canvas micarta/linen micarta

M

miden

Joined
Sep 9, 2005
Messages
835
Hi Guys,
Sorry if this one has been discussed before.
I was wondering if there are any advantages in using one or the other for a working knife handle.....more importantly, grip, but appearance too? Strength is also a factor of course.
Any opinions will be welcome as I have no expereince with this stuff at all.
thanks,

Mike
 
Canvas is grippier,and does not polish to a smooth and shiny finish. Linen and paper will polish more and are good for dressier knives. Some people find the linen and paper to be slippery when wet.
 
Thanks Stacy,
Is there any particular way of finishing it to keep or enhance the "grippier" effect?
I normally use stabilized wood for handles and shape them with files and then go through the old sandpaper routine to get the wood smoothe and pretty.
Smoothe is what I do not want for a working knife, or more pointedly, a soldiers knife! Slippery when wet is not a good thing in this case.;)

Mike
 
Mike, I finish my micarta scales to 80 grit then work out any deeper scratches with 220 grit. I'll finish it off on a medium scotchbrite belt. I do this with canvas and linen. It leaves both with a grippy working knife finish. Like Stacy said, canvas is the grippest.
Scott
 
Canvas is "grippier" but to take it to more "grippy" you could cut a texture or pattern into the handle material....like checkering a gunstock....but measure and cut carefully to keep the pattern consistant.
 
with canvas -
I have been going with a 60 or 80 grit around the sides and a 400 grit around the spine. after the grippier low grit has been applied I use a dirty rag to "buff" it and this cleans up the look some. It works great on kitchn knives that may get slippery :)

The linen Micarta gets a nice matt apearance if you take it to 400 and 0000 steel whool it with WD-40.
 
Stacy,Scott,John,Brian,J.Caswell,
thank you all for your advice, suggestions and tips. Much appreciated.

Mike
 
I treat canvas much the same as Brian. I take the perimeter of the knife tang and perimeter of the scales to the same polish as the flats of the blade. I usually stop at 80 grit on the rest of the handle. It's good and "grippy" this way. I've been wanting to experiment with bead blasting, as well.

I polish linen to 800 grit, sometimes up to 2000 grit (not much difference in the two, though, IMHO). It polishes better than canvas but isn't as grippy.

I don't like most patterns that are cut into handles for grip. They seem to leave hot spots on my hands after using them for more than a few minutes.
Lots of people like the "gunner's grip" that the late Rob Simonich used, though.

Todd
 
Thanks Todd,
I never knew anything about Rob Simonich but I visited his site and I really like that grip.
Too bad he is no longer with us, he seemed like quite a guy. Do you know if his brother made it?
Thanks again for the post.

Mike
 
I am a rookie knife maker so I don't yet have the skill of many on this forum...but I'm learning. I make my knives from simple stock removal. I have found the canvas micarta is the best handle material that I have used personally. I am in a security/tactical armed type of work field and many of my buddies carry knives that I have made. We have found that canvas micarta becomes "tacky" when exposed to moisture...usually brackish water and mostly sweat. It was favored among the other paper micartas and G-10 materials that I had used in the past.

I usually saw my handles scales to form after I have pinned and epoxied, heat cured them in place. I use a standard saw with a Nicholson #18 saw blade. I then use my Dremel tool with #80 grit sanding bands to shape and contour the micarta to my desired handle design. I then use #220 grit paper to smooth out the imperfections. I finally finish with #400 grit paper by hand. I usually end up with a rich canvas cloth type texture that one can easily discern. I end with a clean cloth and acetone as a hand "buffing" solution.

I have made several 1911 style pistol grips for myself and others using canvas micarta. These were completed using the above method. I and my group were pleased with these grips during range/training scenarios. Like I said, canvas micarta becomes tacky in sweaty hands.

Hope this helps somewhat.
 
docgiggles,
thanks for all your input.Some interesting points there.
It is particularly interesting that the micarta gets tacky, this will enhance grip which is wanted with a working knife.:D
Thanks again,

Mike
 
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