overmodulated Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Ok folks, I did a forum search prior to posting and came up dry. I suspect the feature's not working properly at the moment because I'm pretty sure this topic was discussed before, so pardon any duplication. Why do many knifemakers favor use of a liner between the stock material and knife scales? Is it mainly for aesthetics, or is there a functional purpose? The engineer in me says it helps offset the stress between the wooden handles and the steel that expand and contract very differently as a function of temperature, which would cause premature separation, especially whn the metal stock is on the thin side and somewhat flexible. Thank you in advance for any feedback and insight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Gayhart Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 Yes, the spacers are supposed to act as a buffer for the glue joint. I've heard some knifemakers say it doesn't work that well, but I've never had a problem. Using stabilized handle material will eliminate most shrinkage problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluidsteel Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 For me, spacers are purely aesthetic... With the glues available, stabilized wood from K&G or WSSI, there's no worry about allowing for stress relief. Liner's are just another way for accents... Note, sometimes they can cause more problems that they are worth, especially vulcanized rubber.... Stick to G10 for thin liners and you'll be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacques Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 I read somewhere from a guy who made a knife with red liners: "Every girl looks better with a touch of lipstick." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arbalist Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 You can also use liners to make the handle a bit thicker if the scale material your'e using is a bit too thin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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