(NOT)Tufnol micarta

I would bet it is Epoxy/cotton laminate, not phenolic resin based, hence the colors and different smell.

that said, I am in the UK, know Tufnol pretty well, both as a knife maker and an engineer, and I have never heard of them offering colors like that. When I look at their website they list only natural colours, in keeping with their industrial target market.

very curious where you found coloured sheets.
 
Not sure if I can say the source with rules on posting on this forum.

When I looked into Tufnol website i saw they offer a bunch of different grades of material, actually overwhelming amount.

This Tufnol micarta is hard and non gummy which I am use to with micarta, does not feel like an epoxy layup. The difference in smell is probaly becuase the US can use chemicals, like formaldehyde, that are off limits in Europe.

I glued up 3 different colors to liners yesterday and will put them on knives next week and then will have a better feel for the material
 
You can mention the source, just not the price or post a website that sells things.
 
Yeah, wasn’t looking for a price or link, just a name. Not even in the market for more Tufnol….a couple years back I was given a 1/2” x 36” x36” sheet of Whale Tufnol, it’s natural colour and I have most of it still to use. The new and old Tufnol I have used all smells strongly of phenol.
 
I think the confusion is that most people equate Micarta (even when used as a catchall) as phenolic resin impregnated material. No formaldehyde means no phenolic.

I’ve never seen a phenolic laminate with colors that vibrant before…. And if it’s phenolic, it wouldn’t be too long before the resin started to brown. I’m really curious to hear if this is truly a phenolic laminate, rather than epoxy or polyester based.

Following!
 
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Thanks S Seedy Lot . Surprised a US maker was shopping at GFS. Usually all the trade goes the other way across the Atlantic!

Looking at their site I would not have assumed or stated that the coloured laminates were Tufnol brand. Rather, they have grouped Tufnol and someone else’s “Micarta” on the same page. The listings use the Tufnol brand name and type names when the material is Tufnol, but call all the coloured stuff Micarta, as many people do when talking about any non-carbon resin/cloth laminate. They don’t mix this with the branded Ultrex material.

Tufnol is a brand name, and they make a range of laminates using different resins, fabric and paper. They don’t advertise any material with aesthetic colours or target craft markets. The brand name isn’t used in the same way as the name Micarta, either as a catch all for anyone’s laminate, or to mean specifically the phenolic type.

looking forward to hearing how the material works for you :)
 
How was the smells/fumes when working with?

I'm in my basement, and I try to limit my stinkiness. Not so much for me, because I can wear a mask, but for others.

I am interested in probably 3-4 of those colors though....even though I mostly just use black and narural
 
I have only cut out scales and glued liners so have not worked the Tufnol much. I have not noticed any out of the ordinary smells yet but will have better idea when I grind out the handles.

I have experienced through the years different quality of micarta I have bought in the states. I started buying cheap micarta from a billiards supply store and used the material for years. It stunk of formaldehyde so bad that the wife would make me take a shower when I was done in knife shop.

Well I finally upped my game and bought Ultrex Micarta and first thing I noticed was the almost lack of smell and then the quality of the Micarta became apparent in consistency and what I like to think of as a superior ratio of cloth to resin. Once I started using Ultrex there was no going to a cheaper product for me as the cost is worth the quality and clients agree.

Hopefully this Tufnol works out for me...
 
Seedy Lot said:
I have only cut out scales and glued liners so have not worked the Tufnol much. I have not noticed any out of the ordinary smells yet but will have better idea when I grind out the handles.

I have experienced through the years different quality of micarta I have bought in the states. I started buying cheap micarta from a billiards supply store and used the material for years. It stunk of formaldehyde so bad that the wife would make me take a shower when I was done in knife shop.

Well I finally upped my game and bought Ultrex Micarta and first thing I noticed was the almost lack of smell and then the quality of the Micarta became apparent in consistency and what I like to think of as a superior ratio of cloth to resin. Once I started using Ultrex there was no going to a cheaper product for me as the cost is worth the quality and clients agree.

Hopefully this Tufnol works out for me...
Click to expand...
I will buy some Ultrex, Thank you.
The smells is what keeps me from using "micarta" more often.

I know, I've seen different Hardness between modern made stuff and vintage.
Older, was harder.

I'm not a g10 fan, but I bought a vintage disk from Pops. i liked the color.
I'll probably do it outside.
 
This Tufnol is a little harder and more brittle than Ultrex Micarta. I have used micarta on many knives and never had it chip out while drilling holes, only time I have had this issue was with Richlite.

Does not seem like the Tufnol burns or clogs belts as much as Ultrex linen. Tomorrow I will finish handles and get some finished pictures and more thoughts.

https://imgur.com/a/RJzkHkp
 
That blowout is intense.... almost look like CT'SK
 
Oh wow!! Haven't seen micarta blow out like that before! I wonder if the bit was getting dull/too much pressure or too much heat generated? It does look like Richlite; I wonder if they are using a similar epoxy resin and fabric instead of paper?
 
Taz said:
Oh wow!! Haven't seen micarta blow out like that before! I wonder if the bit was getting dull/too much pressure or too much heat generated? It does look like Richlite; I wonder if they are using a similar epoxy resin and fabric instead of paper?
Click to expand...
Richlite uses a phenolic resin like micarta.

I lined the Tufnol scales with linen micarta. After the blow outs on first set of scales I switched the direction I was drilling through the scales and had zero blow outs through the linen micarta liners.
 
Finished handles today on 4 knives with Tufnol.

Tufnol is harder than Ultrex and does not gum up belts but wears them out. Here is a 50 grit belt after shaping 3 handles without cleaning the belt. Normally I have to clean the belt at least after each handle and never can get all the gummy residue cleaned off when sharpeing Micarta.

https://imgur.com/a/W5mVNFo

Even with a metal backing during drilling the Tufnol wants to blow out.

https://imgur.com/a/7KlYgUV

The Tufnol has a little grip but not nearly as much as linen Ultrex. Knife on right is linen Ultrex

https://imgur.com/a/eBkYHC3

Three of the knives I finished handles on today.

https://imgur.com/a/5FqM0ac
 
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