Canvas Mycarta interesting behavior

gull wing

gull wing

Joined
May 4, 2002
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I have a folding knife with green canvas mycarta sanded and polished, it looks and feels great. I have never used (hard) one in polished condition before. After using, sweating on it, etc it looks whiter, or "bleached out" like an old pair of jeans. Like the cords are swelled up?

I have fixed blades in Canvas, but they are sanded rough and sandblasted for a firm grip in the wet. I don't recall them looking like this.

I wonder if I can buff to restore?? Anyone care to add??
 
BTSOOM.

Micarta is usually epoxy or phenolic based.
Sweat should not do that to properly cured epoxy or phenolic.
Acid might
UV exposure (extended exposure to direct sunlight) might.

I don't know if buffing will restore.
 
If this micarta is on a Benchmade 520 that you customized then the answer is no. Your knife is no longer any good send it to me.:D

Some people have had success rubbing in mineral oil to restore looks to their micarta. I've never had to, but give it a try.
 
I've oiled many a linen micarta handle. It does darken them considerably, though the oil eventually evaporates or leeches out and you have your faded looking handles again. I highly recommend the mineral oil rub. In fact, I just coated the micarta on my EDC this morning. Here is an example of a linen micarta handle bare then oiled (Busse Combat Game Warden, black linen micarta, double cut INFI blade):



 
Nice looking knife mickeymoto.
Yes it's a 520, and not going to try sending it back. That is my baby to deal with.

I gave it a hard rubbing on my jeans and it looked better, so I applied some brown Tripoli to a sewn cotton buff and gave a quick buff. It looks as it did before. It looks the same but does not feel the same, it has a slight texture, which is great. All in all, all is well.

Will try oil later.

Nice talking to you.
 
moving-van.jpg
 
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