These four following pictures are part of a process similar to the one already shown on my previous thread Making "Damascus" micarta, but in this case, what changes are both the measure of the clothings and the quantity.

Here we have 60 pieces of clothing in a 2 x10" measure, half in black and half in brown.

The idea here is to make a fatty torsioned piece, so I tied it up to a wooden flat piece -covered with plastic film to prevent glueing agains it. This will prevent the torsioned clothings to "escape" when I light press it.

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images5/dammicDOS1_big.jpg

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images5/dammicDOS2_big.jpg

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images5/dammicDOS3_big.jpg

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images5/dammicDOS4_big.jpg


With this, I'll be able to use this piece for a hidden tang knife, and the advantage is that you get to see the patterns on all sides of the piece, even on the top and back.


Here's how it looks on the finished knife:

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images5/dammicDOS5_big.jpg

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images5/dammicDOS6_big.jpg

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images5/dammicDOS7_big.jpg

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images5/dammicDOS8_big.jpg

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images5/dammicDOS9_big.jpg

http://www.aescustomknives.com.ar/images5/dammicDOS10_big.jpg



To answer some common questions, I use 4 tons of pressure, if you don't have access to a hydraulic press, you can use a mecanical one, kinda like the one Moe used on poor Curly.

The resin I use is the one sold to repair boats, that it's used on glassfiber materials (you can also ass glassfiber to the clothings if you'd like to)

If you'd like to use wood, it'd have to be around half a milimeter thickness, but you can't torsionate it, just bend it (there is an example/tutorial on my website about it)

Thanks for looking!

Ariel

Thanks for the great little tutorial!

For anyone who hasn't checked it out yet, there are more great photos on Ariel's web site!

OK! That just did it!!!! I have several pairs of very old Levi's that are going to be turned into handles. Half of them will be bleached and the other half left as is. I don't know what knife I will use them on but I know I have to try this.

Thanks for posting the pics and tutorial. Very inspiring!

nice results --keep posting i really enjoy your work,and tutorials thanks bb

Folks, in case someone is wondering about the epoxy issue, I use a protective cream that you apply like mosturizing cream 5 minutes before working, so it dries up before handling the epoxy, Once the job is finished, I remove this cream washing vigorously with soap and water.

It works much better than the gloves, as I have more control and the latex doesn't get glued between fingers.

It's the same protective cream many mechanics use to prevent solvents and gas to get inside their skin.

Regards,

Ariel

Awesome dudes. I will have to try it. I dont have access to a press. I might make sumtin'' up for the vise......Jeff

I first thought it would be more trouble than it's worth to make this stuff, with Micarta and bi-colored G10 so inexpensive, but then I thought about rag micarta and it's rarity, virtualy impossible to purchase. I bought a knife from Francine, who etches blades, with a rag micarta handle. It looks like small patches of varied colors of fabric wadded up and processed like the above. Now that would be worth while and definitely doable. I think rag micarta has been unavailable so long most makers have never seen it, but it is beautiful.
bill foote

I made up some from old levi's. I bleached half the strips and left the other half as is. After epoxying the layers I wrapped them in wax paper, put them between to 1/2" steel plates and then secured them in my 5" vise. I used some pipe to get the vise cranked as tight as possible. It was left for 36 hours and I cut a piece off and ground it to 400 and it turned out great.

Moral of the story, you do not need a press, just a regular bench vise and a little muscle. The epoxy did take longer to set up since it is very cool in my shop.