Coloring Micarta Handles?

O

Oldsmobiler

Joined
Jan 26, 2006
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Got my ASH the other day...HOLY COW its big and heavy, love it!...but my only question is can you color the handles to make them darker? I've got the magnum canvas black handles but they seem more gray to me rather than black. I switched from the Mag G10 since I have sweaty hands and I really like the canvas and how they feel in the hands.
 
if you just prefer the scales to be darker, you could try some oil.

i use mineral oil. others use linseed.
 
get a large double boiler and melt 48 black crayola (must be crayola brand, no knock-offs) crayons in it. once the crayons have melted, submerge your ASH-1 in the molten crayons and reduce heat slightly. simmer for three hours and then immediately put your ASH-1 in a bathtub full of beef-bullion ice cubes, gin, nair, and goat milk.
this should give you the finish you're looking for.
 
Mineral oil...or sweat. I think there was a thread about this not too long ago. i found that the sweat aproach worked fine for me. I put mineral oil on my blades when storing them as well so that may have helped a little.
 
The slabs will darken naturally with time and use. The more you fiddle with them, the better they will look! Micarta is a fascinating material, it almost seems like it "breathes"- when you handle it, it darkens up, then lightens, only to darken up once you handle it again. Slowly but surely, it develops a beauty and lustre that is very rewarding. G10 can't come close to the sweetness of micarta, IMO. Good choice! :thumbup:
 
I used some regular Rit fabric dye and dyed the handles of my GW black. I just soaked the GW in the dye for a few hours and it was good to go. It doesn't wear off easily on the hands or anything either.
 
Moonwilson speaks true:thumbup: It takes on a darker color, unique to your sweat and use. One of a kind, never to be duplicated or so you can claim.:D
 
There are also spirit or oil based leather dyes. Very dark and PERMANENT. (Clothes, carpet, etc. so if you use this, be careful.) Pete
 
well...been playing with this thing for a couple days now and it is changing color. Its like a new toy...can't put it down and the weight is laughable, WAY more than what I'm used to in a blade. I'll keep those ideas for down the road when I decide its time to darken things up.

How about this....how do you clean the micarta when you get it soaked in blood? I plan on using this sucker for everything from camping to butchering moose. Do I have to do anything special to seal the handles or just clean it with soap and water?
 
No seal required, and it will clean well with soap and water. Best handle material ever devised imo.:thumbup:
 
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