spalted mycarta :)

You used regular bondo fiberglass resin from Home Depot?? Wow. Does it ever harden and stop stinking? I had that problem trying with it. Are you bunching up the cloth?
 
I've used bondo for that too! I just made small, flat, layered pieces just big enough for a couple of knives. You do have to work fast but the results are pretty good if you can keep your head clear. :eek: :o :D

butcher_block said:
thats what i was tring to go for
got to use more tan in the mix next time


the girls have to be naked so the air bubbles squish out


the epoxy im not telling :D



this batch was bondo fiberglass but you get just 12 min to get it all set up and pressed

still lookin for something better but this is hard and fast
Click to expand...
 
heat
thats seems to be the key the large blocks cure fast real fast maker of fact
i sawed this block up to see i think 4 hours after i layed it upthe smell fades after the reaction finishes and the piece "gasses off"


keep in mind that i am planning to try other epoxys that are more clear and have longer set times (30 min) i have a feeling that the smell is somethig that comes with this type epoxy

i have a kiln so realy i could set the box up and put it in the kiln to add heat the way it realy is done
 
butcher_block said:
heat
thats seems to be the key the large blocks cure fast real fast maker of fact
i sawed this block up to see i think 4 hours after i layed it upthe smell fades after the reaction finishes and the piece "gasses off"
Click to expand...

Exactly. I was concerned about the smell too but that dissapates within a day or so from what I found. I didn't have any problem with it "moving".
 
Hmm i never considered useing plastic filler aka bondo or duraglass like you used to make micarta.

Wonder if a person could takes the cloth and apply the filler to it then roll it up and wrap it with something like wax paper over top and old inner tube to compress it? If so you could get some really cool effects for round handles on say main gaughe like daggers swords etc. Multi collored cloths to get various laminated wood like effects a couple dark colors to get various imitation woods and single colors for handles that would be ccovered with another maaterial. hmmm

As for those blocks thats pretty cool looking with the swirls.
 
Most excellent! How much clamping pressure. A lot, or a little?
 
could not tell you i use a 12 ton HF press
i have gotten better at pressing to the "that should be right " pressure
and jsut to be sure its not bondo bondo its bondo brand fiberglass epoxy that i was usign
its too fast to set and not clear (think muddy water) but it gets hard aas a rock
as said i am goignto try other epoxys not jsut because i want to find some better but i need a bunch of it to make a batch (2 large cans per block)
if im goig too start making this stuff more often in big batches for sets of knives i ll be needing 5 gal at time
 
Fiddleback said:
Most excellent! How much clamping pressure. A lot, or a little?
Click to expand...

My intention was to make some 1/8" thick stuff so my deal was easy. I just used a couple pieces of 3/4" oak about 3"x16". Waxed the surfaces before hand.

1. layed down a coating of bondo
2. layed a layer of blue jean and painted bondo on it with a brush
3. layed a layer of black khaki and painted with a brush.

did that with 5 layers each for a total of 10 layers. layed on another piece of wood and c-clamped just enough to hold it in place.

One of the after effects was that I had a wood grain surface. If you like that sort of thing it would have been cool. I just sanded the pieces smooth for a little folder kit I was putting together. I have to look and see if I have a pic of it to share.

I called the stuff I made "mykhaki" :)
 
Kerry Hampton said:
layed on another piece of wood and c-clamped just enough to hold it in place.
Click to expand...

This is the gist of what I was asking. I think on the blue jean one I did I may have clamped too hard. Still came out servicable, but not quite perfect.
 
Hey Butch, I would like to purchase some of that goodness from ya if you were offering. Just enough for a pair of scales. Let me know. You ever consider experimenting with hot weather BDU's for the camo look? If you needed some for experimentation, I have some old unserviceable pairs of BDU pants that I could send to ya...

Tim
 
Butch,
I agree with Kerry, it's very hard to tell with just a picture. Please put it on a knife and send it out. Since Ohio is closer to you than Indiana just send it to me and save on shipping! I'll make sure it gets to Mr. Hampton right away! I just want to look it over for a bit. You know... "check it for flaws and such":D Email me and I'll send you my address. By the way I think Kerry would like a BIg chef knife to look at. Cpm 154.:D
Matt Doyle
 
Butch

Try the West Systems Epoxy.

Many Boat builders use it. So you know it will stand all types of use and abuse that knifemakers and users can throw at it..

The website...http://www.westsystem.com/.......is full of all types of information on epoxy.

Much longer set times but when cured is odour free and rock hard and transparent.

There are many types of epoxy and glues to use for this type of application. So your idea to experiment will probably give you several types of adhesive compounds for several different types or colors of "Mycarta"

Tony
 
FWIW, the Bondo stuff seems to all be styrene based, so it is probably making a polyester, not an epoxy. It's no wonder it stinks. :barf:
 
well here they are and i did wet them down first to show what they look like better
DSC03236sm.jpg

DSC03237sm.jpg
 
yes you did out do yourself butch. those are amazing. if im ever in your area im going to have to swing by and learn a few tricks from you.
 
First post here, I have to say that is truely amazing. Not going to ask how you did it.. that is your secret. I agree with what has been said I think you have a winner!
 
Absolutely Awesome!!!!!:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
 
Butch...Do you press them in some type of mold or just press and cut to shape?
 
i mix the different colors while in wet up that way its less even color dispersion
tha "mold" is a box with an inside of 10.5 long x 5.5 x 10 inch tall
i press down in to the box (by now i know about how much to fill it so i get 1.5-2 inch thick block to cut down)
 
Thanks. I am going to get a HF press in the next week or two and have been looking for some type of mold/box. Also, do you use waxed paper, saran wrap, or something else?
 
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