Did you get a few to add to the door today.....
Cheap and ugly
- standy99
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Re: Cheap and ugly
Im a vegetarian as technically cows are made of grass and water.
- elmeringalo
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Re: Cheap and ugly
Hi Yablanovitz, Won't you have a 52100 to spare for me?
No por mucho tempranar, amanece mas madrugo
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Re: Cheap and ugly
Yeah, I got my order in for two of the new ones. I have plenty of paracord on hand and my new sheath is working well. Now all I have to do is hope that UPS can make it from Golden to here before the spring thaw.standy99 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 12, 2021 11:17 amDid you get a few to add to the door today.....
Re: Cheap and ugly
Is there any concern of the paracord holding onto moisture? Not in your closet, obviously, but in use?
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Re: Cheap and ugly
It dries pretty fast here, but I live in a near-desert climate. I'm also not bothered by a little rust on the handle under it. Most if not all of mine have gotten wet time and again, and not a single handle has rusted off yet.
Re: Cheap and ugly
My first mule and my first attempt at a paracord wrap. It’s a nice cheap way into trying SPY27.
Para 3 Maxamet | Para 3 CruWear DLC | Smock M4 Jade G-10 | Shaman Z-Wear Micarta | Salt 2 LC200N Wharnie | Chaparral Birdseye Maple | Lil’ Native S90V CF | Dragonfly 2 20CV | Ladybug K390 | CRK Small Sebenza 31 S45VN PJ
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Re: Cheap and ugly
Necro thread and ready to rock.
Cheap, the HDPE is cut from coffee and hot chocolate tubs. Ugly, well...
I have tried to make scales with HDPE in the past, and failed.
This time it is working so far. I used HDPE glue to stick the layers together. Rested 24 hrs. Then, into the toaster oven, just until toasty. I found adding a small amount of weight while in the oven helps. I did rig up a janky flattening plate to put the weight on. The scales came out flat, hard and laminated well.
Next steps, later.
Cheap, the HDPE is cut from coffee and hot chocolate tubs. Ugly, well...
I have tried to make scales with HDPE in the past, and failed.
This time it is working so far. I used HDPE glue to stick the layers together. Rested 24 hrs. Then, into the toaster oven, just until toasty. I found adding a small amount of weight while in the oven helps. I did rig up a janky flattening plate to put the weight on. The scales came out flat, hard and laminated well.
Next steps, later.
Spyderco: Tenacious G10, Waterway, Para 3 Spy27, Pacific Salt H1, Catcherman, In the Mule Team Stable(Z-Max, Z-Wear, S45VN, Magnacut, SRS13/SUS405, M398, Aeb-l, 15v)
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Re: Cheap and ugly
I like this upcycling of what would otherwise end up as waste into handle scales. I'm very curious to see how this turns out.
"...it costs nothing to be polite." - Winston Churchill
“Maybe the cheese in the mousetrap is an artificially created cheaper price?” -Sal
Friends call me Jim. As do my foes.
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Re: Cheap and ugly
I dig this idea, too. And by the looks of that ketchup-mustard material sandwich, I bet the contrast will look *so* good once it's shaped.
I'm also keen to thank you for resurrecting this thread - I'm new to the forum and Mule Team and had not seen it. This is the punk rock scale & sheath thread I didn't know I needed.
I'm also keen to thank you for resurrecting this thread - I'm new to the forum and Mule Team and had not seen it. This is the punk rock scale & sheath thread I didn't know I needed.
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Re: Cheap and ugly
Thanks guys. I'm away from this project for a week or two now. Got some 15v with Halpern scales to go try out.
Spyderco: Tenacious G10, Waterway, Para 3 Spy27, Pacific Salt H1, Catcherman, In the Mule Team Stable(Z-Max, Z-Wear, S45VN, Magnacut, SRS13/SUS405, M398, Aeb-l, 15v)
Re: Cheap and ugly
I see you, and I'll raise you...
I used the foam inserts my Shapton stones shipped with for padding and it's actually surprisingly comfortable.
Even reused the little tip-holder thing Spyderco ships it with.
I used the foam inserts my Shapton stones shipped with for padding and it's actually surprisingly comfortable.
Even reused the little tip-holder thing Spyderco ships it with.
Re: Cheap and ugly
I tried paracord initially because I have a lot of it, and Mules have a lot of holes to thread/anchor to. I quickly abandoned it because it gunked up with moderate to hard use and then was difficult to clean, it retained moisture and promoted rusting on non-stainless models, and on top of all that it was fairly uncomfortable to use over time. So much so that I still needed gloves for any heavy use. Even just working through cardboard was a chore for me, so I went down the path of making contoured wooden handles instead.
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Re: Cheap and ugly
As I silently view my cards I realize, not only do you have me covered on cheep and ugly, you also have me beaten in terms of efficiency too. Well played sir.
Spyderco: Tenacious G10, Waterway, Para 3 Spy27, Pacific Salt H1, Catcherman, In the Mule Team Stable(Z-Max, Z-Wear, S45VN, Magnacut, SRS13/SUS405, M398, Aeb-l, 15v)
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Re: Cheap and ugly
I agree as I have had similar experiences with cord wraps. Cord wraps can get one going and give you some grip, get a person started so they can make that next step to wood, or cardboard, foam and tape.bobartig wrote: ↑Sun Jun 04, 2023 10:26 amI tried paracord initially because I have a lot of it, and Mules have a lot of holes to thread/anchor to. I quickly abandoned it because it gunked up with moderate to hard use and then was difficult to clean, it retained moisture and promoted rusting on non-stainless models, and on top of all that it was fairly uncomfortable to use over time. So much so that I still needed gloves for any heavy use. Even just working through cardboard was a chore for me, so I went down the path of making contoured wooden handles instead.
Spyderco: Tenacious G10, Waterway, Para 3 Spy27, Pacific Salt H1, Catcherman, In the Mule Team Stable(Z-Max, Z-Wear, S45VN, Magnacut, SRS13/SUS405, M398, Aeb-l, 15v)
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Re: Cheap and ugly
After being out played in the cheep and ugly game, I return with determination to finish.ykspydiefan wrote: ↑Fri Jun 02, 2023 10:10 amNecro thread and ready to rock.
Cheap, the HDPE is cut from coffee and hot chocolate tubs. Ugly, well...
IMG_20230601_164246577scale.jpg
I have tried to make scales with HDPE in the past, and failed.
IMG_20230601_164708636scale3.jpg
This time it is working so far. I used HDPE glue to stick the layers together. Rested 24 hrs. Then, into the toaster oven, just until toasty. I found adding a small amount of weight while in the oven helps. I did rig up a janky flattening plate to put the weight on. The scales came out flat, hard and laminated well.
Next steps, later.
Nice thing with HDPE, it cuts and shapes very easily. Finding a glue that sticks is not so easy.
My previous effort, I only used heat. This time, I pressed the HDPE flat for a couple days before I cut the shapes. Then, glued and pressed. Then, heated and pressed. Then, shaped reheated and pressed.
This is my janky rig.
No less janky than my shaping stand.
Again, I really like HDPE because you can trim away miniscule amounts with an pen knife and what is left behind can be very smooth. I used very little sanding, just ruffed it up for grip.
I was inspired by the last tape and cardboard sheath I saw. And, thought to go that route for this project.
I went with Tuck tape. No sticky mess like duct tape, it is water proof, can be worked with when wet, does not degrade as bad in the sun. RED TAPE RULES.
The plastic does have an angularity to it which gives it grip. There are no sharp or edgy bits in the plastic. The softness of HDPE make it easy to smoothen. Counter sinking the screws was too easy, almost blew right through with the drill.
I used Halpern hardware. Thanks Halpern!
ps HDPE is repairable in the field by lighting another piece of HDPE on fire and dripping the plastic on to fix the crack or break.
Spyderco: Tenacious G10, Waterway, Para 3 Spy27, Pacific Salt H1, Catcherman, In the Mule Team Stable(Z-Max, Z-Wear, S45VN, Magnacut, SRS13/SUS405, M398, Aeb-l, 15v)
Re: Cheap and ugly
Thumbs up, YK. Strong work and extra points for originality!!
Steel novice who self-identifies as a steel expert. Proud M.N.O.S.D. member 0003. Spydie Steels: 4V, 15V, 20CV, AEB-L, AUS6, Cru-Wear, HAP40, K294, K390, M4, Magnacut, S110V, S30V, S35VN, S45VN, SPY27, SRS13, T15, VG10, XHP, ZWear, ZDP189
Re: Cheap and ugly
Very nice What glue did you find that worked with HDPE? I remember trying to glue some of that stuff together for something else a while back, and that stuff does NOT like to be glued.
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Re: Cheap and ugly
Thanks Bolster,
Thanks kennbr34,
I used this glue...
The active ingredient is "Cyanoacrylate." So far as I have found, that is the stuff that gets the job done. Ruff up the plastic, remove any debris or dust, glue, no boo hoo. I am sure that a couple rounds of heat helped too. The heat is more mystery as to actual temperature. I got the plastic melty but not runny in any way.
The result is a usable handle. Not for hard use or bush craft/baton in any way, but it is good for card board through to light camp chores.
Spyderco: Tenacious G10, Waterway, Para 3 Spy27, Pacific Salt H1, Catcherman, In the Mule Team Stable(Z-Max, Z-Wear, S45VN, Magnacut, SRS13/SUS405, M398, Aeb-l, 15v)