what handle material do you recommend?

J

Juramentado

Joined
Aug 23, 2003
Messages
185
The shop I've been working with has been using hardwoods and lately we're considering moving on to synthetic materials for machetes and fixed blade knives. What material do you recommend that's suitable for hard use, easy to work with and doesn't require molds and other specialized equipment. The machetes require thicker handles and I'm not sure what will work well with them.
 
I love the neoprene handles I have on one of my big choppers. It is soft and pliable, much like the rubber on boot soles. The only thing that is different in terms of working with it is that you can't use a hard-drying epoxy as it flexes. I attached it with the black flexible glue they use on car moldings.

Other than that, you can't go wrong with micarta of any variety, or G10.
 
Micarta or G10 are very stable and tough materials. The only thing required is to wear a GOOD respirator because it throws off some pretty volatile fumes when ground. Micarta is basically layers of paper, linen, or canvas with phenolic resin pulled through it at pressure and vacuum. G10 is a glass fiber material and throws off little fiber-glass like particles when ground.

These materials don't shrink or expand to any significant extent and they're impervious to just about any chemical you throw at 'em.

--nathan
 
micarta and g10 are nice. I like how they come flat, are tough as nails, have good grip and look nice.
 
Micarta's good stuff and been around forever. G-10's my current favorite: bombproof, can go either slick-smooth of highly textured. In either case watch out for dust and always wear your respirator if you're going to work it by sanding...
 
can I get G10 in thick pieces? I thought you can only get them in thin slabs, like those for folding knives?

does G10 enit fumes when ground? and what abrasive do you need to work on this?
 
Juramentado said:
can I get G10 in thick pieces? I thought you can only get them in thin slabs, like those for folding knives?

does G10 enit fumes when ground? and what abrasive do you need to work on this?
Click to expand...

should be able to get either g10 or micarta at Scheffield's in very thick peices....i agree with others....although i have a love for micarta right now.....g10 has some killer dust too......i use wet/dry sand paper after slack belt grinding up to whatever finish you want.....it smooths out to a mirror finish if you want
 
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