What kind of Glue / Epoxy do you use?

J

J S Machine

Joined
Oct 15, 2007
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I am in the process of building my first fixed blade knife and I have been trying to find the best type of glue or epoxy to use for the handles (scales). I also posted a thread the other day regarding gluing eucalyptus - as that is what these particular handles are. I received alot of hints, especially to wipe the backs of them with acetone before gluing them.

So for the question I have, What type of glue or epoxy do you makers use? I notice alot of the knifes I see finished have a black colored epoxy - This is what I would really like to have. It seems to have a really nice contrast to the other materials.

Really the only big selection I have of adhesives is a hardware store like Lowes. I'm gonna head over there in a little bit and see what they have. Most epoxies and glue I have seen in places like this are usually clear, yellowish clear or gray..Again where can I find the black stuff??
 
At the risk of starting a war, Im gonna support Devcon 30 min. I have not had a single failure, personaly I think it's all about surface prep.As for the colors you have to buy dye that you mix with the epoxy. The only place I have found the dye is Texas Knifemaker Supply.
 
I recently switched to acraglas as well and am very pleased.

Google search for "glue wars".

--nathan
 
I just throw a drop or two of model paint, the oil based stuff to tint expoxy.
Chris
 
Someone was saying that the Devcon stuff has a hold life for about 5 years and then you start to have issues.

West System is great !
 
Brownels Acraglass Epoxy, great stuff. It does have a slow cure so be prepared to give it a day to cure.
 
Conap Epoxy works quite well, reasonably inexpensive and comes in black, white and clear. I have never had a problem with it. Works on woods, plastics, horn equally well.
 
I am in the process of getting acraglas . I have used other epoxy and am crossing fingers now Iknow how the handles could fail with poor quality glue.
 
Either works great with premeasured pumps. Tap has a true clear in the medium hardner and resin. Polyester tint will color epoxy resin very well. A little goes a long way.
If you need max strength,Westsystems has an additive called high strength. It can be used to drill and tap in to a winch pad to hold a 60lb three speed winch that will be working in heavy shear on line that exceedes 10,000 lbs
A typical boat would be forty feet at 25000 lbs . Ultra lights would be 12000 lbs with 50% of that keel.The ulta lights are like a forty foot surf board down hill and making some 25 mile hours in open ocen racing.

Floyd
 
I've been using G2 24 hour epoxy for wood. It cures hard but in thin sections like if you drip it on a flexible surface and let it harden, it does flex somewhat before breaking.

I also started using Loctite 480 black 'toughened' super glue for synthetics like neoprene and micarta.
 
Yeah, I use small syringes and mix in the 4:1 ratio. Rinse the syringes out and store them with the kit.

--nathan
 
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