Carbon fiber knives

[Biggsly]

Have any of you made carbon fiber knives out of the carbon fiber sheets? If so, how hard is it to do?

 

[drmitchgibson]

It's not necessarily hard to work carbon fiber, but it is more time-consuming than you'd think. I haven't made a knife out of it (yet, thanks for the idea), but the amount and fineness of the dust generated when working it with hand tools is kind of a nightmare.

 

[Biggsly]

I have been thinking about trying it. I was hoping someone could give me some pointers.

 

[Matt1911]

Wear chemistry type goggles, a respirator, and ear plugs. You don't want those particles in you. Gloves and long sleeve shirt would be a good idea too.

Other than that you just need to find a pattern you want and get to filing/sanding.

 

[drmitchgibson]

Yeah, the dust will itch like a mother, worse than fiberglass, by far. It travels further than sawdust, too. About twice as far.

 

[Biggsly]

Yeah, the dust will itch like a mother, worse than fiberglass, by far. It travels further than sawdust, too. About twice as far.

I wondered about this. I spent many years in the body shops working fiberglass. I know it could really suck.

 

[rmuller]

what is the purpose of a CF knife? I understand the obvious weight, cool factor, no metal to detect, but an missing something i guess.

CF is light with a very high modulus, and while i have never tried to "sharpen" a sheet i woudl not think that it would hold much of an edge. Additionally CF sheet material will delaminate if struck from the edge. Additionally depending on the matrix resin it may or may not have any sort of weatherability.

Just curious, hell now, i might even try it also!

 

[twss]

I can't imagine it would hold an edge at all. If you just need a one time shank you can pass through a metal detector, then maybe. Otherwise I think you would be disappointed.

 

[harpstr]

If you're creating the blade out of CF that's as mentioned before a simple shank. If you are using CF as a handle then you might have something awesome.