Why G10?

[IGotStabbed]

What is so good about G10? As far as I can see, it's plastic and is not better than Aluminum. Why do so many makers use it? What are the advantages over Aluminum?

 

[FlaMtnBkr]

G10 doesn't feel like plastic. It is tough, can be finished to different textures, and is impervious to most chemicals. I'm sure others will chime in with other benefits.

That being said I don't like metal handles, especially aluminum. It is cold, slick, can be heavy, and the finish gets dinged easily. I won't buy a knife with metal handles, with the exception of maybe a Ti slabbed knife to give a try. The knives I do have with metal handles don't get carried ever.

With everything, this is my opinion, but I think you will find quite a few people who have come to the same conclusions.

 

[Josh K]

What is so good about G10? As far as I can see, it's plastic and is not better than Aluminum. Why do so many makers use it? What are the advantages over Aluminum?

It's nonconductive. It doesn't absorb liquids. It's heat and cold resistant. You can mill and shape it fairly easily. It provides great texture and variety of colors. It's extremely durable.

It's not plastic.

 

[UpChUcK]

...it's light weight...

 

[PG5768]

G10 is a type of fiber reinforced plastic that is typically used for printed circuit boards. Its relatively strong, heat and chemical resistant, a good insulator, and depending on the color of the plastic and fiber reinforcing, can be quite attractive. It is somewhat similar to micarta.

Wikipedia link to FRP

 

[ron_m80]

....double post?

 

[CWL]

Aluminum will stress and fail over time, G10 epoxy and glass will not.

Not really that important for our knives, but critical for aerospace and military applications.

add: you can have it in various colors, even at the same time.

 

[ron_m80]

G10 doesn't oxidize. And isn't there something about Electrolisis and disimmilar metals.

 

[Paul 883215]

why not?

 

[knarfeng]

G10 is lighter than aluminum.
G10 can be given a texture that is grippier than aluminum.
G10, if surfaced correctly, won't show scratches as easily as aluminum.

 

[harkamus]

It's nonconductive. It doesn't absorb liquids. It's heat and cold resistant. You can mill and shape it fairly easily. It provides great texture and variety of colors. It's extremely durable.

It's not plastic.

I agree with everything except that it's easy to mill. You need a good vacuum to mill it as the airborne dust is very hazardous to your health.

I think most people that work with it use some kind of liquid to trap the particles. They also use respirators.

I do love g10.

 

[Josh K]

I agree with everything except that it's easy to mill. You need a good vacuum to mill it as the airborne dust is very hazardous to your health.

I think most people that work with it use some kind of liquid to trap the particles. They also use respirators.

I do love g10.

I meant easy to mill compared to aluminum or other metals. It's not going to eat drill bits like metals, though you need a good respirator. I wouldn't want to be breathing in fiberglass.

 

[yablanowitz]

My experience with fiberglass in general is it eats bits faster than steel. Glass fibers are small, but hard.

For me, the largest advantage to G-10 or even FRN over metal handles is the lower thermal conductivity. It simply doesn't feel as hot or cold as metal handles when working in hot or cold temperatures. That gets important when you work outdoors in a place where the temperature ranges from 120 F in the summer to -20 in the winter.

 

[derrickd803]

What is so good about G10? As far as I can see, it's plastic and is not better than Aluminum. Why do so many makers use it? What are the advantages over Aluminum?

Its not plastic, its a fiberglass woven fabric impregnated with epoxy.
I believe I read that it was also as strong or almost at strong as aluminum
Doesnt show wear like aluminum does either

 

[symphonyincminor]

That gets important when you work outdoors in a place where the temperature ranges from 120 F in the summer to -20 in the winter.

I hope you're wearing gloves in that -20 degree winter!

But yeah, anything posted in this thread generally sums up why these hightech plastics are used so much as opposed to staineless or aluminum. I don't get why more companies knurl their aluminum or titanium handles like the texture found on Arc flashlights?

 

[Sep]

G-10:

• Is about 30% lighter than 6061-T6 aluminum (common alloy used in knife scales) while having approximately the same tensile strength.
• Has much more friction than aluminum, and can be textured for even more traction.
• Is an excellent heat and electrical insulator. As a matter of fact G-10 is a NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) specification used for power generation and transmission industries.
• Can be made in many more colors.
• Does not scratch as easily and noticeably as aluminum.

 

[Skimo]

G-10 is amazing, a bit of reading would be in order.

G10 FR4 laminate grades are produced by inserting continuous glass woven fabric impregnated with an epoxy resin binder while forming the sheet under high pressure. This material is used extensively in the electronics industry because its water absorption is extremely minimal and the G10 line of materials is not electrically conductive. The G10 FR4 is most commonly used in PCB (Printed Circuit Boards) applications. G10 exhibits superior mechanical and dimensional stability and doesn't shrink. Temperature ratings of 180 degrees C. In addition to these properties, G10/FR4 has excellent dielectric loss properties, and great electrical strength. The difference between Grades G10 and FR4 is that FR4 is a fire retardant grade of G10. FR4 (also known as Garolite) can be substituted where G10 is specified; G10 can never be substituted for FR4. G10 is also known as Micarta and Garolite and can be used for structural supports, buss bars, mechanical insulation, gears, test fixtures, washers, spacers and tight tolerance machined parts for electromechanical assemblies.

Can withstand 300F , won't retain water, easily formed, light, non-conductive, not brittle, won't melt away, but will char.

sounds to me like technology is simply being incorporated giving us lighter and tougher knives, what's not to like?

 

[Golbat]

G10 is a great handle material (as said above). My fingers don't freeze on a G10 handle in a cold environment. :thumbup:

 

[tirod3]

Actually, there aren't all that many high tech plastics used for knife grips. Most are used as scales over a supporting metal insert, like Delrin on slipjoints. Fiberglass reinforced nylon isn't anything like G10, simply because it's injection molded. G10 is laminated and cured as sheets, which then require further processing. It's much closer to Micarta, and when shaped, has a similar layered look. FRN just goes fuzzy. FRN also needs a stiff backer, which is why you almost always see it used on cheap liner locks. The stainless steel liners are required to prevent the scales collapsing against the blade and trapping it when clipped in the pocket. Integrally molded clips will also loosen and the knife will fall out - which is why you no longer see those on quality knives like Spyderco.

G10 is stiff enough to need no liners, and expensive enough to shape that it isn't found on cheap junk knives. Because the labor to work it drives up the price, a decent steel is used, and you automatically get a superior knife compared to all the FRN junk flooding the market from the four corners of the earth. You also get construction techniques that can't shortcut a quality build.

All told, a G10 knife usually stands head and shoulders above the pack of FRN curs barking for your attention.

 

[crom]

If you drop a G-10 handled knife and an Aluminum handled knife from chest height onto concrete, the G-10 example will show little to no damage. Whereas the Aluminum handled knife is sure to show some scars.