This stuff come in a role and is self-adhesive.

 

[shandrydan1]

I think the blue Texalium would look good on the Storm II as well as the Salvo.

Also, would this be possible to do for the Leek as well, just the whole side since it has no inserts?

 

[Leek_Freak]

Also, would this be possible to do for the Leek as well, just the whole side since it has no inserts?

Just drill out some metal and slap it on

 

[oregonknifenerd]

I think the blue Texalium would look good on the Storm II as well as the Salvo.

Also, would this be possible to do for the Leek as well, just the whole side since it has no inserts?

I'm trying to find a damascus salvo but haven't got a salvo of any sort yet. I only have the Storm II because they had them at Cabela's and I'll always buy
a Kershaw I don't yet own whenever I'm out shopping and see it. Cabela's had a serrated Salvo but I don't like knives with serrations that I can't sharpen.
I'm partial to the Blur and it's aluminum handles that are easily anodized any color. Storm and Salvo are steel. Not many knives are aluminum though because
it is lightweight ignorant people equate with cheap and the anodizing may get dinged up unless it is hard anodized which requires super chilled baths and strong chemicals AFAIK.

You could do the Leek full sides with something I believe but not with what my cutter can handle. I've made new scales for a number of knives though. I've made several nice
wood scales for the OD-1 so I imagine it could be done with a Leek also. The biggest issue is milling out the inside to fit the flipper or speedsafe or what have you as it can be tricky
to get it just right. The OD-1 has to be milled for the flipper and with the shape it makes a very nice gentleman type knife with the wood scales.

 

[ZYA_LTR]

Try making some kind of replacement scales for the "Needs Work" the factory plastic scales leave a little bit to be desired when it comes to fitment. Mine overhang the edges and bother me. Some kind of wood or composite would be sweet.

 

[oregonknifenerd]

Try making some kind of replacement scales for the "Needs Work" the factory plastic scales leave a little bit to be desired when it comes to fitment. Mine overhang the edges and bother me. Some kind of wood or composite would be sweet.

Phillip Dobson did one. He has more skills than I have, and probably a lot more tools as well.
His work is what inspired me to start trying this stuff. He's from Butte MT and I used to live in MT
and spent a lot of time in Butte with a now ex-gf from Butte.