How to work with Kirinite

Kirinite offers an unusual blend of durability and workability. Unlike other acrylic materials, it’s not brittle, so it resists chipping and cracking. Sanding, shaping, drilling, and buffing are also easy with Kirinite…when treated with just a bit of restraint, the material won't melt, seize your drill bit, or warp when being worked.

You don’t need special tools to work with Kirinite, either…whether you’re accustomed to working with wood, plastics, stone, bone, or other substances, you can use the same tools on Kirinite without fouling the tools or compromising the beauty or integrity of the material.

Here’s an example of what professionals are saying about working with Kirinite:

“I’ve never had a problem with Kirinite. It’s easy to shape and sand, and you can finish it any way you want…you can polish it like a gem, give it a satin finish, or whatever you can imagine. I’d rather work with Kirinite than with wood, because the Kirinite is more forgiving.”

— Ryan Carlson, NYKM

“Kirinite is excellent to work with…it’s not chippy, grainy, or melty. Other polymers tend to heat up and cling to drill bits and other machinery, but Kirinite keeps its stability. Plus, it polishes beautifully, and has a good, rich feel in the hand.”

– Mike “Whiskers” Allen, WhiskersKnives.com

“Kirinite is very stable…it doesn’t shrink, it’s easy to shape, easy to sand…in fact, it’s the easiest stuff to work with in our shop! It polishes nicely, too…and the more you polish it, the less slippery it gets!”

– Wally Gardner, Canal Street Cutlery

This video will give you a glimpse of how easy it is to work with Kirinite: