ACRAGLAS in a syringe?

[Rog]

Hi all, just called Brownell's and suggested that they sell ACRAGLAS in packs of 4-5 separate 2 syringe sets (resen and hardener) with 4 to 1 ratio marks on the body of each, with separate bodies, and good replaceable caps. The syringes should be small for 5-6 small batches. Say 10 cc? I told the Tech I thought It would be a good seller for guys making knives, and small stock repairs. (He did too, and promised to pas it on)You wouldn't have to open the whole jar, and I think it would help in mixing the small amounts. It should be cheaper to buy too. What do you think. If you agree, CALL Brownell's!

[jim poling]

Hi Rog
That sounds like a good idea, I do miss the Epoxy syringe since I went to Acraglass a couple of years ago. I do have my doubts about it being cheaper in the long run, convenience and smaller portions always cost more for the manufacturer and in turn the customer. I do believe that you are correct that to but a syringe that has enough to do 5 knife handles will be cheaper than the bulk bottle that does 20 knives, but to get 4 syringes to do the same 20 handles I'm fairly certain it will cost more then the bulk bottles. Sometimes the convenience it worth the extra cost.

Jim

[Doug Lester]

The problem with your idea is that Acraglas is not made with the knife maker in mind. It's made to bed rifle barrels with. It might not be ecconomically feasable to do special packaging for users that represent a very small portion of the users of the product.

Doug

[Rog]

I understand that, but if enough of us like the idea, and tell Brownell's, maybe they will accommodate us.

[Rog]

Maybe one of us can come up with something we could load, use, clean out, and reuse for small jobs? Thats got me to thinking. Hmmmm Why didn't I think of that first?

[unclemike13]

I have used Acraglas in syringes for years. I use 20 CC syringes from the feed store and refill as needed from the large bottles.

[Rog]

Genius! Do you clean them out, throw away, or just reuse?

[Ed Caffrey]

While I can agree that having Acraglass available in a mixing apparatus would be nice, I also have to believe that it would be prohibitively expensive. It's already available in a wide range of sizes/quantities. http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1033/Product/ACRAGLAS-reg-

When I first started using it, I ordered a package of the graduated mixing cups...and by the time I had gone through that package, I had the mixing down to where I could do it by eye. One of the things that I like about the size/type I purchase (28oz resin/7oz hardener) is that I can buy it one time, and have enough for about a years worth of knifemaking for me. Many folks will balk at the price ($60), but it's actually cheaper than buying the same quantity of double syringes of other name brand epoxies. Add to that the fact that acraglass has a 10 year shelf life, and a guaranteed 50 year hold life, and it's a winner for me.

[Rog]

Just getting use to idea of using ACRAGLAS for knife work, because I've been using Dev con, and Locktite. But, after reading Ed's thread on the two-part wally world stuff breaking down after approx 5 years Ill never use it again. I want to thank everybody for all the help. There's nobody I can find around the Terre Haute IN area to talk to. So, for the last 4 years I've been going by what I can find on the INTERNET. and the book shelfs. I haven't started selling yet, but want to. I've been giving them all away to family and friends. No complaints yet, but My aim is to make a quality knife to be used, not put on a wall. I want to be able to trust myself totally. I must say, I have found you all to be some good open, and honest men, and I try to live the same way. Thanks fellas.

[Ed Caffrey]

Indiana?

That's where I grew up! A ways away from Terre Haute, but still a Hooiser at heart!

I grew up in a little town on the Ohio River called Alton (Crawford County). Find yourself a copy of the Knives Annual (like Knives 2011, 2012) and in the back it lists knifemakers by state. Don't overlook getting around to other places too. While having to travel to visit other makers seems costly and time consuming....it's well worth it.
Cindy (my Mrs.) and I once sat down and rough figured what I had spent on my knifemaking "education"....shop visits, Hammer-Ins, seminars, etc. Up through the time I made my Mastersmith, we have invested approx. $30K in my "education". Much of that time we were still rolling up pennies to buy our baby daughter milk! The point being, it was over a number of years, and each "trip" took me another step up the knifemaking ladder. Although it was often a struggle in both time and money at the time, looking back, it was time and money well spent.

"Selling" is something that occurs over time, and takes a lot of determination and effort. But if you produce a good product, pay attention to what the knife buying public wants, and create your "own" knives and identity, it will happen for you.
The biggest misconception is going "full time". It's not at all easy, and most full time makers live "hand to mouth", or have another source of income they rely on. The only saying is: Behind every successful full time knifemaker.....is a Wife with a really good job!

We do because we love it. I know if I had to rely solely on knifemaking for my income....I'd very likely have another job outside the home.

OK, I'll stop....got off on one of my tangents.

Enjoy knifemaking, do the best you can with each and every knife you make, and understand that it's not about the destination.....it's about the journey.

[grant]

Last week I tried some of the self-measuring dual syringe "5 minute" epoxy you can buy at Target and Wally World and such. Big mistake.

It took 5 or 6 days to harden at room temperature (we keep the thermostat at 60). When it was "hard" I was able to pull handle off the tang without much force. I'm thinking it shrunk a bunch when hardening and there were only a few tendrils holding it all together.

Maybe I just got a bad batch. I won't be trying the stuff again.

[Horsewright]

Just a word. Ed is right on the other epoxies. On a filet knife I made for a buddy. Right at 2 years and 2 months the Dev Con let go, just like it was designed to do. Sheephorn scales just popped. Pins still holding em on but could ya could see daylight both sides of the tang. Its clamped up on the bench right now. Lets see did we use Acraglas this time? Yep. Gotta be another B Baller coming from there!

[Rog]

Well guy's, I'm retired from the fed pen in "TH". 25 years as a maintenance Foreman, firearms instructor, and armed escort instructor. Welder by trade, moved to Clinton 30 yrs ago. (15 miles north or TH) Yea Ed. I sure know were Alton is. Me and the wife take a weekly road trip, all back roads. She takes the pics, I row the boat. We love old stuff, barns, bridges, out buildings, eagles, cows, etc. We love small towns. Its a little hard living off a fixed income, thinking about getting a part time job to pay for the play things. I made my first knife in vocational school about 1978 it was. Still got it. Go to "Pics & Pieces" Its one of my wife's blogs. Lots of pics of barns, wildlife, and some of my knives, and my gas forge I made. Got a small packed full shop. Don't ever expect to go full time, I just want to make real quality stuff, trying to learn heat treating too. Ill be here, reading and learning, you guy's are the best. If ever any of you are in Clinton IN, stop by.

[Rog]

The small one is the first I ever made, the big one is the first I ever made for a friend, about 5 years ago.

[Brad Johnson]

Guys,
You might want to try Acra 20 it comes in a dual syringe and is sold by our friends at Brownells. I have used it for hidden tang knives. I had a bad fit-up once and decided to knock it apart. Once Acra-glass products harden there is no knocking them apart. I had to cut the handle off. From what I read on their site, Acra 20 maintains some flexibility at full strength and is useful for stressful applications, e.g. camp knives. The big drawback is it only comes in the syringes, enough for 3-4 full tangs and 1-2 hidden tangs. Just my 2 Cents$$.