I have a large chunk of 1" thick phenolic that I would like to use as a wear surface in my hammer. Is there any reason this would be a bad idea using it for the slide box of the hammer? The box will be around 32" tall and the hammer is around 4" x 8" x 34" and i have enough to line the whole box.  Good idea or bad idea? We are making the fit adjustable for future wear.

Thanks in advance

I'm not sure but I think it contains formaldehyde, so I would be concerned about fumes when it gets hot.

Bronze works good.

Phenolic Plastic that has a reinforcing mat in it is tough stuff and I would venture that it is way better than the often used UHMWP ( white chopping board ) as its often used for bearings and gears and if well lubed lasts along time. Bronze would even better but if you want to use what you have I would say go for it

Phenolic resins are very high temperature materials, they're often used in jet and rocket engines, I doubt friction as a skid bearing surface in a power hammer will bring them anywhere near their smoke point. I'd be more concerned with dust caused by abrasion but if it's lubed it should be okay. I made some jet engine parts with heat cured, phenolic impregnated fiberglass mat in the early 70s in S. Cal. It is awesome tough stuff, if I needed to it's what I'd make armor with, 2 plies of 7 oz. stopped bullets up to 3006 military hard ball. Silver tip hunting bullets left smears. 

It s or was expensive though.

Frosty The Lucky.

3 minutes ago, Frosty said:

2 plies of 7 oz. stopped bullets up to 3006 military hard ball. Silver tip hunting bullets left smears. 

So, good for safety glasses then?

I've never seen clear phenolic, I haven't kept up with the stuff. Last I worked with it was 1972.

If it comes in clear it should make safety glasses that could be driven through your head without breaking.

Frosty The Lucky.

I just did a quick websearch for "clear phenolic", and while there do appear to be clear phenolic-based coatings (for lining steel pails and things like that), it doesn't appear to be available in sheets. Oh, well.

Bummer, guess I'll put my pellet gun away then. And I was soooo looking forward to guys sending me some to shoot. <sigh> 

Frosty's test facility. LLC

2 hours ago, JHCC said:

 it doesn't appear to be available in sheets. Oh, well.

  I smell a get rich quick opportunity!

How about reactive armour safety glasses?

Those are best suited for running a blast furnace.

On 2/18/2021 at 7:04 AM, ThomasPowers said:

How about reactive armour safety glasses?

LOL that went off on tangent quickly

It's a-spalling how these things can ricochet.  I blame sabot-age. 

That one shoe dated you Thomas.

Frosty The Lucky.

My wooden face answers neither yea nor nay!

Is indecision cloggin the noggin? 

Frosty The Lucky.

Anti-diss-a------patient!  (Aunti if I wear the fishnets!)

A relatively sein response I sea.

Frosty The Lucky.

A net gain, unless it's a trawl tale.

There's something fishy about your statements!  Are you floundering around?

Something along those lines.

You're a couple chums luring me back. 

Frosty The Lucky.