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#1
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Bright white!?!?
I am in desperate need of a supplier for a bright white material for a (one only) knife handle (concealed tang slabs, a la Terry Primos) must be synthetic & workable like micarta.
Please can anybody help? __________________ colin@britishblades.com
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#2
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Go to the local cabinet shops and find some white corian. It is really white and works well.
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#3
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working with corian
Bob,
When I saw the thread, I also thought white corian. I haven't worked with the stuff, but another local maker said that it could warp if you weren't careful with overheating. I've also noted that some corian kitchen benchtops seem to scuff quite easily. I'm just a littel concerned putting a less than durable material on the handle of a working knife. Do you know anything about its working properties ? There seems to be a great variety of colours and some look quite good. Thanks. __________________ JASON CUTTER BLADEART Jason Cutter @ Dr Kwong Yeang Knifemaker, Australia (Matthew 10.16) |
#4
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Thanks guys,
Jim, I've looked at the pearl & it may be alright (prob keep it in reserve) Bob, I've checked out the Corian & if the colour is right (looks like one of them is pretty bright) I'll go with it. Jason, If I go with the Corian, I'll be sure to let you know how it works & if it will hold up to use. Thanks again guys __________________ colin@britishblades.com
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#5
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Corian is pretty durable, on the same scale as some woods. Same design cautions apply, avoid sharp corners, these can chip unless slightly rounded. Work it just like wood.
I have never had a corian handle fail in service, have broken a couple trying to drive in some very tight rivets. Come to think of it I have broken a lot more wood scales the same way before I got a # drill just a little oversize for my rivet stock. __________________ george tichbourne www.tichbourneknives.com sales@tichbourneknives.com |
#6
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corian
Thanks guys for your comments about corian. I think perhaps my expectations were a bit high. All the info I had was entirely second or third-hand anyway. Might be worth a try after all. I'm amazed at the colours and patterns available.
Cheers. __________________ JASON CUTTER BLADEART Jason Cutter @ Dr Kwong Yeang Knifemaker, Australia (Matthew 10.16) |
#7
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My dad was a kitchen builder and I've worked with Corian quite a bit.
Corian is a metylmetacrylate from Dupont. (It started as a waste product and got worked into usable plates and marketed for kitchen worktops(in several shades of white and clouded). It was such a succes that it grew into a whole line of colours and variants) It is dense and very hygienic and relatively heavy. It's not tough, so all corners need to be rounded (sharp scratches and textures avoided) and as mentioned, holes for pins and thong-hole liners can not be tight.Stress must be avoided! I use it for kitchen knives(classy!). It gets polished thru use. If you'd rather use something tougher like Micarta or G10 or G11 in white but you can't find it, you can make a similar laminate yourself. Use a thin white cotton fabric, cut to desired size, and laminate with a 2-component epoxy for a number of layers until the piece is thick enough.( you can find the right epoxy at suppliers for auto-body-shops or boat-shops f.e.) Lighter fabric gives a better laminate than heavier canvas. This can be done in every colour of course. It worked fine on several of my knives. Jan:cool: |
#8
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Thanks Jan,
I've actually plumped for a polyester, but your home made material sounds great, I may give it a try sometime __________________ colin@britishblades.com
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#9
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A polyester works fine too (look at car-body's f.e.) but has a few
drawbacks compared to epoxy . Most polyesters have a strong tendency to yellow under the influence of UV rays wich could be a pity for a grip that started white. They are not as strong,but my first knives had polyester-impregnated wrapped handles and they still work fine after 15 years. Jan |
#10
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Usually companies that offer a polyester product, will also offer you the option of acrylic in the same dimensions, for a few $ more of course. The acrylic wont turn yellow on you.
__________________ Mike |
#11
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Thanks guys,
The polyester I've gone for is the faux MoP, if I can't get bright, I'll get spankley (yes, it's my new word, copyright KC '02 ) __________________ colin@britishblades.com
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#12
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bright white
A material that I have used is old cue balls. Real tough stuff. I go to a place that services the bar scene for pool tables. When the balls are chipped they collect and dispoe of them. I have asked them to save then and they give then to me for free. Some have metal shavings, or metal in the ball and are not good. The painted ones are great. This may by to late but works great for a knife handle. When you get ready to cut, grind two sides flat to fit in vice. I also turn them in my metal lathe. Hope this helps.
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#13
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Thanks Dan,
No not too late, I'm not overly impressed with the polyester (for this particular knife anyway), still looking. __________________ colin@britishblades.com
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#14
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We can also add white pigment to the two-component resins
(be it epoxy or polyester)when we make our own laminate. It might help to get the colour better and keep it more stabil so it won't yellow as much with age .As always follow the manufacturer's recommandations. I'm gonna test it in the near future.I'll let you know. Jan |
#15
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Sheffield Supply offers white linen (not paper) Micarta. Looks and works just like the other colors, but is pure white. I've used it on a few knives in the past.
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knife, knives |
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