Canvas Micarta - finishing

[Mike Mossington]

This may have been on the forum before, but I can't remember seeing it.

I am never happy with the look of canvas micarta when finished. I hand sand to 320, sometimes 400/600, and it never looks right. I see some that are polished, but I want to leave a "grippier" finish than that - for use on a combat knife.

Any suggestions for getting that really good look....???

Mike

 

[Shadetree Phenolics]

Mike,
Stop sanding around 100-200 grit. Bead blast can be nice on canvas too, if you have access to one.
-Todd

 

[A. Brett Schaller]

You might try rubbing mineral oil on the handle after finishing, then wiping it dry. Makes it look much better.

 

[raythebigfoot]

Personally in my opinion I would either buff it or bead blast it...bead blasting is the only way to really give it a good scratchless look with that grippy feeling you mention. I think it also looks good polished on a buffer, but the handle will be less 'grippy'. Just finishing it by hand doesn't look all that great in my opinion, but if you are going to try it definitely wet sand it when you get past 220 grit..it will give it a nicer look.

 

[lukus]

Hand sand to 320 and bead blast it. Before I got a little bead blast cabinet I used to go to an auto parts store (not the places like autozone, but the higher performance type place - they'll usually do light machine work and have a bead blast cabinet). I would knock on the back door with a six pack in hand and one of the guys would always be happy to do it. I did that dozens of times over the years and used 4 or 5 different places as they moved or went out of business.

The suggestion to rub in some oil afterwards is good. The sweat and dirt from your hands will eventually stain it darker anyway, why not use a good oil instead of sweat.