Shaping fiberglass

[Zbearclaw]

Anything I should know?  I am making a knife to match my BW PSAII and will mostly use a file.

thanks

[skullworks]

Wear a respirator for sure!!!!! Dust mask won't cut it! Be careful and have fun. Go slow!

[OconeeDan]

Please tell us the nature of the fiberglass you are working with.  Strips?  Or just the hardened resin?  Are you using the strips as accent stripes?  Will wood also be involved or solid fiberglass handle?
Dan

[Zbearclaw]

I am using the thin laminations that Black Widow puts in the risers of the bow.  I got the strips from BW and glued up the handle to match my bow.

I am using actionwood as the wood to go with it.

I started filing and it appears that it is very workable like I had hoped.  I had a few minor issues on one section where I had a small runout (I guess that is what you call it), but I had plenty of more material to remove and all is well.

[Zbearclaw]

Originally posted by skullworks:
Wear a respirator for sure!!!!! Dust mask won't cut it! Be careful and have fun. Go slow!

I have been wearing a respirator for sure, thanks...

[OconeeDan]

If that is the case, use finer files.  Use sanding blocks when you can, and if the actionwood is stabilized and waterproof, use water when sanding.  If you use water and wet sand (using wet/dry sandpaper), the sandpaper will last longer and breathing fiberglass will not be in issue.  It should work very much like wood with the exception of runout.
Dan