Rubber scales

JTknives

JTknives

Joined
Jun 11, 2006
Messages
8,651
I have a big batch of kitchen knives coming up and thy need rubber (Neoprene) scales. I have the rubber that's not the problem, my question is attaching them. I have always used superglue and never had any issue. Did some searching on the forum over the last few days and it seams like from the posts I could find that people also pin them. This is where another question comes in. My thought has always been that the pins take the shear load and the glue or expoxy takes the tension load. I know lots of people use loveless, sex and corby bolts which archive both the shear and tension strength. On hard scales pins are a MUST as dropping can cause the glue to shear. But on rubber a drop does not transfer the energy shock like a hard scale would. This being said what's the use of pins, it's not like thy lock the scales in place because the rubber around the pin is well rubber and can move. Also I find that because the pins don't compress you can feel them which depending on size and placement can feel not so great. I did a fillet knife with rubber scales and just used super glue, man thy locked on. It's out being tested by a good buddy but so far it's rock solid.

Thanks guys
 
I think the main concern is that just about all adhesives will weaken and fail over time as they age and degrade, and the pins, rivets, bolts, etc... offer a much more permanent solution.
 
That I get and understand, but if the glue fails on rubber scales the pins are not a permanent sulution. even if the scales did not fall off becaus there are pins I would still consider that handle has failed and needs to be repaired. I think what I'm getting at is I don't think pins in rubber is going to extend the life of rubber scales. The glue is going to age no mater what and the pins are not going to hold the rubber tight enough on its own if the glue has failed to be considered still fine. I can see it preventing it from pealing up when the rubber lifts enough to pull on a pin but at this point I would consider the scales have failed and need fixing if it even gets close to this. Now on a hard scale knife I have seen them pop off with a drop where with pins nothing happens.
 
Some guys use super glue with horse stall mat/neoprene IIRC.
 
I use a black rubber epoxy, or dyed G-flex.

I also use black phenolic (garolite) pins. The pins will add shear strength.
 
The draw back is it is brown when dried so take that into account.
 
Maybe barbed hidden pins and undersized holes for them to seat into? That would solve the shear problem, and the "you can feel pins" problem...
 
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I use rtv, the kind without the vinegar smell. and neoprene O ring material that is about two sizes larger than the pin hole diameter. apply the rtv to the the scales and taper the o ring material so that you can get it started through the holes. pull it through then apply rtv to the oring material, stretch the pin material so that it will slide through the handle then relax so that it swells into the hole.it takes awhile for the rtv to completely dry but holds securely when dry.
 
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