Aging of Ivory Paper Micarta, Questions??

D

DDS

Joined
Apr 16, 1999
Messages
286
I have a folder with Ivory paper micarta and over time the handle slabs have aged differently. One side is modestly more yellow than the other. If the handles were made from the same slab of micarta, can this occur? I several other knives with this micarta and both sides aged the same. Is there a method to accelerate this aging process? OR maybe should I let it be and appreciate the unique character of this particular knife? Your thoughts would be appreciated. Of course, I have handles of natural materials (bone, stag, etc.) that are slightly different in color/ texture but this is to be expected. It just seems that the synthetic would be more consistent. Thanks, Dave
 
Has the knife been kept primarily in a drawer, or was it ever left for a long period where light got on it - maybe the top side would age more in that case?
 
Thanks for the reply. It has been in a safe most of the time. It's a collector. Just real unusual and only knife I have that has done this.
 
I was going to suggest light exposure also. Or if one side is against leather and the other exposed to air. Anyway, Torz beat me to it.

Really I am posting to say your handle and avatar always crack me up, Torz.
 
I have a folder with the ivory micarta and I'm supposing it is paper based. Mine has some aging, but hasn't turned yellow or even a yellowish tint, it just seems to have gotten a bit more ivory looking, if that makes sense:) . I have sanded the micarta, using some 1500 grit, then 2000 grit paper, just to polish it a bit and bring out the ivory look. The yellow tint has to be the epoxy base I would think, and a light sanding might even both out. You also might use some fine polishing compound on it to see how that works. I have used it in the past with some good results.
 
The term "Micarta" covers a wide range of materials. It is cloth impregnated with resin. "Linen Micarta" is linen impregnated with resin. There is no limit on what resin is used. The most common resins used for this are phenolic and epoxy. And even those terms are very generic. There are lots of variants of each resin.

As Torz said, different conditions can cause differences in aging effects. So it is possible for two pieces cut from the same slab to change color at different rates. But if it has been in a safe most of the time, then this seems an unlikely source of the variation.

I'm not sure how I would try to equilibrate the color. You might try taking it out of the safe and put it on top of your dresser, out of direct sunlight but set such that the darker side is exposed to indirect sunlight. See what that does after a couple of weeks.

As to whether you should try to modify or not, that would be up to you.

=========================
There's old pilots
There's bold pilots
There's no old bold pilots
 
Thanks guys for the feedback. I'll probaby do as most of you suggested and expose it to light for a few weeks. I'll get back with the results.
Thanks again! Dave
 
I have a knife with white/ivory micarta...the old stuff.
It spent a good deal of time in it's kydex sheath. The handle out of the sheath darkened more than in the sheath, but only on the side that was down (in the knife drawer).
Granted it wasn't a startling difference, but I could see it.
Now it is in the chest, out of the sheath, other side up and seems to be evening up some.
I guess it's oxidation of some sort :D
 
Ebbtide: Thanks for sharing your experience. I hope to be able to even out the difference by experimenting with light exposure.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top