Color the micarta handles?

T.O.M.

T.O.M.

Joined
Jan 2, 2011
Messages
174
How would I go about dyeing / coloring the micarta handles? I just saw someone's ESEE-5 with black handles and it looked sick. Hopefully the process isn't too hard? Please be detailed on the how-to, as I am an idiot. :D
 
RIT dye, a little goes a long way. Here is a link to how I did mine.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=810654

EDIT: Bring about 2-3 cups water to a boil. Pour the hot water into a glass mixing bowl. Pour about 1/4-1/3 of a package of RIT dye into the hot water and mix well (there is way more dye in a package than you need for one set of handles). Place the handles into the hot dye water until the water starts to cool, 20-30 minutes time frame. Take the handles out, rinse under very cold tap water to set the dye. Dry off and your done. (Don't pour the dye water down the drain, dump it outside)
 
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Yeah, you can find it at most any store, Target, Walmart, Kmart, Fred Meyer, any fabric/sewing store and probably some larger grocery chains. Comes in a very small box about the size of a one use laundry soap box sold at laundromats. Cost about 3 bucks for a box.
 
Once you dye the handles, does it last pretty well with use or is it something you need to reapply?


mlrs
 
lsheldon has covered it......

really pretty simple, but I do have a question.
Why not pour the dye down the sink?

Here is my Esee 6 with dyed black micarta
SAM_1932.jpg
 
The only way I can see you wanting to reapply is if you did any grinding on the handles to remove material, or got any gouges in them that exposed the underlying material that wasn't dyed. It won't come off of the handles once it is set with cold water and dried off. Although, I've never carried this one daily for years, so YMMV.
 
RIT is it Bro, and it's easy to do, I did it, you just have to know how to boil water... Let me know if you have any questions.

5291060425_8bfdb830b2_z.jpg
 
I have a bit more respect for the environment and the waste water systems to just dump it down the drain. I have a dead area in the corner of the lot here that gets it. I doubt if it is that toxic, but the more you dump down the drain, the quicker we ruin the planet.

Flexxx said:
lsheldon has covered it......

really pretty simple, but I do have a question.
Why not pour the dye down the sink?
Click to expand...
 
RC1254 said:
RIT is it Bro, and it's easy to do, I did it, you just have to know how to boil water... Let me know if you have any questions.

5291060425_8bfdb830b2_z.jpg
Click to expand...

If it's not too much trouble for you, can you give me a list of detailed steps?

I was thinking of just taking off the handles and drowning them in the dye for an hour or so, but now I need to boil water?
 
T.O.M. said:
If it's not too much trouble for you, can you give me a list of detailed steps?

I was thinking of just taking off the handles and drowning them in the dye for an hour or so, but now I need to boil water?
Click to expand...

If it's too much trouble to boil water, it may be too much work for you to take the handles off. Just dunk the whole knife in cold dye water. Let us know how that works out.
 
lsheldon said:
RIT dye, a little goes a long way. Here is a link to how I did mine.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=810654

EDIT: Bring about 2-3 cups water to a boil. Pour the hot water into a glass mixing bowl. Pour about 1/4-1/3 of a package of RIT dye into the hot water and mix well (there is way more dye in a package than you need for one set of handles). Place the handles into the hot dye water until the water starts to cool, 20-30 minutes time frame. Take the handles out, rinse under very cold tap water to set the dye. Dry off and your done. (Don't pour the dye water down the drain, dump it outside)
Click to expand...


Somone already posted it.


mlrs
 
I havent done this yet to any esse but I have done it to my AR and a few mags... It's very simple. I've used it afterwards alot and it hasn't faded or bleed into my hands or gear when sweaty. I did my stuff red and black tiger stripes. 2 most important things are to make sure the water is hot enough and make sure you wash them good in cold water right afterwards. I dumped it in the sink and my stainless sink had a red tint for about a month or 2 and make sure you SLOWLY put them in there any splatters will stain if not cleaned in seconds ... Same goes when tAking them out watch out for drips... I'll do a tiger HEST next week...
 
lsheldon said:
If it's too much trouble to boil water, it may be too much work for you to take the handles off. Just dunk the whole knife in cold dye water. Let us know how that works out.
Click to expand...

I didn't mean it was hard to boil water, but rather confused on the process.

And dang, I bought the liquid one instead of the powder.. any differences in the results?
 
T.O.M. said:
I didn't mean it was hard to boil water, but rather confused on the process.

And dang, I bought the liquid one instead of the powder.. any differences in the results?
Click to expand...

liquid rit dye is easier to work with since it dissolves in the water as soon as you pour it in and mix it. seriously, you're over-thinking it. just do it. you're not going to hurt anything. if it somehow doesn't go black enough, you can repeat the process (i had to repeat it with my becker bk-11 slabs about 3-4 times but the esee micarta slabs seem to get black in one treatment).

1. warm up 2-5 cups of water until it's coffee sipping hot. doesn't have to be boiling. or you can boil it if you want.
2. turn off the heat. pour 1/4 cup or so rit liquid dye and stir for 5 seconds.
3. toss in the micarta slabs and go watch tv for a few minutes.
4. when the water is cold enough to touch, rinse the slabs under cold running water...done.

jay_esee_knives.jpg
 
About to begin the process right now, managed to take the handles of the ESEE-5 and Izula off, but for some freakin' reason, the Junglas's screws / bolts won't come off!

I literally almost broke the tool I was using. (Some B&D'er cheapo I found at WalMart.)

And IMHO, the Junglas was the one who needed the dyeing most.
Any tips on how to get the bolts to loosen up? I've added some tuf-glide lubricant and still a no-go.. I'm thinking maybe I should just go ahead with the 5 and Izula.
 
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