Blasted canvas micarta

[Ron Wollschlager]

I made these 3 knives out of ATS-34 stainless with canvas micarta scales. I blasted them lightly as to not blast an extremely rough finish. So the actual finish is pretty smooth. They look good and clean once I blast them but as soon as I handle them they smudge right up. Even if I just watched my hands.

What do you guys use on the blades and canvas micarta scales you bead blast to keep the smudging down? Can I just coat them with some kind of 3-in-1 oil?

I haven’t really sold any of my knives yet because I’m afraid someone will complain about the smudging!

In the photo, I applied a thin coating of Hoppes gun lubricant to the scales for now. Please excuse the poor quality photo. It was taken with my camera phone.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks...

 

[AcridSaint]

The oil will just get picked back up by your hands unfortunately. I do try to wipe my blasted lades down with some sort of oil - balistol, rem-oil or wd-40. The handles I like to use danish oil so that the finish will last longer.

 

[Bruce Bump]

Dont worry about them looking smudged. Just oil the handle with gun oil and call it good.
BTW Nice knife man!

 

[kungfumo]

Nice knife bud, I would not hesitate to sell that. I usually just handle the knife for a few min to get the oils from my hand into the handles, that way it looks just like it would after some one had it in there hand for the pics.

 

[A. Brett Schaller]

I just rub some mineral oil into blasted Micarta. After that, the oils from your hand will keep it looking good.

 

[blindhogg]

Either oil or wax the steel and micarta to keep this from happening.
Chris

 

[shunsui]

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6677556&postcount=24

+1 handles look great. What did you use to grind the scallops ?

 

[Ron Wollschlager]

Thanks guys for the tips and kind words.
I think I’ll try the danish oil on one and mineral oil on another.
Ed Kalfayan recommended trying GIBBS brand penetrating oil also. I guess that’s what he uses.
Thanks Shunsui, I’m gonna try one with super glue also. That sounds like it might work pretty well. I know a lot of guys seal wood with it, Why not micarta!

I ground the scallops using a 1 ½” small contact wheel with a new 60 grit belt. Then I blast it with 120PSI aluminum oxide. Gives the micarta a nice rough texture. When I blast the blades I go all the way down to 40PSI. It gives the ATS-34 a nice smooth very dull grey finish.

Thanks Guys...I knew you would have some ideas!