Using (coloured) plastic for knife spacers?

[penvisser]

Has anyone used plastic for spacers with knife making?

I have a black plastic bucket in my barn and thought af cutting strips out of it and use it for spacers in a knife handle.

What do you think of that? :bluThinki

Penvisser

 

[Geuf]

it seems to me that it is tougher to shape in comparison with naturalmaterials. but I also think: 'try it'. why not. If it functions well, why not use it. very interested in the result!

 

[drat]

i've read that you can use plastic for spacers. i would start on a scrap piece and make the plastic a bit bigger then the wood. when you glue things together the glue will act like a lube and things will slide around some.

 

[Longstrider]

There have been several threads on this subject over on British Blades. Basically, the general opinion is that you can use just about any thin plastic sheet you like to make spacers as long as it is at least as hard as the handle material ( to prevent it wearing faster and ending up sitting lower than it's surroundings). Stuff I've sseen used ranges from the ultra-thin stuff (red) that came from inside a biscuit tin or something like that to some scrap perspex that must have been about 5mm thick.
It does become pretty slippery witha little epoxy on it, but not much more than a well sanded piece of wood. I make all spacers over-sized then cut or sand everything to size and shape once the resin has set. This way any small amount of slippage during glueing, clamping and setting will not ruin the project.