Thin Textured G10 (1/8'') Tips

J. Keeton

J. Keeton

Joined
Nov 15, 2005
Messages
1,218
Anyone have any good tips for working with 1/8'' thick textured G10? I'm not happy how it came out on my last knife.
  1. The edges "frayed" bad when trying to hand contour the top and bottom of the scales. I got the handle up to 320 then hit the edges and flats with some 600.
  2. When drilling through the scales the bit blew up the edges of the exit holes. Any tips with this procedure? I generally stack the blade then both scales under it; clamp it; then drill though all 3 at once.

Am I the only one with issues dealing with 1/8 textured G10?





Thanks for any advice!
JK
 
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There is a layer protecting the texture, that's what frayed and blew out on your holes.
You need to peel that layer off to reveal the texture.
 
I am definitely no expert when it comes to g-10 but this is what has worked for me.

1. The peel ply does fray, but the g-10 underneath won't very much. Also, don't touch the flats... keep the peel-able cover on until the handle is completely finished

2. To keep the blowout minimal, clamp a piece of wood to the scale and drill that way. Also, like I said above, keep the peel-able cover on.

The knife and sheath look very nice! :thumbsup:

ETA: It does look like you left the peel ply on as Big Chris mentioned.
 
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Big Chris said:
There is a layer protecting the texture, that's what frayed and blew out on your holes.
You need to peel that layer off to reveal the texture.
Click to expand...

Hey Big Chris Big Chris , I emailed Texas Knifemaker's Supply and they said that there shouldn't be a film layer on the scales I ordered. It would make sense though... (big fan of your work, thanks for the reply)
 
J. Keeton said:
Hey Big Chris Big Chris , I emailed Texas Knifemaker's Supply and they said that there shouldn't be a film layer on the scales I ordered. It would make sense though... (big fan of your work, thanks for the reply)
Click to expand...
Ok. For future reference, they wouldn't be called 'textured' g-10 then. The textured has a film that shows the texture after removing.
 
I like to pull the protective sheet off before shaping the scales. Pull until there is about 1/8" over the profile line.

Then cut, sand like normal. When ready take some needle nose pliers and pull off the protective layer flap that is left.

It is a bear to try to remove once is it profiled to shape if you do not leave a flap.
 
J. Keeton said:
Hey Big Chris Big Chris , I emailed Texas Knifemaker's Supply and they said that there shouldn't be a film layer on the scales I ordered. It would make sense though... (big fan of your work, thanks for the reply)
Click to expand...

Really don't know what to say then.
I couldn't find "textured G10" on their website.
Alpha Knife Supply is the only place I have bought textured G10 from.
It has a protective film that needs to be peeled off to real the texture.
Your pictures look to me like they have a similar protective membrane on the surface, especially at the edges and around the holes in your second picture.
Does the material have a slight color change right there at the surface?
Take an ice pick, a scribe, a knife tip, or something and scrape at the edge of the top layer like your trying to peel it off.
If it does not come off, you don't have textured G10 and at worst you will need to refinish where you were scraping.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj-lUGshemr/?taken-by=big_chris_custom_knives
Above is my most recent use of textured G10 from Alpha, and that it what all mine has finished like.
Smooth around the edges where it is sanded and contoured, and textured on the flats where you don't contour or you will grind off the texturing.
Good Luck.
 
Well damn... mystery solved. I looked back through my receipts. I actually ordered this textured G-10 though TruGrit... and it does have a film... and they do have that clearly spelled out in their description. I wasn't paying attention.

Thanks all for the tips and suggestions. Sorry for the confusion.

...I'll never do that again... A slightly painful lesson. I don't think I'll be able to get the remaining film off now and the frayed holes are permanent. Live and learn.
 
I always countersink and screw textured g10 scales that way you do not have to worry about cleaning up pins or corbys and messing up the texture.
Also I agree that stuff is a bear to pull apart....
 
I went back to the grinder and carefully took the handle down until the film was removed. Then slowly rounded the corners without hitting the acid washed spine. Thanks for all the tips above. I won't make that mistake again!

 
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