Phenolic Pins - I still love ising them

Fiddleback

Fiddleback

Knifemaker
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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Are any of y'all using phenolic pins? I love how they finish to the level of the material without getting proud. Lots of variation too. If you use black canvas pins with black canvas micarta, the pins disapear completely too. I have made over 1000 knives with them since the first half of 2010, and have never had one failed handle to fix.
 
I gotta try them.

Have you tried any of the clear ones? I don't know if they look good to my eye.
 
I think they look really cool, though I've never used them. I've thought for a while that using Micarta pins with cross cut Micarta scales would be cool, as the direction of the canvas would be the same in the scales and pins, and would totally disappear. I've wondered myself if they could be used for the two spring pins in slipjoint construction. That could look cool too....
 
Fiddleback said:
Are any of y'all using phenolic pins? I love how they finish to the level of the material without getting proud. Lots of variation too. If you use black canvas pins with black canvas micarta, the pins disapear completely too. I have made over 1000 knives with them since the first half of 2010, and have never had one failed handle to fix.
Click to expand...

I've actually been meaning to try them but have not seen any reasonably available stock in my regular supply sites... if you don't mind me asking, where do you finds yours?
 
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Haven't tried the phenolic, but I do wish I could find the light refracting rods ("fiber optic") that I used to see at gun shows. Guys used to buy them in 3 foot lengths, cut them into 4 inch sections, heat them to bend them, then sell them for a few bucks as a no-battery bore light. They came in clear, but also came in chartreuse and day-glo orange. The thin ones could be used for sight beads, but the ones used for the bore lights were 1/4 inch.
 
I haven't used any, Andy, but I'm glad you do. I can't speak to how they hold up over time yet - my Fiddleback is too new, but I can't even feel the difference between the pin and the wood handle. I couldn't get anywhere near that level of perfection on the couple projects I've tried. BTW, I've seen pics of several of your "invisible pins" build, and must say, I prefer the complementary/contrasting color variations every single time. I think they seem more "real" to me.
 
Ive never used the clear ones. Dan has had good luck with them tho.

I get mine from McMaster-Carr, and AKS. Salem, at MC, search for Garolite rods. Alpha carries black and white.
 
I had a question by PM about the way McMaster-Carr clalssifies their garolite and thought I'd translate their page here too. Again, Garolite is the industrial generic terminology for phenolics. This includes micarta and g10's. The page below has descriptions of what they stock, and below that I've translated it for you.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#garolite-rods/=l7wb21

Here is what that means in knifemaker language:

Garolite XX is paper micarta
Garolite CE is canvas micarta
Garolite LE is linen micarta
All of the ones with G-# nomenclature are g10 with different heat properties, and FR4 is just flame retardant g10.

FR4 is usually jade color. If you get it clad with copper on both sides, then remove the waste copper with a very small cnc mill, or etchant, you get a circuit board. Thats what I used to do when I was an engineer.
 
Fiddleback said:
below that I've translated it for you.
Here is what that means in knifemaker language:

Garolite XX is paper micarta
Garolite CE is canvas micarta
Garolite LE is linen micarta
All of the ones with G-# nomenclature are g10 with different heat properties, and FR4 is just flame retardant g10.

FR4 is usually jade color.
Click to expand...

aah!! Thank you, Andy!!
 
No problem guys. Remember also that Mcmaster-carr sells carbon fiber sheets bars rods and tubes.
 
NStricker said:
Haven't tried the phenolic, but I do wish I could find the light refracting rods ("fiber optic") that I used to see at gun shows. Guys used to buy them in 3 foot lengths, cut them into 4 inch sections, heat them to bend them, then sell them for a few bucks as a no-battery bore light. They came in clear, but also came in chartreuse and day-glo orange. The thin ones could be used for sight beads, but the ones used for the bore lights were 1/4 inch.
Click to expand...


Are you looking for something like this? I have not found any fiber optic but I have ben playing with lexan type stuff

View attachment 327350
 
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