Paint an FRN handle & clip?

duller said:
Hi

Will an FRN handle hold a basic canned spray paint?

It might, but probably not well. It's paint after all. Prone to flaking and chipping.

How about the clip? Does the metal require any special prep before a spritz?

It's just paint. I'd recommend stripping the clip of any coating beforehand though.

I have read that it is best if non-trained people do NOT dis-assemble their Spydercoes as they are difficult to re-assemble. Does this advice hold for removing the handles and painting them?

Depends on the knife. Most likely not though. Fixed blades, sure. Anything else, probably not. The screws that hold the handles also hold the knife together, so taking the scales off would in effect take the knife apart.

Can a handle be simply unscrewed and re-mounted WITHOUT bothering internal components?

See above.
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Hope I covered everything there.

What model were you thinking of painting?
 
I'd first try using something like duracoat on the clip and FRN. If that doesn't work, I'd as Kiah (CustomKydex subform) to try some of his kydex dye on it. Might work, can't hurt. :)
 
Josh K said:
I'd first try using something like duracoat on the clip and FRN. If that doesn't work, I'd as Kiah (CustomKydex subform) to try some of his kydex dye on it. Might work, can't hurt. :)
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No need for anything that strong on FRN. I'm fairly certain it would dent the handle actually. I've seen people dye their FRN handles with RIT from wally world and some hot water. Of course starting color will determine effectiveness. You wouldn't evn need to take it down. Worth a shot if you have a white handle. You may get a color you don't want on something darker though.

As for paint, Krylon Fusion might work. I've heard that it sticks to certain things really well. I've never had much luck with it myself, but it may be the materials I tried it on. A shot of adhesion promoter first could help.
 
kiahs said:
No need for anything that strong on FRN. I'm fairly certain it would dent the handle actually. I've seen people dye their FRN handles with RIT from wally world and some hot water. Of course starting color will determine effectiveness. You wouldn't evn need to take it down. Worth a shot if you have a white handle. You may get a color you don't want on something darker though.

As for paint, Krylon Fusion might work. I've heard that it sticks to certain things really well. I've never had much luck with it myself, but it may be the materials I tried it on. A shot of adhesion promoter first could help.
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I guess it can hurt. :o
 
Josh K said:
I guess it can hurt. :o
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It's some harsh stuff. I could try it though. I've got a nice little yellow handled Salt in the shop I could test it on. You do like pink right? :confused::p:D
 
If you are going to use a FRN handled knife and it's painted, well I think the paint would soon wear through unevenly and show the original color in spots and look awful.
After all the FRN is the same color through-out. I personally think it would make a big mess.
 
Thanks, everyone.

I am giving up on the idea of painting the FRN.
 
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duller said:
At least until Spyderco devlops an FRN to match khaki and denim?

Does anyone else ever dis-like advertising their EDC? Why is urban camo never considered?
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I believe that was the idea behind the Smurf blue G-10 on the Yojimbo and Dodo. Of course the chromed clip on the Yojimbo sorta stuck out anyway, the wire on the Dodo somewhat less.
 
There was talk on the Spyderco forums of Navy blue G10 or denim. Another one of those things on the "back burner" I suppose.
 
duller said:
Does anyone else ever dis-like advertising their EDC? Why is urban camo never considered?
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I don't care who knows I'm carrying, I'm not doing anything wrong and no one's ever said anything. As far as I'm concerned the clip is part of the knife and should add something to the aesthetic of the handle, something that wire clips and low ride clips tend to not do.

My favorite Spyderco clip is the highly polished clip on the SS Cricket, and I'm trying to get my hands on a highly polished clip for my Cento-4 (to match the shiny bug on the other side of the handle).

But if you want to hide your knife, go for it. I just hope the knife companies don't start to think that everyone wants or needs low ride clips and needs their knife to blend in.

You could try Plasti-dip for the handles. It should coat well and stay on pretty well, but I don't know how well it would stand up to rubbing against your pants when taking the knife in and out of your pocket (and if you didn't like it, it just peels off). Actually, you're gonna have trouble with that with any coating you put on the handle. You could see if someone would make custom G-10 scales for you.
 
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