Cool Micarta

BenR.T. said:
I am curious, will this stuff stay yellow or turn brown with age?
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I may be wrong, but I believe this turns a real nice burnt orange over time. I have a slipjoint from Ken Erickson in butterscotch micarta. Has a nice texture to it.
 
Okay, now I'm curious... Is this the same stuff that was originally known as Bakelite???? I know Karl Anderson has been using it, and it really looks good with some Damascus and blued fittings...
Just wanna know if it's the same stuff... Otherwise, now I need to keep my eyes open for Butterscotch Micarta...
 
joeshredd said:
Okay, now I'm curious... Is this the same stuff that was originally known as Bakelite???? I know Karl Anderson has been using it, and it really looks good with some Damascus and blued fittings...
Just wanna know if it's the same stuff... Otherwise, now I need to keep my eyes open for Butterscotch Micarta...
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This stuff is more yellow than any Bakelite I've seen, but I know little about micarta. Do like this stuff though. Just spent the last 4 days catching and clean fish with the fillet knives. I'm hooked!
 
First off Don, I think the butterscotch micarta is cool.. I look for older knives with the Westinghouse micarta too..

Micarta and Bakelite are two separate materials... Bakelite has been used on knife handles, but it really isn't well suited for it.. It can chip, split, or crack just like some modern day plastics would... Bakelite is often confused with plastic but it really isn't... You never see "seems" on Bakelite because it is sort of carved into shape, rather molded or poured like modern day plastic.. It can be made in solid colors or blended to have amazing patterns or "burls"... It first found use in the military, then consumer products because it doesn't conduct heat or electricity...

Micata is made by mixing cloth, paper, carbon fiber etc and then layering it, or mixing it with resins... Like making fiberglass...

Both materials age well... I love them both, but personally wouldn't use bakelite on a knife... JMO... Best Regards, Rich Slaughter
 
rbslaughter1 said:
First off Don, I think the butterscotch micarta is cool.. I look for older knives with the Westinghouse micarta too..

Micarta and Bakelite are two separate materials... Bakelite has been used on knife handles, but it really isn't well suited for it.. It can chip, split, or crack just like some modern day plastics would... Bakelite is often confused with plastic but it really isn't... You never see "seems" on Bakelite because it is sort of carved into shape, rather molded or poured like modern day plastic.. It can be made in solid colors or blended to have amazing patterns or "burls"... It first found use in the military, then consumer products because it doesn't conduct heat or electricity...

Micata is made by mixing cloth, paper, carbon fiber etc and then layering it, or mixing it with resins... Like making fiberglass...

Both materials age well... I love them both, but personally wouldn't use bakelite on a knife... JMO... Best Regards, Rich Slaughter
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Thanks Rich,
That helps clear it up a lot... :thumbup:
 
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