All About Pocket Knives

I used to always looking for something to mix my 2 part epoxy on and something to stir it with.

I have been using the following solution for the last 6 months.

Instead of throwing that sandpaper out when the grit is smooth, shake it out, or rather slap it against the shop door or something to get the backside clean. I then use the "cleaned backside" of the sandpaper to mix my epoxy on. I also use the cardboard of empty cereal boxes if I remember.

At Walgreens I buy Q-tips by the thousand for $1.00.
I keep Q-tips on hand to clean up excess epoxy and other small stuff.

I also cut off the cotton tip to use to mix the epoxy. The only 2 part epoxies I use are JB Weld and the K&G 2 part (slow cure, it will be stronger) that you can add a colored dye to (powdered form). The rest of the 2 part adhesives I use don't need stirring.

I got tired of looking around the shop for stuff to mix a little epoxy, a nail here, a piece of wood over there.
These are 2 things I keep on hand anyway, so I use them, so now I wait before I throw that sandpaper out, making sure it was not something that I need a respirator to sand, throw those out IMMEDIATELY.

In the long run I will look for a stainless steel rod that I can hang from my workbench to mix epoxy, I'd rather not buy popsicle sticks. I can probably pick one up cheap, the price of scrap at Bataef's, the local Sanford and son goody yard (no, I can't call it a junkyard, they have a lot of treasures there). I did manage to pick up a few copper bars to use as bolsters in 3/16 and 1/4 inch thicknesses there.

Cool tips Hukk, I use Q tips for mixing epoxy too. I have a small phillips screwdriver with the tip stripped off (don't know how that happened...no....really ) I ground the tip flat and use it for mixing epoxy, it works to knock out the occasional scale pin too. I like the little plastic clampacks the dremel bits come in, I slice the top off, use the backside, and use the cavity where the bit was too. I use crdboard alot too, the glossed stuff works best (cereal boxes like you mentioned) as it doesn't absorb the epoxy like corrugated cardboard does.

I use Gator-Aid lids and bulk popcycle sticks I pick up at the craft store. The lids are just the right size for most knife handles and I just wipe off the sticks or if I forget to wipe them off I just peel the dried glue off with my pocket knife. I've been waiting to share that one.

Jerry

P.s. My first post.

Welcome aboard Jerry, good ideas!

Jerry!
I use note pads from hotels to mix epoxy on and bulk toothpicks from some cheap store like the Dollar Store. I also use bulk popsicle sticks to mix big batches. The note pads are also good when I need to write something down & can't find a piece of paper in my shop!

I also use the popsicle sticks for sanding. I glue sandpaper to the sticks to get into tight areas. They can also be shaped.

I use the bulk Q-tips to clean out the buffing dust from the inside liners after I wax the wood or stag handles. Another good thing for this are the little foam Q-tip type things ladies use to put their makeup on with. (That was a tip from someone on this forum).

Great tips everyone, keep them coming.

Dale

Welcome Jerry! Indeed, isn't it the small stuff that just drives you banannas. Always drove me nuts tring to find little stuff like that.

Eventually, I plan to make stainless steel spatulas, I know you can buy them at K&G, but sonner or later I will have a scrap piece and I'll make them then.

For years, I have been using loose ceramic tiles, like 8" x 8". Smooth ones...I had some left over years back, made cheap trivets out of a few. The others I hung on to.

I like the tiles, cause after awhile, I just take a razor blade scraper, clean it off, and good to go again. They might break if you drop them, but they are quite durable surface-wise.

For mixing, I use small cable ties, or a dental pick.

Glenn

Thanks for the welcome guys. I like your enthusiasm.

Jerry

Great tips. When I am using my electric buffer/grinder I use the rubber trianglular car parts that I find along the highway that get knocked off the cars when they hit bumps. I put one or two of them on the workbench where needed to rest my hands on while buffing/grinding. I use them to rest my hands on and I can spend more time working and not get tired quickly. They are just the right height for me.

I save the lids from butter tubs and coffee cans. The epoxy breaks off when dried and you can use it again. For stiring and spreading i cut the tip of a popsicle stick off at an angle.

Well....seeing as how I'm a cabinet maker, there's never a shortage of melamine coated 1/4" scrap around the shop. Makes a great mixing "pallete" and I use an 8d finish nail to stir it with. I make my little "spreading sticks' in bulk and keep them in a drawer, so they're always handy.