Images From a Visit to IYRS: A Trades & Technology School in Newport, RI
Check out these photos from IYRS, a trade and technology school in Newport, RI that blends traditional wooden boatbuilding with modern making techniques.
composites
How-To: Paper Micarta
Micarta is a genericized trademark referring to a composite material made from layers of paper or fabric impregnated with thermosetting resin. It is rigid, tough, and electrically insulating, and has many applications ranging from power distribution equipment to countertops. It is also commonly used in knife, gun, and tool handles, where its laminated construction offers decorative effects ranging from subtle wood-grain-like patterns to out-and-out gaudy riots of color.
How To: Mix and Mold Glass Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (GFRC)
Concrete expert Brandon Gore on mixing and applying glass-fiber reinforced concrete.
Interesting sawdust + plastic bags materials hack
This “50% sawdust” project from Israel’s Kulla design involves mixing equal parts sawdust and shredded plastic bags in a mold under heat and mild pressure to produce a composite chip-board type material that, reportedly, requires no other adhesives, binders, or other components. Lots of questions left to be answered, but an interesting start. [via Dude […]
How-To: Make micarta from blue jeans
“Micarta” (Wikipedia) is a genericized trademark that refers to a rigid composite material made from laminated paper, fiberglass, cloth, or other material impregnated with a plastic resin. It is commonly used as an electrical insulator and as a tool handle, particularly for knives.
Cliff Fendley of Fendley Knives, together with fellow knifemaker Mike Carter of Carter Crafts, set out to make some “micarta” of their own using scrap denim and epoxy resin. Even better, they documented their efforts with a detailed series of photos so others can play along at home. Kudos to both makers for “open-sourcing” a method they could easily have kept under their hats as a trade secret. [Thanks, Alan Dove!]
How-To: Make rigid carbon fiber tubes
Epoxyworks is a free magazine published biannually, and archived online, by Michigan’s Gougeon Brothers, Inc., who use it to promote their West System brand of epoxy resins, which I have not used and have no stake in, but it’s chock full of tutorials, tips, and techniques for working with composite materials that could probably be “de-branded” and used with whomever’s products you prefer. Shown here are photos from one article that caught my eye (PDF), by J.R. Watson, showing how to form straight and curved rigid composite tubes in carbon fiber, kevlar, fiberglass, or other braided material by laying the composite up over a mold made from split foam pipe insulation. It also covers techniques for joining the finished rigid tubing sections. [Thanks, Alan Dove!]
Neal Stephenson’s Telescoping Sword
As promised, here are shots of Neal’s telescoping sword. Pictured is Neal’s collaborator, Pablos, with Komposite. Nice work, guys! I suppose the world of recreational swordfighting is now a slightly safer place:)
