Between the clamp - Blade protection - Kazak??

Letoff

Letoff

Gold Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2023
Messages
299
I've had a few sharpening systems, more than happy with my TSProf K03 Pro that I have.

One thing I have not been happy with is what I've used to protect my blade from the clamps. I've used electrical tape & painters tape but sometimes the knife will slide out of the clamp or reposition itself due to the compression of the clamp and the blade shape where it's clamped. Sometimes a flat spot is not always possible on both ends and it's not that I'm cranking the clamp down too much but sometimes it just wants to spit the blade out of the clamp, sometimes just a little, sometimes a lot.

I had just upgraded to the K03 when I saw the Kazak for the first time but wasn't available. I noticed that there is a piece of felt or something of that sort between each clamp for blade protection. Does that work out pretty good ? What is it ? Anyone else got any pointers or things they are using ?
 
The clamp on the Kazak works extremely well. The yellow colored material inside the clamps is a very thin fabric that has a rubberized coating. It is very thin and works extremely well, I've done hundreds of blades with no issues. I have heard of other folks using something called "kapton tape". It's sort of a clear yellow/orange thin tape that has great abrasion resistance. I believe it's used on PCB boards.
 
I've looked on Gritomatics site and I could not find this yellow fabric they use between the clamps. Maybe I should reach out instead of relying on my search skills, their site has grown dramatically in just the last year, sometimes I find stuff looking for other stuff. I'll get back to you guys if I find them. Thanks Hendon !
 
Try reaching out directly to kazak. The kapton tape can be found easily through Google 👍
 
Letoff said:
What is it ? Anyone else got any pointers or things they are using ?
Click to expand...

It's Hypalon / polyurethane RIB boat fabric. Get yourself a cheap inflatable boat repair kit online or a piece of Polyurethane / Hypalon fabric from your local boat shop.

You can cut a piece of it into shape and punch a hole though it to install it in your clamps.
 
777 Edge said:
It's Hypalon / polyurethane RIB boat fabric. Get yourself a cheap inflatable boat repair kit online or a piece of Polyurethane / Hypalon fabric from your local boat shop.

You can cut a piece of it into shape and punch a hole though it to install it in your clamps.
Click to expand...

How did I know you'd know ? Thanks Brotha. I'm going to see if I can find one local today and give it a try. Will let you know.
 
I was just thinking........ Not any boat shops near me but plenty of pool stores. I remember when I had my above ground pool I poked a hole in it and had to buy a repair patch. Bet that is the same thing. Working today but will stop by after and see.
 
I just watched a YouTube video where a guy dipped his clamps in Plasti-Dip.
 
Letoff said:
I was just thinking........ Not any boat shops near me but plenty of pool stores. I remember when I had my above ground pool I poked a hole in it and had to buy a repair patch. Bet that is the same thing. Working today but will stop by after and see.
Click to expand...

No, the fabric used in above ground pools are typically not the same thing. The pool fabric is normally more stretchy and not reinforced with a weave like the Hypalon/boat PU is. The fact that its reinforced makes it a great choice for clamp padding - it does not deform and stretch and is very durable. I would just order a repair kit or piece of it on Amazon if I were you. You can get plenty out of a $8 piece.

Inflatable rafts and inflatable stand up paddle boards use the same fabric, so you could also buy a repair kit for one of those from a sporting goods store also.
 
Tensaw said:
I just watched a YouTube video where a guy dipped his clamps in Plasti-Dip.
Click to expand...
I've experimented with Plasti-dip on clamps, and I wouldn't recommend it. The metal filings and abrasive particles from sharpening embeds itself deeply into the soft Plasti-dip and becomes near impossible to remove. This leaves scuff and scratch marks on your blades, so you have to go through the process of completely removing and reapplying the Plasti-dip fairly regularly.

In all honesty, if you keep your clamps clean and make sure they have no abrasive particles or metal swarf on them before clamping a knife, then you don't actually need any coating inside the clamps. The clamps are typically made from a softer material (e.g. aluminum), so they can't scratch a hardened steel blade unless they have hardened steel swarf or abrasive particles between the knife blade and the clamp.
 
777 Edge said:
I've experimented with Plasti-dip on clamps, and I wouldn't recommend it. The metal filings and abrasive particles from sharpening embeds itself deeply into the soft Plasti-dip and becomes near impossible to remove. This leaves scuff and scratch marks on your blades, so you have to go through the process of completely removing and reapplying the Plasti-dip fairly regularly.

In all honesty, if you keep your clamps clean and make sure they have no abrasive particles or metal swarf on them before clamping a knife, then you don't actually need any coating inside the clamps. The clamps are typically made from a softer material (e.g. aluminum), so they can't scratch a hardened steel blade unless they have hardened steel swarf or abrasive particles between the knife blade and the clamp.
Click to expand...

Yeah, if you watch the guy who suggests the plasti-dip, he shows you how to do it but later on in his knife sharpening vids, he doesn't have it on there.
 
Well I didn't like it.
I cut my strips, put them on a set of my clamps and the first knife I went for is one I use when I'm cutting grass, an ol Gerber.

I first tried one clamp but it moved around too much even though I had it cranked down. I put another clamp on the knife and I know it had to do with where I clamped it but I tried several places and knife never felt stable, I could move it if I tugged hard enough and even spit out at one point (pic below) I took the patch material off and just clamped it down since it's just a work knife......... never moved and was solid.

I'm sure it will work if I have a knife that doesn't have such a weird shape. I really just want to protect any knives I get from my coworkers and their friends. Sometimes they'll bring me a $300 knife and I just feel like my clamp is going to mark it up. I'll try again and report back. Didn't have time to get serious with it yesterday so I moved on.


K61N154.jpeg

PxDaCr7.jpeg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top