System Three T88 vs West System G-Flex

Stark Knives

Stark Knives

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Mar 19, 2010
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I was just checking to see if there is any downsides to using System Three T88 over G-Flex. I've been using G-Flex for a long time, but have found a cheaper and better source for T88. I wanted to make sure that I won't be losing any bond strength by switching. Does anyone have any insight? :)
 
I've been using T-88 since I started, simply because I was familiar with System 3 from previous projects like carbon fiber/kevlar/fiberglass layup. I think they're essentially equals. In the boat/canoe/surfboard building world people only seem to have a preference between West and S3 based on how they're delivered or applied and not in their performance.
 
System 3, like most epoxies, cures to a rigid state. It can be flexed but the glass or carbon fibers are locked rigidly in place with respect to each other. Since the cured material is essentially humongous,temperature changes will not affect it. A knife handle, consisting of scales of some material and steel,will be affected by temperature changes. The scales and the steel will expand and contract at different rates due to temperature changes, leading to the possibility of the glue joint breaking. G10 is formulated to allow a very slight amount of give, rather than cure to complete rigidity, allowing the steel and scales to expand and contract at different rates without breaking the glue joint.
 
Is the cheaper stuff cheaper because it's old?

Once I find something that works, I'm hesitant to change.
 
Yes, g flex is more flexible, but that's not to say t88 is inflexible, and g flex is about half the tensile strength of t88 as a result.

For our purposes, I don't think it matters.
 
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