Plasti-Dip

C

cliff355

Joined
Apr 19, 2003
Messages
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Sometimes it seems like the Village Sarki's rationale for needlenose chapes on HI scabbards is that if a khuk breaks in the heat of conflict, you can always grab the scabbard and prong the enemy with it. However, this has never been one of my salient concerns and occasionally these chapes can be quite irritating.

Removing them is one option, but several of mine are scarred from impacts which would have damaged the scabbard had the chape not been in place.

The other day I spied a forgotton can of "Plasti-Dip" in the garage, which is the stuff used to coat pliers handles, etc. with a non-slip rubber grip. I dipped a couple of my sharpest chapes in it a few times and hung the scabbards up to dry overnight. The result was a nice, blunt rubber tip - black in color and textured to be a close match to buffalo hide. The tips don't look out of place at all and are now very safe to the touch.

Just thought some might be interested in this solution if they have been recently gored by their scabbards.
 
For the more fashion-conscious, it comes in vibrant red, blue, and yellow, too.
 
That's a great idea. I usually pull the chape off and glob some epoxy on there to strengthen the tip area of the scabbard. I'll have to give Plasti-dip a try. Do you think it would work as a non-slip handle coating on a khukuri? Would you be able to remove it if you didn't like it?
--Josh
 
I've found that if you whack the chape firmly with a light hammer a few times, like directly onto the pointy tip, the laha (I'm assuming that is what they used) will shatter and the chape will pop off.

On the chape from the scabbard my BAS I then used a Demel to cut the 'wings' of the chape and the pointy tip off. I then pounded in the cut ends of the tip, closing the end up and rounding it off. I followed with some light sanding work to finish it. I have a small, portable anvil that comes in handy for small metal working.

I then reattached the modified chape to the scabbard with 3M Automotive Weather Stripping Adhesive.

The 3M stuff is awesome for glueing all sorts of stuff and it isn't as brittle and rigid as epoxy. For instance, I've actually permanently repaired torn 'flip flop' sandals with the 3M adhesive, something which hardly anything else can do and still have a lasting repair. The 3M Automotive Weather Stripping Adhesive blows 'Shoe Goo' out of the water.

--------------------
 
Mrostov:

Where do you get this 3M Automotive Weather Stripping Adhesive? I'm hoping it is at a big "chain" type outfit or I'm probably out of luck. 3M is based here in MN, which usually means I would have to drive at least as far as Nebraska to get any of their stuff.

Josh:

I think you can paint Plasti-dip on just about anything, but there are no instructions for removal. It adheres like a really tough version of dried chewing gum and I'd hate to try removing it from a khuk handle.
 
I usually buy it at an automotive parts store like NAPA, Checker, or Auto Zone.
 
"The 3M Automotive Weather Stripping Adhesive blows 'Shoe Goo' out of the water"

Considering that Eclectic Product's Shoe Goo (and clamping with vise-grips) is the only thing that has kept my soles intact for the last three years, I'll check it out next time I get a 'flat tire' :)
 
In my box of glue tubes, 3M weatherstripping adhesive is right in there. It grabs and holds. Just don't try to move the part the next day.:)
 
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