What advantage does G-10 have over Micarta?

Senator

Senator

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Are there any advantages for a maker to use G-10 instead of micarta for handles? I've heard that G-10 is potentially much more harmful to a maker's health than micarta is. With that in mind, I'd think that there would have to be some real advantages to using it - whether it's cost or something else.

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Kelly

SenatorsPlace.com
AKTI Member #A000289

Deo Vindice


 
Kelly-

Micarta is strong. A resin of paper, cloth, or canvas mixed in a "resinous" binder.

G10 is stronger. The composite used is a woven "E" glass with some type of super resin. Its that glass that gets in your lungs and kills ya.

G11 is even stronger still. (higher glass content?)

It machines well too.
Micarta has been around for a long time. Since before WW2. It was originally used in capactitors, IIRC.

I think the layered grain of Micarta is prettier, but the texture and strength of G10 makes it a good choice for a knife handle.

It sounds cool too -"G10"-, reminds me of some kind of secret organization ...
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While I like micarta a lot, G-10 seems to have more forms. It can be grippy like some Spydercos to smooth as micarta like the Kershaw Ken Onion series.
 
Micararta shouldn't be ground without a mask either, so which would be worse if ground without protection is a moot issue. Other very hazardous materials include stag, desert ironwood, snakewood ... most knifemakers use protection for grinding all handle materials; although some are less hazardous than others there isn't really any kind of dust you want to fill up your lungs with. The best way is to attach a vacuum fitting to your grinder and wear a dust mask too.

-Cougar Allen :{)
 
G-10 is slightly stronger than Micarta, but I don't feel it's a big enough difference to matter except in roles such as unsupported scales for large folders. G-10 won't take quite as fine a polish as linen Micarta - the layers are more visible. Both may be bead-blasted for texture.

I think G-10 is something of a fad. Most uses don't take advantage of its greater strength. In looks, finish, workability, and composition it is quite like linen Micarta - it simply substitutes glass for fiber in the weave. Both are phenolic resins and both are fairly nasty to work, but the G-10 can cause greater lung damage and skin/eye irritation due to the glass content. I generally use the materials interchangeably, but prefer the linen Micarta when I feel strength is not critical (e.g. fixed-blade slab handles).

-Drew
 
G-10 is more rigid (non flexible) than micarta. I am with Corduroy on liking the Linen Micarta. You can really get some great patterns with the micarta. G-10 would be a better choice for a folder. I wear a respirator when I grind both. The G-10 dust though is slightly irritant to my skin. Not enough to cause redness, but will definitely make me itchy. It is also a really fine dust. I can smell both it and micarta through a quality respirator. G-10 dust will also float in the air more than micarta, making it easier for it to get around goggles, and to your eyes. I have been a micarta person for a long time, but I am starting to offer both in various colors. Biggest advantage I can see with G-10 is not that it is better than micarta, but that it allows for another option.

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Lynn Griffith
Available knives now listed on
My website
GriffithKN@aol.com

 
Hmmm... I guess when I order my next (first) custom fixed blade, I'll be asking for micarta instead of G-10. I really like the G-10. But, if you can bead-blast micarta so it gets that grippy feel, and it is slightly less hazardous for the maker to work, why make it hard on him/her? Although, I love the look of that contoured blue G-10, Lynn...
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It's just a ****ing staple!
Outlaw_Dogboy, Pax River NAS, Republik of Marilundt

 
How well does the two hold up against chemicals such as gasoline and DEET?
 
On the other hand linen Micarta makes for a much better handle when used in a wet environment. The ends of the linen sticking out of the resin provide for a better grip even when wet. They can soak up flamable fluids but if you don't work at a gas station, that should be a very remote occurence.
 
If you're dealing with a knife with a fully supported tang, Micarta is fine. That's what Harald used on The Outsider, you can see here that the tang is the main structural element:

outscan3.jpg


These Micarta grips have been fine for me.

Jim
 
Personly, I find G10 to have less character than micarta when finished, and it tends to feel slicker than micarta in any finish, satin or buffed. I don't bead blast though, so I can't comment on any difference between the materials in that finish.

It just feels heavy and cold to me. More so than micarta, but much less than corian.

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Matt Harildstad
Knifemaker
www.planet.eon.net/~matth
matth@planet.eon.net

 
I am planning on using green g-10 for my knives, to avoid the porosity of Micarta.

When used around blood, chemicals or other contaminating substances I want the knife to be as impervious as possible.

Also the sea-foam green color will make it not tactical looking. As a matter of fact, I am looking forward to the pansy color, it will put people on the wrong track.

I am going to make up for the smoothness through topography and ergonomics.

Anyone know if g-10 comes in other colors?

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Marion David Poff aka Eye
Coeur D'Alene, ID
mdpoff@hotmail.com
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Meadows/1770

"We will either find a way, or make one." Hannibal, 210 B.C.


 
the only source i know that carries colored G-10 is www.halperntitanium.com they list black, tan, red, amber and blue. the colors only come in 1/8" sheet though. if anyone knows of more colors or sources, please post them. marion, where did you get the green? i'd love to get some.
 
Concerning the fire issue. Micarta is easily flame resistant enough. I tried to light the handle on my Battle Mistress on fire with a lighter and could just blacken it. The duration and intensity of flame required to ignite the handle slabs would probably take the temper out of the blade.

-Cliff
 
Marion,
I have red and tan G10 on order. I will let you know what I think of it when I get it. I am kind of excited about seeing the tan. I think I might like to use the tan G10 with a Desert Camo Concealex sheath. I think that would be a really cool combination.

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Lynn Griffith
Available knives now listed on
My website
GriffithKN@aol.com

 
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