make ur own??

[wrathlord]

this Idea just came to me as I read the thread on colored carbon fiber.I used to work for a manufacturer of Orthotics.The resin we used to make them would be great to make handles with.My idea is to use it to encase things,so you can make a clay form in the shape of your handle,and pour in some resin,put what you want in it,let it set,pour in some more to cover it.In theory you can use fibreglass,use glass paint to dye it the color you want.Then seal it in the resin.The result would be sort of g10,with the weave of carbon.Maybe????

[mikec]

I've been thinking something along the same line...mill out a divit in your handle material and insert a pin or medal and cover over with some clear drying resin or epoxie.

[Jan Dox]

Making your own is not very difficult. Laminating almost any fiber or cloth with epoxy makes good handle materials. Because we don't have autoclaves the density and quality may be a bit less than the professional's Micarta, G10, G11, carbonfiber or Kevlar panels.But we can tailor the product to get the desired effect,thickness etc., at reasonable cost. Adding pigments and/or fillers to the resin is no problem:In the thread "brite white" it came up earlier.
Experimenting with molds or milling cutouts and filling them with
special items and resins must lead to "exclusive"grips .
When finishing a grip like that you should be able to polish the surface to get a clear view of the item or the structure of the fiber.
An option is to coat the surface with a clear coat of resin (after light sanding) like we do on cordwrapped handles.
(results depend on type of resin and manufacturer, allways make test objects ).I work with epoxies and polyesters but there are other suitable resins.

Jan

[mikec]

When finishing a grip like that you should be able to polish the surface to get a clear view of the item or the structure of the fiber.

That's always been one of my conserns is shaping a grip out of a clear material but making sure it stays or returns to a clear state...so you believe that is possible?

That would help in the situation of another post that I started over Colored Carbon Fiber. If you go down to aiiifish's post, I believe the matial is clear with a single layer of carbon fiber cloth on it and I was conserned about shapping it and it remaining clear to see the fiber (but I haven't heard back from them eather so...).

[Jan Dox]

I found the website of my Belgian supplier and it gives a lead to
where and what to look for in your area:
http://www.vosschemie.be


Jan

[Jan Dox]

I didn't check (or expect a question)before I added my last post, so here my answer: They have clear polyesters specifically formulated for imbedding stuff like insects for ex., and those blocks are clear and every detail of the object visible..(I' ve seen the stuff in the showroom of my supplier, but haven't really done it myself)
I believe the blocks can be polished in the way cars are polished. I'm sure local suppliers can help you.For shaping them :deep scratches are the main difficulty.The material is relatively soft and prone to overheating when sanding or buffing.I've had that problem with a panel of black carbonfiber-epoxy-laminate that got scratched . I haven't tried to polish it or other grips made of laminates since;(used satin finish or coated with epoxy).The right equipment should help.

Jan

P.S.
Maybe on the net : search under "polyesters" or "Epoxy" for local specialists.

[Jan Dox]

I cleaned the Carbonfiber panel with a "fast cutting rubbing compound" specially formulated for the paint industry (cars, furniture etc) Applied by hand it saved the panel for me.

Jan

[Hibuke]

Hi,

I'm a newbie here, so please bear with me...

Originally posted by Jan Dox


*Snipping*

An option is to coat the surface with a clear coat of resin (after light sanding) like we do on cordwrapped handles.
(results depend on type of resin and manufacturer, allways make test objects ).I work with epoxies and polyesters but there are other suitable resins.

Jan

Okie, I've been into customising ready-made fixed blades and am getting into "diving into the deep end" by doing things entirely by myself, as much as I can. I've always loved the Japanese-Inspired Cord wrapped handles and am actually quite good at Tsuka-Maki (Japanese Handle Wrapping) and am wondering as to what resin/epoxy to use. I've talked to many builders, artists and modelmakers who use epoxies and resins, but they all have no idea as to what I should use to coat the finished cord wrap in order to impregnate it.

What should I use? Standard epoxy seems to be too thick!






Much Thanks

[Jan Dox]

It's not the epoxy glue you use but the epoxy or polyester 2component resins used for laminating glasfiber (f.e. carbody-repair) or carbon and aramid-fiber (kevlar).They are much thinner and really get soaked up by the fibres.
The polyesters may be available in Car-part-shops but are less resistant to chemicals and yellowing as they age than epoxies.
Here some are more UV resistent than others.My first knives were polyester-impregnated and one of them sees daily use in the kitchen with only some yellowing at the side (handle is black cottoncord)and still dishwasher proof after 16 years (gets only accidentally in the DW).

Jan

Check the thread "handle wrapping materials" also here in the supply Centre (my last post on 03.09.2003)

[canyonman]

I also work with polyesters, we build boats, and I would recomend that if you are considering using just the resin with very little reinforcement, as a handle material, than stick with epoxy. Polyester without a fair amount of reinforcement tends to be brittle and prone to stress cracks.

[Jan Dox]

Both epoxy and polyester need the reinforcements very badly.
even a outer coating (on a handle) that is too thick, could crack or splinter when falling on the floor or getting struck.
Use it as Micarta "rough"or "polished" or sealed with a thin coat of the resin, or even use the tougher epoxies specially developed for surface coats.

Jan

[Frank J Warner]

I have successfully treated cord-wrapped handles using the two-part resin made for coating the wraps on fishing rods. The stuff cures super hard and levels nicely with no bubbles yet remains slightly flexible. You can buy it at any good bait & tackle shop.

-FJW