Replies to This Discussion

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on October 9, 2013 at 20:16

"While our improved covering sheet of thin plastic material extending over said scale holding member may be secured to or plasticized to said scale holding member to extend in shrunk, drum tight condition over the surface thereof we preferably fold the edges 68 of said plastic sheet 62 under the inset edges of said center portion 58 of said scale holding member 54 when in a plastic condition along the respective lines of folding only to retain said plastic sheet $2 over the surface of the inset center portion 58 of said scale holding member in. shrunk, drum tight condition when. deplasticized without other retaining means. In this manner the scale 62 may be supported on the scale supporting member 58 independent of all other agencies such as for example the knife frame I? and is thereby wholly self-held to the said scale supporting member. The plastic sheet 62 is preferably superimposed over the surface of said center inset portion when in. a semi-plastic condition and the edges 68 thereof readily folded over the inset edges 59 of said center portion 58 and suitable heat is provided along the fold lines i0 only by means of applying greater pressure against said fold lines to plasticize the covering along the fold lines only so that it may be shrunk on said device along said fold lines only. As stated hitherto. we have discovered that if the entire plastic sheet be rendered plastic it will shrink so much on cooling that gaps "will be left at each end of the plastic sheet within the respective ends of the inset portion 58. If, however, the plastic sheet be rendered plastic along said fold lines only there will be no appreciable longitudinal shrinkage thereof and only sufficient transverse shrinkage to insure that the sheet will extend in shrunk, drum tight condition over the surface of said inset portion."

http://www.google.com/patents/US2170537?printsec=abstract#v=onepage...

The cover '34 preferably is fabricated from heat-plasticizable self-form-maintaining sheet material, for example, a synthetic thermoplastic resin such as cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, an acrylic resin, a polyamide resin, a polyester resin, or a vinyl polymer or copolymer. It also is within the scope of the invention to employ a thermosetting resin, for example, a phenol or urea formaldehyde condensation product, although in such case in lieu of the heating means hereinafter described for plasticization, an equivalent means such as a" be fitted between the bolsters and the marginal edge portions of the cover can'be folded around the lateral edges of the scaleand'tucked in back of the same.

The cover is placed onthe external surface of the arched central portion and'the marginal edge portions of the cover are folded around "thelateral edges of the scale'and broughtbe'neaththe same. The'folds are locally'plasticized, as by the application of heat and pressure, so as to permanently set the'folds and so that upon deplasticization a controlled slight transverse shrinkage of the cover willtake place whereby'to render the cover drumtight.

To make certain that there is no relaxation from this tensed condition and that the folds in the cover closely follow the thin lateral edges of the scale, pursuant 'to the invention the infolded marginal edge portions of the cover'between the folds and the lateral edges of the cover are also plasticized and are pressed during plasticization into intimate contact with the marginal edge portions of the undersurface of the scale, without, however,plasticizing the portion of the cover on the front of the scale. Additionally'to insure that such intimate contact will be maintained for a long period of time, in further pursuance of the invention the infolded marginal edge portions of the cover are provided during plasticization with a large number of closely spaced grooves 46, i. e. indentations, on their undersurfaces. These are believed to have the eifect of stretching the exposed undersurfaces of said edge portions during plasticization to an to the inch. The depth of the grooves is .025 to .030 of an inch.

http://www.google.com/patents/US2689400

i.e. wrap some plastic (type examples called out in the literature) around the shell .. heat it till it plasticizes (becomes malleable) .. tuck the edges under .. heat some more .. upon cooling .. plastic shrinks & conforms to steel shell. 

That said .. they had it down to a science .. literally. To avoid longitudinal shrinkage .. most heat was applied to the bend area where the plastic was tucked under the shell scale. In a situation where one is unable to exert that much control over the area being heated .. some trial & error will be required when determining the ideal starting size of the plastic blank.

Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on October 9, 2013 at 20:34

Now that is nailing it down! And I thought this was a simple project!   Well finding my Kydex is a chore so far. I want a very thin yellow and only a small sheet not finding it yet! Thanks for that Dale!

Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on October 9, 2013 at 20:38

Take a look when you get a chance at the procedure Dale posted. Is that nuts or what! Somebody had to follow that! But I get it now..no glue just heat and I like the idea of a template first...help me cut it all much better or closer I should say.

James Cole said:

Steve,

I'm just making a guess here, but since this is an economy knife, I'd say they didn't use any adhesive on the handle.  I've checked my Irish made Imperial with a loupe and can see no evidence of glue.  If you can get a good tight fit, it should stay in place without help. 

I'm sure the plastic that Imperial used was die cut and then likely pre-formed.  Since you don't have their equipment, hand fitting is going to take a lot more work.

And just thought; you might want to make a paper template to cut the Kydex to shape and size.

Jim

Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on October 21, 2013 at 14:11

Well I have gone back and forth on the covering for the scales but liked the idea of Kydex for its flexibility and for its covering ability(Thank you Jim) but I did have a hard time getting anything other than black. But many thanks to our member Data I was able to track down a yellow in a thin thickness and I can buy 1 sheet. Now to get it ordered from knifekits.com...

Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on October 22, 2013 at 9:51

Ordered today! Expect delivery in a week, going to work on making a template!

Permalink Reply by James Cole on October 22, 2013 at 9:57

Steve, Keep on keepin on and post pictures of the project please. Jim

Permalink Reply by Mike Botts on October 22, 2013 at 12:29

    I'm just like you, Jack!  I'm a retired home builder and remodel contractor, so I know I have the skills I need, and most of the tools.  I've been playing around with metal finishing, and fixing up some of my folders when they need some attention.  But so far, I've been flying by the seat of my pants.  However, I have seen a few tutorials about pocketknife repair on you tube.  There are a few good videos on there.  I still need to purchase more tools that are "knife repair specific".  Like you, I have to get stuff slowly, as I can afford it.  Folks on this site have been helpful about giving me the web sites to go to for tools and supplies.  I found "The Complete Book of Pocketknife Repair" to be helpful, but the videos are great because you can watch someone doing it, and explaining every move they do, as they do it.

   Good luck Jack!  Watch your fingers!  Mike.

   

Permalink Reply by Jack Haskins, Jr. on October 22, 2013 at 13:44

Hey Mike.  I've been bouncing around with hobbies in the past 2 or 3 years.  The main knife hobbies I've played with is making handle scales for fixed blades and folders you can disassemble because they use small screws (torx usually) and not pins.  I've really enjoyed that but they are quite a bit different than pocketknives held together with pins.  I am still planning on persuing that but I've bounced back to sharpening as my time consuming knife hobby.  I'm searching for the sharpest edge in the world using extremely high grit stones and strops.  So far I have stones as high as 16,000 grit and stropping sprays as low as .25 micron and some .1 micron spray and more strops on the way.  I got a pocket knife repair/restoration bood and I keep glancing at it so it's a matter time before I get back to that.  I also have a list of tools I need.  An anvil is probably what I need most.  Oh yeah.  I've also gotten into shraight razor shaving.  I have finally found a hobby I can shed more with than sharpening knives. lol  Whoever decides to scrape their face with a razor sharp piece of steel must be just stupid. lol  And I mean razor sharp literally.  I've called many pocket knives razor sharp before but there IS a difference.  I've cut myself shaving and not even known it except from seeing the red.  I'm getting pretty good at using the styptic pencil. LOL  Sharpening a straight razor (I mean honing) is a super fun challenge.  Completely differnt from knives in how to do it but just as challenging.  Anyway, I'd like to see some pictures of your knife work as it progresses.  Youtube is great but I'd love to have a guy next door to show me stuff.  Oh well.

Take care,

Jack

Mike Botts said:

    I'm just like you, Jack!  I'm a retired home builder and remodel contractor, so I know I have the skills I need, and most of the tools.  I've been playing around with metal finishing, and fixing up some of my folders when they need some attention.  But so far, I've been flying by the seat of my pants.  However, I have seen a few tutorials about pocketknife repair on you tube.  There are a few good videos on there.  I still need to purchase more tools that are "knife repair specific".  Like you, I have to get stuff slowly, as I can afford it.  Folks on this site have been helpful about giving me the web sites to go to for tools and supplies.  I found "The Complete Book of Pocketknife Repair" to be helpful, but the videos are great because you can watch someone doing it, and explaining every move they do, as they do it.

   Good luck Jack!  Watch your fingers!  Mike.

   

Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on October 23, 2013 at 20:32

Sorry Jack did not mean to hijack your post but thought I would kind of cobble mine in with yours talking about repair and learning from scratch. I am not a knifemaker, never wanted to be a knifemaker but I have a few Vintage knives that are in need of repair and are not valuable.  Just something to learn on basically. So far it is fun and a little intimidating but nonetheless I press on!

Permalink Reply by Jack Haskins, Jr. on October 24, 2013 at 7:30

No hijacking.  Been watching and eager to see where you end up. :)

Steve Hanner said:

Sorry Jack did not mean to hijack your post but thought I would kind of cobble mine in with yours talking about repair and learning from scratch. I am not a knifemaker, never wanted to be a knifemaker but I have a few Vintage knives that are in need of repair and are not valuable.  Just something to learn on basically. So far it is fun and a little intimidating but nonetheless I press on!

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