Bad micarta

S

steelhead seeker

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I watch a lot of knife videos (as I'm sure most here do). While watching one this morning the guy was talking about a knife with micarta scales briefly and he said "this is great micarta". Got me thinking...I hear this a LOT, "great micarta", "grippy micarta", "micarta done right" "great example of micarta scales"...
is there a bad example out there? I just realized I don't think I've heard negative stuff about it or someone say "this is not how you should do micarta" while reviewing a knife. Anyone have what people would consider a bad example of the stuff or is it that hard to mess it up? The only thing I can think of is I know some companies kinda polish it and make it a little slicker but thats not necessarily a bad thing and more of a personal preference...
 
I've used some handmade Micarta that I thought wasn't so good.
It was thinner burlap and I didn't like it as a liner or scale; the finish was just too rough and textured.
I couldn't get the edges how I wanted them.
In fact I bought it twice and twice I ended up not using it. Where's the facepalm thingy?

IMG_0217.jpg

It was very fibrous, like the epoxy/resin had not soaked in well.
 
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eveled said:
Texture is one thing. But it’s more of a preference than a defect.

The only defect I can think of is voids.
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This.
It's a composite, so other than voids or layup problems (e.g. excess resin), it's mostly a subjective thing based on appearance or feel.
For me, there are knives where polished Micarta is appropriate ("fancy" knives with flush inlays, like Micro Evo Typhoon or Enrique Pena front flipper) and others where texture is appropriate (outdoor-use fixed blade).
Compared to carbon fiber, where there's a very noticeable difference between "good" and "bad" carbon (especially chopped/marble carbon), I think "good Micarta" is a lazy way of saying you like it.

jideta said:
I've used some handmade Micarta that I thought wasn't so good.
It was thinner burlap and I didn't like it as a liner or scale; the finish was just too rough and textured.
I couldn't get the edges how I wanted them.
In fact I bought it twice and twice I ended up not using it. Where's the facepalm thingy?

View attachment 1485696

It was very fibrous, like the epoxy/resin had not soaked in well.
Click to expand...

Did you use vacuum to impregnate the cloth, or just pressure from a weight?
It's also a matter of the texture of the fabric and how much epoxy you use.
That looks like fairly standard burlap Micarta, though.
 
I've had micarta scales that chipped away pretty severely, probably poor resin infusion. Fortunately they were replaced w/CF by the MFG free of charge.
 
I know I've seen people make micarta using fabric, resin, and pressure. Some use vacuum bags. Usually doesn't turn out well because when micarta is made commercially they have powerful vacuums that will, quite literally, suck every bit of air out so you avoid air bubbles and poor resin infusion.

Same deal with G10 (fiberglass and resin) or carbon fiber (carbon cloth and resin). You need a complete vacuum.

So good micarta will be solid. Bad will not be and will be difficult if not impossible to work with.

Maybe I'm incorrect?
 
soc_monki said:
I know I've seen people make micarta using fabric, resin, and pressure. Some use vacuum bags. Usually doesn't turn out well because when micarta is made commercially they have powerful vacuums that will, quite literally, suck every bit of air out so you avoid air bubbles and poor resin infusion.

Same deal with G10 (fiberglass and resin) or carbon fiber (carbon cloth and resin). You need a complete vacuum.

So good micarta will be solid. Bad will not be and will be difficult if not impossible to work with.

Maybe I'm incorrect?
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More or less. I'd be very surprised if any manufacturer of an appreciable size is using Micarta that isn't made using commercial-grade processes.
 
OrangeBlueOrangeBlue said:
More or less. I'd be very surprised if any manufacturer of an appreciable size is using Micarta that isn't made using commercial-grade processes.
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I just think it's funny that before I got into knives I dealt with micarta and G10, being as they are used for insulating purposes in electrical enclosures. Then I see knife handles made out of them and thought it was interesting.
 
I agree that a lot of the “micarta done right” refers to texture. I don’t like polished or smooth micarta, and prefer it to be grippy like Emerson does on his customs. I have seen bad micarta though. I was watching MetalComplex do a review of the MBK Old Guard and on the back of the micarta scale you can see little pieces of canvas “fluff” at the edge, indicating either a lack of resin penetration or poor finishing.
 
I think it has been mentioned already, but micarta can vary wildly.

Pattern, tight weave, loose weave, voids and durability. Bubbles. Everything.

One additional factor, is that old micarta tends to get a wonderful patina. Darkening of outer layers.

I've had great old micarta that takes on a much better outer color after yesrs. I have some butterscotch colored paper micarta that really has a great contrast in colors due to age.

The fuzzy fibers is a major one. If the resin penitration is poor the handle finishes poorly, and will be more likely to absorb and take on odors, moisture, oils from fish, etc.
 
I can send you a batch of bad micarta if you want to experience a slab of it in all it's greatness. But honestly I've made micarta a few times and it is possible to make a bad batch, not put enough layers of material inside the resin. or use some waterproof fabric like rubbery stuff would make a strange batch. I like to use denim from old jeans. If you don't put enough layers of fabric it can be too much resin not enough material.
Maybe some people are talking about micarta sanding finish? That can be easily changed though with some sand paper, if you think it's too polished and smooth, rough it up with some lower grit, if you think it is too rough, refine the polish a little with some higher grit. Some people might prefer polished micarta to a high sheen, some might like a more textured feel to it.
 
Londinium Armoury said:
I can send you a batch of bad micarta if you want to experience a slab of it in all it's greatness. But honestly I've made micarta a few times and it is possible to make a bad batch, not put enough layers of material inside the resin. or use some waterproof fabric like rubbery stuff would make a strange batch. I like to use denim from old jeans. If you don't put enough layers of fabric it can be too much resin not enough material.
Maybe some people are talking about micarta sanding finish? That can be easily changed though with some sand paper, if you think it's too polished and smooth, rough it up with some lower grit, if you think it is too rough, refine the polish a little with some higher grit. Some people might prefer polished micarta to a high sheen, some might like a more textured feel to it.
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Probably easy to mess it up if making it yourself. I know probably would lol. I was more curious about peoples experiences with micarta that came on a knife that sucked..
 
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