MEMBER ITEMS FOR SALE
Custom Knives | Other Knives | General Items
-------------------------------------------
New Posts | New PhotosAll Photos



Go Back   The Knife Network Forums : Knife Making Discussions > Custom Knife Discussion Boards > Knife Making Discussions > High-Performance Blades

High-Performance Blades Sharing ideas for getting the most out of our steel.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-28-2006, 03:36 PM
Stormcrow Stormcrow is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 547
Question High-Performance Ax Handles

Hello, guys. I'm looking for something to make high-perfomance ax handles out of, both for personal use and for some tactical tomahawks that I would like to build. I've broken too many hickory hanldles over the years to trust putting a wooden handle on a tactical tomahawk.

I have not messed with any synthetics for handles before. I have a piece of canvas Micarta big enough to make two ax handles out of, but have never worked with the stuff. In y'all's opinion, is canvas Micarta strong and tough enough to handle hard use as an ax and tomahawk (non-throwing) handle?

And if so, can it be worked with a router? I don't own a bandsaw and am a broke college kid, but it seems to me like a router would be the easiest means of making a handle with an oval cross-section.

Also, what would y'all think of acetyl plastic for the same purpose?

Thanks, guys.


__________________
The Wasteland Crow Project: http://wastelandcrow.blogspot.com

A blog I share with a friend where we think out loud upon occasion: http://shareourcampfire.blogspot.com/

Proud to be a Neo-Tribal Metalsmith scavenging the wreckage of civilization.

My new blog dedicated to the metalwork I make and sell: http://helmforge.blogspot.com/
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-04-2006, 03:49 PM
SamLS SamLS is offline
Steel Addict
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 149
I would use a undersized Hickory handle and reinforce it with fibreglass, S glass or Carbon tape and Epoxy resin. Then top it with a UV coat to protect the epoxy. You'll have great difficulty breaking it and would be considerably stronger than acetal.

Go to some boat building forums to learn to apply such to wood. Alot of people use it on wooden canoes.
Go to fibreglast developments Inc for the resin and fabric.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-06-2006, 10:25 PM
Stormcrow Stormcrow is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 547
Thanks for the reply Sam. I'll consider it. No course of action is possible until I have money, I was just gathering info.


__________________
The Wasteland Crow Project: http://wastelandcrow.blogspot.com

A blog I share with a friend where we think out loud upon occasion: http://shareourcampfire.blogspot.com/

Proud to be a Neo-Tribal Metalsmith scavenging the wreckage of civilization.

My new blog dedicated to the metalwork I make and sell: http://helmforge.blogspot.com/
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-26-2006, 01:20 PM
Jan Dox Jan Dox is offline
Steel Addict
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Schoten,Belgium
Posts: 274
I used that technique with woven Kevlar(R) and epoxy over wooden handles for an ax and a sword. it works well; Applying the epoxy to the kevlar without pulling the tissue out of its place was hard in the beginning, but the use of clingfilm from the kitchen helped. the airbubbles could be pushed out top or bottom;

jan


__________________
Make love, not war.
Be prepared for both.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 04-05-2006, 08:42 PM
first twin's Avatar
first twin first twin is offline
Steel Addict
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 177
I know you are not looking for a wood but I have had an Osage Orange handle on my throwing hawk for a couple of years. It just dosen't seem to want to break. They make bows out of the stuff. I like it better than any hickory I have tried. It is fairly cheap and I just set the grain up like you would if it was hickory.


__________________
Charlie
First Twin
Twin Blades
www.twinxblades.com
Director Knifemakers Guild

Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 05-07-2006, 09:40 PM
BillFoote BillFoote is offline
Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Quinlan, Tx
Posts: 49
I just cut down some osage orange (bois d'arc) and it's piled up drying. If you wanna try it I'll send you some after I cut some pieces with my band saw. It is rich golden brown and very hard wood. I'll be making hammer handles and knife slabs.
billfoote
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 05-08-2006, 12:03 AM
Stormcrow Stormcrow is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 547
Thanks for the offer Bill, but I have some osage orange already.


__________________
The Wasteland Crow Project: http://wastelandcrow.blogspot.com

A blog I share with a friend where we think out loud upon occasion: http://shareourcampfire.blogspot.com/

Proud to be a Neo-Tribal Metalsmith scavenging the wreckage of civilization.

My new blog dedicated to the metalwork I make and sell: http://helmforge.blogspot.com/
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
knife


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:42 AM.




KNIFENETWORK.COM
Copyright © 2000
? CKK Industries, Inc. ? All Rights Reserved
Powered by ...

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
The Knife Network : All Rights Reserved