Can you cut down a fiberglass handle like this, or is it going to perpetually shed off bits of fiberglass after that?If so, would throwing tape around the handle and some epoxy on the bottom fix the issue, or is it just structurally compromised?
>>2958446I've never cut one off, but I wouldn't imagine it would effect the structural integrity of it. If it does splinter, then yeah some epoxy or superglue on the end should help it hold together. It's probably a fiberglass core and overmolded with some kind of rubber or plastic, so the fiberglass will be exposed at the bottom where you cut it off. Why are you cutting it? Just get a shorter handled hammer to begin with. Drilling hammers have very short handles, or do you specifically want a cross-peen?
only one way to really find outbut this handles are likely just heavily reinforced plastic with a higher percentage of glass fiber than the typical plastic cased toolso maybe you would just need to heat it up gently with a torch to smooth it overand wear a mask when you cut/sand
>>2958455A little more complicated, I'm looking to also cut down the cross pein so I wind up with something that's 10" OAL with an adze on the back.>>2958456>and wear a mask when you cut/sandDefinitely.
>>2958446On a sledge, it'll be solid plastic Fiberglass is worthless without being embedded so idk wtf you're talking about 'shedding' lmao
>>2958446I've chopped down a few to get rid of the handle, they usually have just a core of fibreglass rod about half inch x 1" and the rest is usually just some plastic to give it shape. But yeah just epoxy would stop if flaking off if you intend keeping it
You need to cut it with an abrasive cutting tool and wear a respirator while you're doing it. If you cut it clean that way you can leave it as is, or sand off a chamfer. Fiberglass parts are trimmed after demolding exactly how I described.>t. Former head of a composites shop
>>2959021Thanks, any particular kind of abrasive? Searching for "fiberglass cutting wheel" of course returns wheels made of fiberglass.I was going to use a recip or similar handsaw to do it but I'm guessing the heat from the abrasive makes the cut cleaner?
>>2959084Anything carbide or harder should work. Remember that glass (and carbon for that matter) are ceramics, and the cut should be handled the same. It's slightly easier, because the epoxy matrix prevents crack propagation much better than pure ceramic.
>>2959099Thanks!
>>2959084Any standard abrasive metal cutting wheel sold for an angle grinder will work just fine. I dunno what the other anon is smoking saying you need a carbide blade...
>>2958459Can't you just get an adz and cut down the handle on it? What are you gaining by doing it this way?
>>2959189If you use a softer abrasive, you increase the risk of fiber pull-out, and your cut won't be as clean.
