Shade Phenolics Micarta Impressions

Barker

Barker

Joined
Dec 24, 2005
Messages
1,159
I received a sample of the bluck /purple speckled micarta from Brian yesterday. Todd of Shadetree Phenolics made this micarta.

My initial impression are that it is very soft compared to the micarta I normally use. I don't know if the epoxy is not cured well or if it is the yarn Todd used. Tonight, I will cut it and try to sand out the pits on the grinder to see if I can get a smooth surface. I am wary of this though because it is so soft. I won't be surprised if it gums up. It is like if I didn't put enough hardener in a two part expoxy.

The way the material feels right now doesn't make me too comfortable putting it on a knife.

Todd, I'm not bashing you in any way so please don't take the review personally. I'm just being very upfront with based on my limited experience. I'm not sure what type of epoxy you used or how much pressure you used in your press. I was really looking forward to this working out.

Thanks and I will post more Monday after I try to work with it.

-John
 
After looking at the piece I received, I was thinking that soaking super glue into the out layer just before finish sanding might help with that.

Ickie
 
Good to see Todd getting some feedback:thumbup: It is a process my friend and this will help that process run its course faster.
Looking forward to seeing some grinding results :)
B~
 
I recieved a piece also and I have to agree with Barker. The design is amazing, but it is very soft and still very fabricy (new word I just made up). I will see how well I can work it also and give fedback on that also.
 
I cut some yesterday and started grinding it down with 120 grit. I'm seeing a lot of pits and it has a fuzzy texture. More observations to come.
-John
 
Barker said:
I received a sample of the bluck /purple speckled micarta from Brian yesterday. Todd of Shadetree Phenolics made this micarta.

My initial impression are that it is very soft compared to the micarta I normally use. I don't know if the epoxy is not cured well or if it is the yarn Todd used. Tonight, I will cut it and try to sand out the pits on the grinder to see if I can get a smooth surface. I am wary of this though because it is so soft. I won't be surprised if it gums up. It is like if I didn't put enough hardener in a two part expoxy.

The way the material feels right now doesn't make me too comfortable putting it on a knife.

Todd, I'm not bashing you in any way so please don't take the review personally. I'm just being very upfront with based on my limited experience. I'm not sure what type of epoxy you used or how much pressure you used in your press. I was really looking forward to this working out.

Thanks and I will post more Monday after I try to work with it.

-John
Click to expand...

First off, please excuse my delay in getting back with you.

Thanks! I need honest feedback. Please do be honest. I must say that I think I jumped the gun a bit when I decided to pass some of this stuff out. I think the pieces I have made since I made those are markedly better that the ones I sent to Brian. I think a little bit of an apology :o is in order, but we can all learn a bit from this process. If we can consider these pre-production proof of concept samples, I'd feel a little better.

Specifically in this case, I think it was the epoxy. I checked my notes and this was an epoxy ("Power Poxy" thouroughly NOT recomended) that I had trouble with- I think it started to set up before I got a good compression in the mold. Also, I have found that a heat cure improves the curing and hardness. (oven on warm setting until my wife objected, now I'm using an old fridge with a lightbulb in it.) This step has been added to the process, as well as an improved compression device and a reliable, quality (and expensive) epoxy.

I can't blame the epoxy ratios, because this one was 1:1, so too hard for me to screw that up.:)

I should mention that these samples are 1-1/4 wide, the current parts being made are 1-3/4 wide. Lengths are about 5-1/4 and I am still dialing in thicknesses. I have a disc grinder now and am using it to check quality and aesthectics, as well as to true and square them a bit.

I'm hoping to start selling soon, but I am experiencing some difficulties and setbacks (computer meltdowns, injuries, work, real life, etc.) but for now, production is at a standstill until my sore thumb heals (a week or two), but I do have some finished parts to post when my home computer gets fixed.

I should say that if anyone got a sample that they cannot use due to technical reasons (as opposed to aesthethtics) I would like to discuss getting a newer sample to you, and allowing me to redeem myself. Barker, I would think that this spongy sample would qualify, please email or PM me.
 
to your still trudging along Todd!! pass some samples out and keep on keepin' on brother!!
 
jmar595 said:
I recieved a piece also and I have to agree with Barker. The design is amazing, but it is very soft and still very fabricy (new word I just made up). I will see how well I can work it also and give fedback on that also.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback, please see my post to Barker. If you cannot use it let me know.

BTW, which color did you get?
 
learning cure can be steep and the key is your working on climbing it

i have changed a few things while making my handle stuffs too so i understand
 
JCaswell said:
You may have some of this info, but you may want to check out some of these links for laminating epoxy:

http://www.westsystem.com/
http://www.fiberlay.com/
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/cm/epoxy.html
http://www.fibreglast.com/category.php?categorycode=5&trksrc=HelpfulProd

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Why thank you kind sir! I think I have visited most of those and I had actually ordered a book from fiberglast early in the week.

BTW, I am impressed with the knife animation video. Was that done in Solidworks, or ?
 
JCaswell said:
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.
The animation was done in SolidWorks. The music in composed in Apple's "Garage Band", and the editing in 'IMovie."
Click to expand...

Very cool. I teach Mechanical Desktop/ Inventor, which is Autodesks' (AutoCAD) competition for Soliworks, which is why I ask.
 
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