Amazing what a little sno-seal can accomplish

[longbow50]

I ordered a set of micarta scales from Camillus for my Becker BK-7 and when I got them a week later, this is how they looked.

So, I went about looking for a way to even out the color. Not that I'm too fanatical about my knives looking like new, but................ Anyways, I did some posting about the possibilities of me sanding them to help bring the color out in them again, but the need of a respirator made me think again about how I was going to obtain what I wanted. Well, one poster on another site told me about using sno-seal to do the job. I figured, what the heck, I'll give it a try and see what happens. I figure that I'll have to redo them over time because of use and wear, but they turned out pretty nice I think. I applied 3 coats of the sno-seal and let them dry over night. They aren't perfect, but there is an improvement.

 

[dulledge2]

thanks forthe tip,they look realy nice now.

 

[Kevin the grey]

Good job . I betcha a little bit of elbow grease will even it out all the more . L:O:L You,ll have them worked in in no time . Any clues as to their original uneven coloration ?

 

[bigbcustom]

as to the original discoloration, it looks like something got spilled on the set at the factory. I have a question though, doesn't the sno-seal make the grips slick?

 

[longbow50]

I don't know for sure, but think they are selling the scales that are rejected during production of the BK-77. Maybe the opportunity will come around to get them sanded for a permanent fix, but I don't want to put anymore money into the blade.

 

[tarmix101]

I ordered a set of micarta scales from Camillus for my Becker BK-7 and when I got them a week later, this is how they looked.

So, I went about looking for a way to even out the color. Not that I'm too fanatical about my knives looking like new, but................ Anyways, I did some posting about the possibilities of me sanding them to help bring the color out in them again, but the need of a respirator made me think again about how I was going to obtain what I wanted. Well, one poster on another site told me about using sno-seal to do the job. I figured, what the heck, I'll give it a try and see what happens. I figure that I'll have to redo them over time because of use and wear, but they turned out pretty nice I think. I applied 3 coats of the sno-seal and let them dry over night. They aren't perfect, but there is an improvement.

Nice, well thought out and researched fix. I like stories and tips like this. I will make sue to note it. Nice work Longbow:thumbup:

 

[longbow50]

Good question, because to be honest, it never occured to me that it might make the scales slippery. Brain F*rt I guess. So I took my Northstar and the Becker out and gave them a test on some rounds in the next lot. My Northstars micarta handles are more slick dry, than the Beckers new handles and I felt more comfortable using the Becker. However, the NS scales got real grippy when my wet hand worked with the knife and the Beckers felt a bit spongy when wet, but when using the knife, it didn't want to slip around in my grip, just the feeling.

All in all, I'm not sorry that I did it and I'm not hesitant about using the knife at all.

 

[ERdept]

Hey they look much more pleasing. That's nice to snow.

cliff

 

[longbow50]

Update: After using the knife a little last night with wet hands and then wiping it dry and using it again this morning, I noticed that the side of the handle that rests against my hand has lost a lot of it's coating and the splotchy appearance is returning.

I knew that using the blade would wear the coating off, but didn't think that it would happen so quickly. Going to let it go back to original and leave them that way until an op to have them sanded by someone with a respirator comes around.

Sorry if this has caused anyone to attempt this themselves. I should have gone through this before posting. Seems with age, I'm having more and more moments of thoughtlessness (is that a word?)

 

[longbow50]

Hmmm, is it possible that the scales weren't sealed? I dropped them into some warm water w/dish soap and let them soak for a few minutes and then scrubbed them with a scrubber/sponge.