Skeletonized handle question

[jdm61]

I am making some prototypes for my first crack at full tangs knives designed for public consumption and I am going with the skeletonized tang to save some weight and make for better. I will be using micarta scales. Do you guys fill up the voids with epoxy for an epoxy/micarta bond or just put the glue on the steel?

 

[mike nelson]

both are correct i fill the voids with epoxy gives a better sense of insurance

 

[zachtateknives]

I just coat the slabs. My questions are, wouldnt filling all those holes you created with adhesive sorta defeat the purpose of putting all those holes in the tang, and does it make it any stronger filling it with adhesive???

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

Steel is 7 times heavier than epoxy. The weight increase when filling the holes is not very much and the quality of the bond is better. I don't fill the holes completely, but I add enough that it bridges in places.

 

[SBuzek]

Steel is 7 times heavier than epoxy. The weight increase when filling the holes is not very much and the quality of the bond is better. I don't fill the holes completely, but I add enough that it bridges in places.

+1 Nathan:thumbup:
Stan

 

[jll346]

Steel is 7 times heavier than epoxy. The weight increase when filling the holes is not very much and the quality of the bond is better. I don't fill the holes completely, but I add enough that it bridges in places.

Completely agree with Nathan.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Epoxy bonds to micarta extremely well. If the epoxy is a structural type ( like T-88) and bridges from scale to scale in a skeletonized handle construction, there isn't even a need for rivets ( but they are still a good feature). As Nathan said, epoxy and steel are far different weights, and the change in balance is still noticeable. Virtually every handle I make with two scales has some sort of bridge between them, be it skeletonized or swiss cheese drilled.