Material for machete handle

Doublebit · Apr 29, 2016

Gentlemen,
What would be a good material to replace a broken machete handle, other than wood? I found a nice Collins blade from my East Texas oil-field surveying days with the front half of the original plastic grips broken off. I would like something more durable than wood. Any ideas?

LT

Lee Barner · Apr 29, 2016

I have seen micarta blanks for sale for knife handles but I don't know how big they were. don't know if they make them big enough for your needs. i'd just do a search for micarta knife handle blanks. hope this helps. and show us your finished product when you're done. lee

rburg · Apr 29, 2016

My Collins has a leather washer handle. The advantage being that you can make it yourself and whatever size pleases you. Leather isn't really soft, but its also not brittle like plastic.

OFT II · Apr 29, 2016

I found an old cane knife with broken wooden handles about twenty years ago. I wrapped the handle with duct tape until I obtained the size and grip that I wanted. Then I mixed some epoxy and coated the duct tape. It looks like the devil but it's still holding up.

BAM-BAM · Apr 29, 2016

A .....Para-cord wrap...........lot of blades done that way!!!!!!!!!!!

Rule3 · Apr 29, 2016

Polymer

A Hardwood would be mo classic an then put a epoxy/low gloss poly finish on it. Look good and last forever.

The Para Cord and epoxy sounds great also.

THE PILGRIM · Apr 29, 2016

Gin-u-wine waterbuffalo horn.
The hard part is to convince the buf to stand still and it won't hurt while you saw it off.

rburg · Apr 29, 2016

THE PILGRIM said:
Gin-u-wine waterbuffalo horn.
The hard part is to convince the buf to stand still

The last water buffalo I saw was in a restaurant, and she didn't take well to being called a water buffalo. I doubt if all of us combined could wrestle that fatty down to get any material.

Kronos · Apr 29, 2016

Get a "blank" piece as it's usually around 12x5x1/4 a machete handle is a bit larger then the average knife handle,but you could leave a few bits uncovered and be fine.

A piece like this:
http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/product_info.php?cPath=587_826_841_613&products_id=10584

Personally I'd go for canvas micarta as I feel it's stronger then paper micarta.

If you wanna be nutso you could get a hunk of G10 and make it from that,one thing to keep in mind with any of these materials is to wear a dust mask as getting this stuff in your lungs can suck,G10 is the worst as it's glass fiber so...yea,sucks.

I've hung around a few knife forums and I've made a few handles,I ought to get off my butt and actually make a knife somedays.

amazingflapjack · Apr 29, 2016

If you check the web-there are knife making supply companys where the selection and description should help.

shaggist · Apr 29, 2016

My cane knife, which my Father brought back from the Caribbean area during WWII has cheap, wood handles (scales), and has never given me a moment's trouble during all the time I have had and used it. They came from the Collins factory like that.

Drm50 · Apr 29, 2016

On utility type blades, especially if you are going to use it, I use
Transite Electrical insulation. It comes in different colors. Black
and a dull red most common. Can be salvaged out of control
boxes on large machinery. Material a lot like Micarta, but solid.
Most of it I run across is 1/2" thick.

Grip_Maker's_Wife · Apr 29, 2016

Even with the right tools, Micarta is not easy to cut, shape or work with. Certain woods will hold up and last longer than others like Teak and Lignum Vitae.

Mike SC Hunter · Apr 29, 2016

I put plexiglass handles on mine years ago........They have never cracked/warped or gotten loose.....Won't rot or shrink either....Put my name on the handle with an electric engraver.

Kronos · Apr 29, 2016

Grip_Maker's_Wife said:
Even with the right tools, Micarta is not easy to cut, shape or work with. Certain woods will hold up and last longer than others like Teak and Lignum Vitae.

Not that hard,I've taken rough spots off of micarta handles with some sandpaper.

Smith357 · Apr 29, 2016

Since you said west Texas how about some micarta from Jantz knife supply. Personally I would use that super tough Texas Mesquite. In Ohio the toughest wood we have here is Osage Orange so it's what Iused on this old British Machete

Jinglebob · Apr 29, 2016

I had an old hunting knife at one time that I made handles for out of aluminum. Take the aluminum stock and cut it with a band saw and shape it with a bench grinder then use a file and sandpaper to finish. Polish it on a polishing wheel. I found the aluminum easier to work than some of the very hard woods.

Stevens · Apr 29, 2016

When the plastic handle broke on mine I replaced it with wood cut and shaped to size, riveted them on it has been fine. I think it will be around for a long time.
Steve W

Marshwheeling · Apr 30, 2016

Try some Sugru. Depending on how much of your handle is gone, you might be able to repair the original grips, or else make new grips from scratch, although that would take quite a bit of material, and it is kind of expensive.

Sugru has the consistency of modeling clay when it first comes out of its packet to be exposed to air. When it cures, it sets up to a hard rubber-like consistency. You have about thirty minutes to work it, which is plenty of time.

I have used it to repair or modify a number of knife and tool handles. It adheres to wood, plastic and metal. I used to have to order it from England, but now it seems to be readily available in this country at places like Amazon or Lowe's.
FIX THAT THING | Sugru

SweetMK · Apr 30, 2016

Are you near Roanoke VA??

I could hook you up with some goncalo alves that is 3/4" thick,,,

it is the drops from when I floored our house,,,
Yep, the same stuff that S&W nice stocks are made from,,,

It is VERY rot resistant, harder than oak,,,

Sunlight will darken it,,,this floor is VERY dark now,,,

If you are near Toano,,you could stop by Lumber Liquidators and get a couple samples,,
they give them away,,,

Material for machete handle

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