- Joined
- Feb 4, 1999
- Messages
- 5,786
I just finished doing a kit knife with some carbon fiber I had (Thanks, Kit!) and wanted to relay the experience.
This stuff is every bit as nasty as people have been saying. The dust is very fine, light, gets into the air bigtime, and sticks to everything. I wore gloves, a dust mask, and goggles, and did about 75% of the work outdoors, but the little I did do in my shop area made a royal mess. The danger is the one thing that will keep me from using CF again until I get a better setup (better dust collection, etc).
Other than that, the carbon fibr I had was a joy to work with! It doesn't scorch or burn like wood, so I could use my high speed Dremel stuff to shape it and rough the shape. After the scales were fluch with the tang, I used files and sandpaper to finish the shape and smooth everything out. Carbon fiber was easier to work than most woods I've used, and there was no danger of scorching it, like I said. It was much easier than Micarta to cut and shape, too.
Carbon fiber is essentially epoxy with fibers in it, so that's probably why it is so easy to work. The pattern of the weaves isn't in perfect symmetry in the material itself, so as you sand it down you reveal really neat patterns. Part of the fun was calling it quits when I found a surface I liked, although it's sort of a crap shoot. I shaped with a file, then used 220, 320, 400, then finally 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper. I don't have buffing equipment, so I finished with the stainless steel brush attachment on the Dremel, and this shined it up a bit. The scales are VERY grippy with this finish, and I am pleased to say they look beautiful. I see no need to seal the surface to prevent splintering, either, which is nice.
In short , I am VERY happy with the way CF looks and works, but the danger is too high for me to use again with my current setup. Thanks, Kit, for sending that small sample to me, and when I get pics this'll be the first place I post them.
By the way, the blade was made from 1095 by our own Ed Wilson, so I think he'll like the pics, too!
------------------
My Custom Kydex Sheath page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/knifehome.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
On Two Wheels
This stuff is every bit as nasty as people have been saying. The dust is very fine, light, gets into the air bigtime, and sticks to everything. I wore gloves, a dust mask, and goggles, and did about 75% of the work outdoors, but the little I did do in my shop area made a royal mess. The danger is the one thing that will keep me from using CF again until I get a better setup (better dust collection, etc).
Other than that, the carbon fibr I had was a joy to work with! It doesn't scorch or burn like wood, so I could use my high speed Dremel stuff to shape it and rough the shape. After the scales were fluch with the tang, I used files and sandpaper to finish the shape and smooth everything out. Carbon fiber was easier to work than most woods I've used, and there was no danger of scorching it, like I said. It was much easier than Micarta to cut and shape, too.
Carbon fiber is essentially epoxy with fibers in it, so that's probably why it is so easy to work. The pattern of the weaves isn't in perfect symmetry in the material itself, so as you sand it down you reveal really neat patterns. Part of the fun was calling it quits when I found a surface I liked, although it's sort of a crap shoot. I shaped with a file, then used 220, 320, 400, then finally 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper. I don't have buffing equipment, so I finished with the stainless steel brush attachment on the Dremel, and this shined it up a bit. The scales are VERY grippy with this finish, and I am pleased to say they look beautiful. I see no need to seal the surface to prevent splintering, either, which is nice.
In short , I am VERY happy with the way CF looks and works, but the danger is too high for me to use again with my current setup. Thanks, Kit, for sending that small sample to me, and when I get pics this'll be the first place I post them.
By the way, the blade was made from 1095 by our own Ed Wilson, so I think he'll like the pics, too!
------------------
My Custom Kydex Sheath page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/knifehome.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
On Two Wheels