TeroTuf Scales: Micarta killer or Meh?

F

FloridaDreams

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Apr 11, 2021
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In researching scales to replace my incoming *ahem* brown G10 Manix 2 scales, I came across Fireside Company’s site - they have gorgeous but pricey scales for a few models, but they’re all made of TeroTuf which, by the company’s description sounds far superior. I’ve never had my hands on it, have you? Any long term thoughts? Is it at least as durable and grippy as micarta? if they’re as good as they look, they’re an exciting proposition 👍 from their website:

” CIP TeroTuf™, originally designed as a wear material for industrial use, was introduced to the knife industry as a new option for handles. This material has quickly become a preferred alternative to many other utilitarian handle options. TeroTuf is made with 100% polyester resin and fabric with no fillers, is non-toxic, chemically resistant to most cleaning supplies, and does not swell in water. TeroTuf has been weather tested by Ochs Sherworx (after twenty-seven weeks in the sun CIP material showed no noticeable change). “
While TeroTuf ™ is a bit more expensive, it’s benefits are worth it if you’re putting your knife in service. While there are companies that are producing variations on classic micarta, you don’t always know what you’re getting. TeroTuf is a known quantity, and we like using products with spec sheets so we know exactly what we’re working with and providing the customer.
You cannot buff it to get a glossy sheen the way you can with other materials, but we feel that would defeat it’s purpose and we much prefer the natural look and feel it provides. It will darken with use or when oiled, but it can also be cleaned very easily. It’s soft to the touch, like your favorite pair of jeans, but it’s tough as nails, and once you get a grip on it, you might not want to let go! (ok, got a little cheesy with that last line, but leaving it in!)”
 
I like the feel of Terro Tuf. As a user handle material I love it! It’s super grippy in the hand. What I don’t love are the colors which are usually a lot more subdued than Micarta or G10. Also the cost of the stuff in comparison to Micarta and G10 is a bit high IMHO.
 
Bill Siegle said:
I like the feel of Terro Tuf. As a user handle material I love it! It’s super grippy in the hand. What I don’t love are the colors which are usually a lot more subdued than Micarta or G10. Also the cost of the stuff in comparison to Micarta and G10 is a bit high IMHO.
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^this, it's functional but not as attractive in comparison. There's some that question the sanitary factor of it since it does have a porous outer layer but I have no data suggesting that it's hard to clean/sanitize. It doesn't polish up as nicely as micarta either. I still prefer micarta.

I think fireside is hyping it up a bit too much. I actually prefer suretouch if I'm going to pay what is being asked of terotuff. Looks much nicer and has a similarly warm grip. Priced about the same, so still not as cheap as micarta and G10.
 
FloridaDreams said:
In researching scales to replace my incoming *ahem* brown G10 Manix 2 scales, I came across Fireside Company’s site - they have gorgeous but pricey scales for a few models, but they’re all made of TeroTuf which, by the company’s description sounds far superior. I’ve never had my hands on it, have you? Any long term thoughts? Is it at least as durable and grippy as micarta? if they’re as good as they look, they’re an exciting proposition 👍 from their website:

” CIP TeroTuf™, originally designed as a wear material for industrial use, was introduced to the knife industry as a new option for handles. This material has quickly become a preferred alternative to many other utilitarian handle options. TeroTuf is made with 100% polyester resin and fabric with no fillers, is non-toxic, chemically resistant to most cleaning supplies, and does not swell in water. TeroTuf has been weather tested by Ochs Sherworx (after twenty-seven weeks in the sun CIP material showed no noticeable change). “
While TeroTuf ™ is a bit more expensive, it’s benefits are worth it if you’re putting your knife in service. While there are companies that are producing variations on classic micarta, you don’t always know what you’re getting. TeroTuf is a known quantity, and we like using products with spec sheets so we know exactly what we’re working with and providing the customer.
You cannot buff it to get a glossy sheen the way you can with other materials, but we feel that would defeat it’s purpose and we much prefer the natural look and feel it provides. It will darken with use or when oiled, but it can also be cleaned very easily. It’s soft to the touch, like your favorite pair of jeans, but it’s tough as nails, and once you get a grip on it, you might not want to let go! (ok, got a little cheesy with that last line, but leaving it in!)”
Click to expand...

This just basically sounds like marketing speak for more expensive micarta. I mean, the benefits seem to be essentially the same as those micarta enjoys. Looks like just another solution looking for an issue.

That said, if you like it, I say go for it.
 
Micarta killer? No
Meh? Also, no.

The principle behind both these materials are the same: resin and layered sheet material to form a composite. The main difference in terotuf is the use of a polyester resin which is less strong and softer than the epoxy, phenolic, silicone, or melamine resins that is used in micarta (I think epoxy is the most prevalent but don't quote me on that one). With the sheet material easier, yea, terotuf is gonna be easier to work with because it is, in fact, softer than micarta.

Though, I do believe that the softer polyester resin makes finishing terotuf less versatile. As mentioned, you can't polish up terotuf like you can micarta, but you can leave micarta nearly as ragged and rough as terotuf. Depending on how micarta or terotuf feels after it's been finished is gonna be entirely user preference. I don't mind - more choices, more knives, more fun.

kobold said:
It would make sense only if it is strong enough to be used linerless. Micarta is not strong enough for that, only G10 and CF can pull that off. Because of the cost it might stay a niche product.
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I'm pretty sure there are some knives that have linerless micarta scales. A few traditional Boker knives (Barlow Prime, Barlow Integral), the Maserin Nimrod (in burlap micarta), and the Fox Libar/Livri (canvas micarta) are a few examples of folders that have micarta handles/scales and do not utilize a liner. Also, hasn't T.A. Davison made some linerless micarta folders? Pretty sure Bob Terzuola has also made linerlocks with one side linerless, no?

Micarta is more than strong enough to be used in folder without a liner (though granted, I'd still prefer a Ti liner). I'd suspect Terotuf would be the same, although, a thicker sheet might be needed.
 
I'm interested in why polyester is more expensive.
Isn't micarta generally cotton or cotton blend?
Cotton shirt costs more than a polyester shirt.
Knives I've bought had G10, aluminum, FRN.
Replacement scales I've bought so far have been titanium or aluminum.
On the fence on micarta or other materials like it........
 
I have been using a terotuf scale folder for a few months it's good. it's growing on me and it's not a little but just plain more grippy than micarta when wet. It still has retained it's color and washes easily with dish washing liquid on a toothbrush. The wake up call tonight was when my denim micarta scaled knife got wet it slipped out my hand and the one with terotuf did not. It is also lighter.
 
Meh, meh, meh, meh, meh! I don’t know why, but I’ve owned three knives with TeroTuf scales and each time have been disappointed in the appearance and texture. Micarta is orders of magnitude better. (Personal opinion only, of course.)
 
Sounds like a lot of hooey. Especially if this is the only difference is that they polyester in resin instead of the paper, linen or canvas that is used in micarta. I worked as a Plant Engineer in a tubing mill and we used Micarta as a bearing material in several heavy industrial applications. I can tell you without hesitation that Micarta is tougher than you will ever need for a Knife handle material. I would like to know what properties of this TeroTuf material are so much better than micarta in a knife handle application. There is also some material called Ultrex which is something like 2 times more than Terotuf. When you consider how much material is used on a knife none of these changes in material should up the price of a knife much more than a few dollars
 
First of all I would not go as far as to say Micarta Killer both Terotuf and Micarta have their ups and downs. I have been reading however what seems to be a lot stuff that is not true leaning towards Terotuf being an inferior low quality product.

Terotuf is lighter, retains it's color better when exposed to oil and stuff, despite what some people have claimed I find this stuff also cleans easier than micarta and does not hold oil like micarta. It can show signs of dirt faster. I am guessing it's due to the light color not hiding it. Micarta can be cleaned of this stuff but it is more prone to it and takes a little more work to clean. Terotuf is also tougher than micarta in that it will take a lot more bend before snapping, Micarta is tough but will snap when bent just a little although it takes a lot of force to do so.

Terotuf definitely remains more grippy when wet.

TEROTUF IS AMERICAN MADE FROM A KNOWN SOURCE Micarta is most often not.

These properties of micarta are for good quality micarta but the truth of the matter is there is a whole lot of hooey in the micarta industry especially when it comes to low priority stuff like knife scales.

The quality of micarta again especially in the knife industry runs from total crap to great. You will never know unless you work the stuff in which case cheap micarta will reward youi with more time and money spent on labor than if you just bucked up for the good stuff or if you break it. For knife scales even cheap micarta may be strong enough for all I know but I wouldn't want to baton with it.

There is no real quality control in the micarta world because no on knows where the stuff comes from unless they buck up and get if from a reputable source but I don't see anyone talking about how good their mircarta is, why it is good, and where they get it from. It's the same with G10 and Carbon Fiber the quality in the knife world is all over the place there is no real control unless they get if from reputable places. My take is most businesses don't care and figure the cheapest crap is good enough for knife handles. You won't know until one day for some reason or another it snaps in hard use.

The market is proliferated with foreign manufacturers making their own versions of Micarta, G10, and Carbon Fiber and when compared to the real stuff or better quality stuff they suck.

Thankfully Terotuf has not yet been copied by a whole bunch of entities abroad so you don't have to deal with this hooey. You know what it is what to expect, and know where it is made. You don't get the bunch of hooey you get when you try to find out which foreign outfit made your micarta and how good it is. Trying to find out who the manufacturers of quality American micarta are is like trying to decipher a secrete code buried in google marketing hooey by makers of imitation crap. The same goes for G10 and Carbon fiber.

Terotuf is not perfect but it has it's advantages and it's an overall great American made quality product. It's great for knives that do a lot of chopping, botoning, and is generally very shock resistant. It has a better grip when wet which makes it great for kitchen and outdoors use. I have not tried pounding dirt into the scales but I don't find cleaning to be any harder than cleaning micarta in fact it's a little easier to me. It is also lighter than either micarta or g10.

This a good solid American made product it is not garbage like American/Mexican made cars, no offense to Mexicans who no doubt can probably make great cars if GM would stop insisting on using the cheapest crap materials from who knows where.

I like Terotuf it works great and looks great (blue, and green that don't turn into ugly shades of grey with oil or moisture.)

Jade G10 (KC Demko G10) Vs Terotuf (RGT) vs micarta (Karbadize top RGT Python middle and denim bottom) pictures don't do justice. All of these have been used to cut fruit, vegetables, meat, bread/bagels etc..... they have been exposed to oil (ballistol) water, food particles etc... none of them are oozing with grime dirt or oil. They all can be cleaned. The G10 and Terotuf don't alter their color. The Micarta which I do like too have all darkened as soon as so much as oil from the hands, sweat etc.. hit it. Note the denim micarta a lighter faded color when new is now a predominantly dark greyish color with very slight dark blue hue and tiny white specs (barely noticeable) The Python micarta has lost a lot of it's greenish hues still there but very subdued and has darkened. The Karbadize natural canvas micarta darkened to a really nice rich medium wood/chocolate color. I do like all these colors regardless but if you are picky you best get familiar with the nature of Micarta before buying. There are different materials (canvas burlap, linen [smooth linen seems to hold it's color,] denim and others) and textures (from fine to rough) too. G10 and carbon fiber also have that wide range of textures available The Terotuf has does not have much variety in texture (mostly rough and grippy) but there are nice color options that stay true.

Grippyness both wet and dry go to Terotuf and G10 (despite the G10's plastic like nature probably due to it's texturing by manufacturer.) Terotuf makes G10 feel like a heavy brick it's closer to Micarta in weight but still lighter.IMG_0005.JPGIMG_0006.JPGIMG_0007.JPGIMG_0004.JPG
 
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What is Ultrex ? Is it a brand ? a process ? I read Ultrex micarta, Ultrex G10 Hmmmmm I see

Ultrex™ is a family of composite materials, specifically designed for aesthetic applications.​


I confused this with Ultem that has been around since the 1980s and is used for guitar picks (a lot,) aircraft interiors, medical equipment etc.... Ultem resin is made by Sabic in Mt. Vernon Indiana, and Cartagena Spain. I am not sure if it's made in Singapore. I might like it. I might as well talk about what little I know/think I know about it.

It's strong and hard, it may not be the most impact resistant (brittle) but maybe it's more than good enough I don't know.

It's also very lightweight, impervious to a large variety of chemicals as well as UV resistant. One of it's most strong points is it can withstand repeated autoclave sterilization cycles without breaking down (high heat resistance mid 300s F.)

Someone has said it has good grip even when smooth and more so when wet.

You can get this stuff in any color AS LONG AS IT'S A SHADE OF TRANSLUCENT AMBER ok amber only. It's not porous so you can not dye it. I actually like the color.

If you really want to sterilize a knife provided everything else but the scales are metal this stuff may be what you want. Autoclave is really the way for almost total sterilization.

I am not sure about this stuff (Ultem) being the best for resisting impact. Ultem knife scales are expensive. Ultem may be new to knife making but the material has been around a while.

Advantages vs disadvantages I guess it all depends what one wants and/or needs. Micarta, G10/G11, Carbon fiber, Wood, Zytel, Utem, and yes even Terotuf they all have their place. I guess Ultrex too.
 
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Micarta does chance color easily from oil sweat etc but it's easy to restore with soapy water. It's difficult to describe precisely but micarta scales feel better in hands than g10, cf, or metal. Would like to learn and try this terotuff material.
 
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