What is 'Peel-ply" Carbon fiber?

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bearcut

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Sep 3, 2006
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I have a Caly-3CF on order and I see it has peel ply CF scales.
What is ‘peel-ply’?
What is the difference, other than visual, between that, and the other CF scales Spyderco uses?

BTW, I still like the Phoenix I got last month.
 
It is the best of both worlds- looks good, like carbon fiber, and grips better then G10(It is not slick feeling. I think the "grip" can be tweaked, some peel-ply is more agreesive feeling then others).
 
Peel-ply is awesome, that's all you need to know...

Just kidding, I didn't experience peel-ply CF until I got a Superhawk, as much as I love G-10 any type of textured CF (particularly peel-ply) is now my new favorite scale material...

If you search the forums or go on Spyderco's forum I believe Deacon or Wouter just posted an extremely detailed review of every single CF scale ever put out by Spyderco w/ beautifully detailed pics... it's worth a look.
 
I thought the Superhawk & Stretch's CF was peel-ply while the Caly's was not (grippy vs. "smooth").
 
THG said:
I thought the Superhawk & Stretch's CF was peel-ply while the Caly's was not (grippy vs. "smooth").
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That's true.

CF scales are available on the Sage, T-Mag, CF Caly3 (ZDP/420 blade)

Peel-ply CF are available on BG-42 and S90V Militarys, and the SuperHawk.

I've got a T-Mag, Caly3 (in CF), a S90V Millie, and a SuperHawk. I love the grippyness of the peel-ply finish, but the smooth cf is still a wonderful handle material. A bit easier on the pocket for dressier occasions.
 
My view on peel ply CF is:
CF is expensive, I want to see the beautiful pattern. Yes, the texture surface is great, but G10 can be textured also, I have a lot of them and only one in CF.
All of my other CF knives show their beauty every day:D.
 
My G10 military feels more grippy than my s90v/carbon fiber. Both are grippy enough though.
 
IIRC, 'Peel Ply' refers to the final resin coat which is covered with a textured plastic film. When the resin has set up, the plastic film is pealed off, hence the name.
 
A.P.F. said:
IIRC, 'Peel Ply' refers to the final resin coat which is covered with a textured plastic film. When the resin has set up, the plastic film is pealed off, hence the name.
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Thank you! I was wondering if I was going to get 10 posts down with no real answers to the original question! :D

So it's poured on and "checkered" in the drying process, as opposed to being tooled that way. Very cool!
 
As the original thread starter, I’m still not sure I have gotten the answer!

Is peel-ply a clear, textured ‘coating’ over CF scales? Or, is it a CF ‘tape’?

I guess I ought to go to the Spyderco forum and look for the answer there.
 
A.P.F. gave you essentially the correct answer. Carbon fiber is a laminate of woven fibers and resin. Instead of finishing with a smooth layer of resin impregnated fiber, a textured plastic film is used. Instead of being left there, that layer is peeled off, leaving behind the surface texture.

I have seen pictures of a CF Military that the owner sanded off the texture and polished the scales to make them smooth CF.

chanwahyaoh, yes the Stretch II is peel-ply CF as well.
 
Roger that.

That's what a person suggested over at the Spyderco forum as well.

Thank you.
 
Peel ply is is placed on carbon fiber parts that have no mold on that side of the carbon fiber, it is a sheet of material like nylon cloth that has breathability so that when the resin is vacuumed out it can go thru the small holes in the peel ply rather than traveling all the way to the end of the part thru all the crevices of the carbon itself, also and more importantly peel ply is strong enough to survive being yanked from the carbon product, after the resin has cured, while at the same time not permanently bonding to the peel ply or plastic bagging if there were no peel ply. But in the world of knives peel ply carbon fiber simply is talking about the texture of the final product. I am sure companies love the peel ply method because it reduces finishing costs on knives significantly as opposed to a mold for each handle or sanding down and finishing peel ply surfaces.
 
I love CF, but not that fond of the peel-ply version. It seems way too similar to G10 without the cost savings inherent in G10. When I get CF, I'm looking for that woven, smooth look and feel - which can still have some texture and grip in its own right. I have the YO2, Manix XL, and Native 5 with peel-ply and it just doesn't seem worth it to me. When I compare my Manix XL or my Native 5 with their G10 counterparts, the difference is negligible IMO. :)
 
While it's interesting to know the mechanics of how peel-ply CF and G-10 are created, the other very important point here is that Spyderco does not now and has never offered a peel-ply CF version of the Caly 3. There are CF version of both and the Caly 3.5, but they now, and have always, used a smooth surfaced matte CF, never peel-ply. OTOH, there was a peel-ply G-10 Caly 3, and there is currently a peel ply G-10 Caly 3.5.

So, if the knife the OP has on order is a Caly 3, and the scale surface actually has a peel-ply texture, then the scales are almost certainly G-10 unless someone had one customized with peel-ply CF scales.
 
I'm sure it was just an oversight on the original poster but I certainly hope he's got his knife by now.
 
rycen said:
I'm sure it was just an oversight on the original poster but I certainly hope he's got his knife by now.
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Lol I just saw this was from 09 after reading your comment. If he hasn't by now then he may want to call wherever he ordered from
 
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