What plastic for solid standoff/spacer

[alexkuzn]

Guys,

what plastics are good for spacers? I also wonder if iron desert wood is dimensionally stable enough for a spacer?

Thanks,
Alex

[Don Robinson]

If you're referring to a linerlock or framelock, any solid handle material, including wood. Iron wood would be good.

[Don Robinson]

Understand this, Alex. If you use wood, your screws must go all the way thru the first liner, thru the backspacer, and tapped into the opposite side liner.

[David Broadwell]

Alex,

I once used fossil walrus ivory for a full length back spacer on a folding dagger. It looked pretty, but I didn't trust it even though it had been stabilized. The real spacers were two small stainless steel tubes and the ivory was slightly thin so that it floated.

For synthetics (plastics, etc.) you can use many. Micarta, G-10, carbon fiber, plexiglass, some acrylic, celluloid, and hard rubber would work. You could use some of the plastics made for the kit pen turners, but keep in mind that many of them are very weak and will fall apart when turned that small. Use only the "acrylic acetate". I'd stay away from any polyester as it is brittle.

Ironwood and many hard, dense and relatively stable wood should also work, but they are wood and hydroscopic, that is they absorb and shed moisture. I've seen African blackwood crack, and it's about the most stable wood there is.

David

[alexkuzn]

Thanks guys.