black micarta

gleason128

gleason128

Joined
Oct 26, 2013
Messages
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Quick question, and I did try searching first. How does Busse get their black canvas micarta so light? Do they bead blast it before they place it on the blade? (say on a satin finished blade)
Thanks
 
Good question. Been trying to find a similar black micarta for a set of pistol grips but all the stuff I've seen for sale online doesn't have that nice olive drab color as the black mic on my tglb.
 
yeah I'm thinking of having a couple of custom knives made and I really like the faded black look. anyone have any experience with natural micarta turning a brown or maroon color in the long run? I do like the natural look but that kind of worried me when I read about it
 
I have successfully used full strength 'Simple Green' to return darkened black micarta to its (near) original shade...;-)
 
Original GunScrubber or Dishsoap and hot water will work as well to remove all the oils from the micarta to turn it light gray again.

I'll try and take a couple comparison pics this weekend with the same canvas micarta oiled up with olive oil and then washed with dish soap/hot water.
 
My guess is that the machining process exposes enough of the cotton canvas fibers to make it look lighter.
 
OP,
Blocks and sheets of micarta come 'shiney' from their production. It's the excessive resin that collects at the top and bottom of micarta. You have to start grinding/sanding to expose the lighter color.
It can be brought back to darker shiny look by polishing and buffing.
As to the color itself, it varies between the batches, have you seen how dark black canvas was in the Ganza with INFIdus and Beefmandus?
 
Here are the two most common shades of BLACK CANVAS usually seen on the Busse-kin blades...(note: The handle on the CG has more contrasted in the layers with a hint of OD Green in it)

Wet/Oiled (olive oil)


Excess olive oil wiped off (how I store my knives)


Washed with dish soap and hot water and allowed to dry


Sprayed down with GunScrubber (they are a bit lighter, but the clouds rolled in, so you don't see the difference from the previous pic that much)



These were taken indoors and the colors are MUCH lighter outside. I'll keep the knives out and try to remember to take a pic once the suns breaks through again this afternoon. but I hope this helps show the different shades Black Canvas can take on depending how much hand oils are on the surface of the material.

Stump
 
resinguy said:
My guess is that the machining process exposes enough of the cotton canvas fibers to make it look lighter.
Click to expand...

:thumbup:

elof_alv said:
OP,
Blocks and sheets of micarta come 'shiney' from their production. It's the excessive resin that collects at the top and bottom of micarta. You have to start grinding/sanding to expose the lighter color.
It can be brought back to darker shiny look by polishing and buffing.
As to the color itself, it varies between the batches, have you seen how dark black canvas was in the Ganza with INFIdus and Beefmandus?
Click to expand...

One of the reasons I prefer the micarta...flexibility with the color. :) When the Shiva Rex was added to a Ganza, Jerry showed us a pic of one with black G-10. They were offered with black canvas micarta. Dunno why the picture one was G-10, maybe the Shop realized they might not have enough of it and went with micarta instead, but I liked the black with the satin and so I requested the picture knife. I was denied, LOL...worth a shot. So, when mine arrived, I used 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper and carefully dry sanded the micarta til I could see it getting nice & dark. Then I rubbed and buffed the handle with an old t-shirt until i was happy with the finish...

Busse-Shiva_Rex1.jpg


Busse-Shiva_Rex2.jpg


The micarta is now black with no oil necessary, the tube fasteners a little more finished and smooth.

Close enough to the look of the picture knife now. :)
 
gleason128 said:
yeah I'm thinking of having a couple of custom knives made and I really like the faded black look. anyone have any experience with natural micarta turning a brown or maroon color in the long run? I do like the natural look but that kind of worried me when I read about it
Click to expand...

tuica said:
I have successfully used full strength 'Simple Green' to return darkened black micarta to its (near) original shade...;-)
Click to expand...

Plain mild hand soap or some dish liquid, warm to hot water, an old toothbrush, and a little "elbow grease" usually restores it right back too...and sometimes just a tiny bit lighter even.

Never tried Simple Green, but I can see how that would be good too. :) :thumbup:
 
I got my CG NMFBM second hand, and the scales were very dirty.
I washed them with Dawn Dishwashing liquid and the cleaned right up:

13359923794_b5e1b3d031_b.jpg


I love Jaxx's polished micarta! I may have to try that! :thumbup:
 
Thanks Stump! Will have to try those methods on my black micarta's.

P.S. For those wanting to darken that micarta, I have used "Mahogany" colored furniture repair wax pencil's on my tan micarta handles. Makes it a nice reddish brown.

And...I'm thinking of using leather dye on that same (RMD) micarta to make it "redder." I have heard this being used on some knife scales. Can anyone weigh in here on using that method?

Thanks for all of the thoughtful replies...;-)
 
Last edited:
Still not super bright, but here area coupe outdoor pics...


Dry... (The top scales are a MUCH MUCH lighter gray in person than what the picture shows)



Oiled up for storage/carry...
 
tuica said:
Thanks Stump! Will have to try those methods on my black micarta's.

P.S. For those wanting to darken that micarta, I have used "Mahogany" colored furniture repair wax pencil's on my tan micarta handles. Makes it a nice reddish brown.

And...I'm thinking of using leather dye on that same (RMD) micarta to make it "redder." I have heard this being used on some knife scales. Can anyone weigh in here on using that method?

Thanks for all of the thoughtful replies...;-)
Click to expand...


Folks have used Rit dye and leather dye with success.
 
So is there any advantage to oil your micarta or is it just for looks?

And Jaxx, I know you hear it all the time but nice knives. Maybe one day you'll set some free for the rest of us lol
 
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