Inlace Acrylester - Questions

SC_Knives

SC_Knives

Well-Known Member
Hey guys,

Had a request this week to use Inlace Acrylester scale sets for a handle material, and I know nothing about the stuff... Does it work fairly well? Also, how durable is it?

Thanks!
 
It's an acrylic. I was sent some samples a while back an do not find it suitable for knife handles at all. It's very "chippy" when working, and in anything less than 3/8" thickness, is very fragile. Cold is the worst....when it gets below freezing temp, its about as fragile as a piece of ice. As a test, I ground a 4" X 1" piece to just under 1/4" thick, and dropped it on the shop floor.....it broke into three pieces.

Depending on the "filler" used, drilling holes in it is worse than pearl.....badly chips on the exit side no matter how light you are on the drill bit......backing or taping over the exit side doesn't seem to help.

I think it's pretty "cheesy" stuff, and would not consider using it on any knife I produced.
 
Great advice Ed.
I bought some mail order and it was wrapped in a mile of foam and was still shattered when I opened it.

I think it looks cheezy anyway.

Steve
 
Thanks for the feedback guys. I never really liked how it looked, but the customer is always right lol.
 
I recently completed 2 kitchen knives using this material from Jantz...fantasy marble,

http://www.knifemaking.com/product-p/fm114.htm

It, too, is an acrylic. It wasn't wrapped in foam for shipping, just placed scale to scale and into a paper bag then boxed with peanuts. I had absolutely no trouble working with it. It came in scales 3/8" thick. It shaped very well with a rasp, sanded great, and took on a glass like glossiness when rubbed to 15,000 grit using finishing pads. I used a brad point bit to drill my holes for pins. I watched my depth carefully, and when the brad point broke through, I flipped the scale over, and started in through the pilot hole the point had made. No chipping or tear outs using this method with tape.

Both knives are used daily in the kitchen and there have been no issues yet after 3 weeks of use.
 
I also have used it from Jantz and other suppliers, with no problems other than when drilling holes. I have had customers request it. Not my favorite handle material, but it can look nice on some knives, kitchen knives mostly in my opinion. Just my 2 cents.
Dale
 
I agree, kitchen knives and display only knives. I made a lock back folder for a guy's dad using the blue silk fantasy marble. The father had been in the Navy and the design of the blue silk looked like water. Turned out great!
 
Before he closed up the shop, Troy Koval told me the same thing--that it has a tendency to chip, and advised that you grind it extremely slow. Same for drilling. He said it was popular for small folders.
 
You also have to use their buffing compound to get the correct shine. Go very easy with normal buffing methods dishes out real quick.
 
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