Working with Carbon Fiber?

[gull wing]

I am thinking of putting carbon fiber scales on my next folder, but don't know much about it. Where can I get information on it? I know it's hard to work and has health issues.

 

[Stag & Steel]

Don't breath the dust! It is hard on bandsaw blades, I usually cut really rough, as little as I have to before taking it to the Coote with a coarse belt to profile and shape. It is not too hard on drills though. It is a great handle material, use it but be careful.
Jim

 

[gull wing]

Thanks!
Can you mill it ok, without fracturing it?

 

[howiesatwork]

Yes.
High speeds, sharp cutters with a positive rake, light passes, and water cooling.

 

[T Blade]

Alright! I picked up some carbon fiber at the last NECKA HI over at IG's. I was going to use cocabola on a blade I'm just finishing, but this thread reminded me of the carbon scales I have , I think I will use those. Thanks for the reminder .

Larry T

 

[rlinger]

I have made two knives with carbon fiber scales. I will not make another. To save myself I found I had to drag my equipment out of doors and even at that wore a dust mask (double) and placed a high speed fan behind my grinding. My advise: pure and true, forget it unless you have superb shop dust evacuation and a professional respirator. Other than that just forget it if you want to live a long time. That's my thoughts about working carbon fiber and I am usually pretty bold otherwise but carbon fiber is beyond the line I draw not to cross. All things I can think of having to do with knife making are risky and can (probably does in time) hurt you. Carbon fiber dust can kill you. I try to treat as I would asbestos; not at all.

RL

 

[T Blade]

I have made two knives with carbon fiber scales. I will not make another. To save myself I found I had to drag my equipment out of doors and even at that wore a dust mask (double) and placed a high speed fan behind my grinding. My advise: pure and true, forget it unless you have superb shop dust evacuation and a professional respirator. Other than that just forget it if you want to live a long time. That's my thoughts about working carbon fiber and I am usually pretty bold otherwise but carbon fiber is beyond the line I draw not to cross. All things I can think of having to do with knife making are risky and can (probably does in time) hurt you. Carbon fiber dust can kill you. I try to treat as I would asbestos; not at all.

RL

Interesting, though I do use a high quality repirator while grinding, I have no dust collecting system, maybe I'll forget the Carbon Fiber and go back to the cocabola for the scales on the knife.

Larry T