Hey guys, I recently got a Cold Steel Bushman that I plan to use around the yard as a beater. But I want to warp the metal handle in something to give it better grip. My first thought is hockey grip tape, but maybe there is something better out there that would give more traction and comfort? Any suggestions?
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Handle wrap material suggestions
- Thread starter axtalan0
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I used baseball bat wrap on a Ontario Bushcrafter with wooden scales. It’s held up pretty well and absorbs a bit of shock when chopping. It’s not super cheap though.
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It depends how permanent you want it.
I'm a huge fan of a product called Fiber Fix. It's a "tape" that you wet and wrap that sets up harder than a cast. Its supposedly tough enough to "mend" a broken shovel handle or repair a burst water pipe.
I use it to wrap all of my tomahawk and axe handles. Some I wrap completely because the Fiber Fix sets up with a really rough skate board tape like finish. Some I only wrap under the head to protect the haft from over strikes.
The one thing to keep in mind is that Fiber Fix is one and done. You open the whole wrap, you use the whole wrap, and there is no saving any of it. The good news, it's cheap. Less than $10 at most big box home improvement stores like Lowes.
It is very permanent though. The epoxy is very strong and the fibrous material is tough as can be. Once it's on, I dunno how you can realistically get it off. I figure for the cheap hawks it protects now, if I ever manage to crack the handle, I'll just burn the whole thing out of the eye.
I'm a huge fan of a product called Fiber Fix. It's a "tape" that you wet and wrap that sets up harder than a cast. Its supposedly tough enough to "mend" a broken shovel handle or repair a burst water pipe.
I use it to wrap all of my tomahawk and axe handles. Some I wrap completely because the Fiber Fix sets up with a really rough skate board tape like finish. Some I only wrap under the head to protect the haft from over strikes.
The one thing to keep in mind is that Fiber Fix is one and done. You open the whole wrap, you use the whole wrap, and there is no saving any of it. The good news, it's cheap. Less than $10 at most big box home improvement stores like Lowes.
It is very permanent though. The epoxy is very strong and the fibrous material is tough as can be. Once it's on, I dunno how you can realistically get it off. I figure for the cheap hawks it protects now, if I ever manage to crack the handle, I'll just burn the whole thing out of the eye.
DocJD
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Thank you all for the great suggestions! Lots of good info here, I had not even heard of many of the things recommended. I am reading up on all of them right now. Really liking Fiber Fix, silicone tape, fishing rod wrap. I may end up trying more than one.
If you are going to use Plastidip I suggest you read my post in this thread (post #9)
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/electrical-tape-for-wrapping-knife-handles.1774526/.
I provide advice that they don't provide in the instructions on the can.