Some questions....

BaliDude

BaliDude

Joined
Nov 15, 2000
Messages
186
First of all, I'd like to change my username, but do I have to create a new profile for that?

Second, I'd like to know what would be the strongest composite material (G-10, carbonfiber, kevlar...) to make handles for a balisong. I thought about bolting three pieces of composite together to get a handle, but I don't know if that would hold up to the forces generated by flipping the bali.
 
Yes, you would have to create a new profile if you wanted a different name.

I don't know about your second question.

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Cameron

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"Look deep, deep inside and you will find a place of anger, vengeance, and brutality. Go there. It is your last hope to conquer the truly wicked."
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A few of my balisongs
My Photopoint album
 
I would imagine that carbon fiber would be the best bet on this one, although I have heard of all G-10 balisongs. The carbon fiber just seems to be more rigid so it might hold up better. My mechanics of materials professor would disagree on the carbon fiber though, he would suggest a graphite frame with a fancy concrete composite stuff used to make the handles.

I had thought about doing this before when I was considering some customs, then I got to thinking about the fact that I don't like the 42 as well as the 45 because of the handle weight, so if I get lighter handles, I probably would be disappointed.
 
I wouldn't want composite material for the handles in the first place for a few reasons. One reason is I believe the handles would be so light that the knife would always be off balance. Secondly, composite material FEEL cheap to the touch. I know they are not cheap but they feel that way. Composite materials can also splinter and crack much easier when abuse than steel or Ti will. Under stress steel bends to extemes before it cracks where as composites bend slightly then shatter.
 
Well, the fact that steel bends where a composite breaks is due simply to the fact that steel is more ductile than most of the composites. You have to consider the elastic strength of the steel vs. the elastic strength of the composite material, if it even has one. After the elastic point has been reached, the material is stressed past a useable limit and will be deformed reguardless of whether or not it breaks.

I don't think that a properly finished composite necessarily feels cheap. To me zytel feels cheap though, but textured G-10 and certain finishes on CF feel better than a SS/Ti/Al handle.
 
Well, it was just a thought, and I do like the feel of textured G-10 too, and the look of carbon fiber (don't know how it feels though). I don't think the weight would be a problem, and maybe I could perforate the blade to get some balance. I'll have to experiment a bit I guess.
 
You could always experiment with a composite blade as well as a handle. Might not be the best user, but you could possibly make an entire nonmetallic balisong, would be badass, but I don't know what you would do for pins.

I guess you could have some custom maker try to work with you on it, and you could do a blade similar to the beretta knives that I have seen around that are really lightweight.
 
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