Custom Micarta

looks nice
whenn i make mine i use a 12 ton press and that realy does the trick
you seem to have nice "clear" epoxy could you PM me on the type i can let you know what im using also little trade info
im looking for something alittle stornger for making folder scales and have found my epoxy "mycarta " better for full tang/stick tang work as it has a slight flex in 1/8 inch slabs
butch
 
JTknives said:
ok the scales are now cut and look very good and have very compact layer formations. i also coated the top layer today that did not have any resin, it is not compleyley solid like a rock. i cant beleve how strong and tuff this stuff is. adammichael you can count one of the sets as yours, i hope you like it. remember i have not completed my super press yet and when its done i will be able to get unbeable compression.
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Thanks very much. The pics look great. I cant wait to try it.could you PM me for my address and let me know yours so I can send you money for shipping.

Thanks
 
Nice looking product!
You probably won't need a vacuum chamber if you're going to press it in a real press. With clamps, it might be needed, but not really with a press.
Using a chamber, you'd have to bring it back up to atmospheric, then put it in the press.
If you can do it before cure begins, it will help with the bubbles, else it won't, and they'll just be trapped and not flow out in the press...
 
that looks really nice.
what kind of epoxy are you using?
also, i have about 3 gallons of polyester resin left from a fiberglass project, could it be used to make micarta?
 
reveler said:
that looks really nice.
what kind of epoxy are you using?
also, i have about 3 gallons of polyester resin left from a fiberglass project, could it be used to make micarta?
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Ditto. I tried making my own with red satin. Beautiful color (epoxy) but the "bubbles" were more like blisters. I think I'll try making a press with a car jack. Hmmmmm....
Jim L.
 
ok im back, it was my wife and i anaversery so we where gone for the weekend. ok first up Michael Kanter i sent you an email because i cant pm, so be looking for an email from jtcustomknives.com

next about the vacume chamber, its just a small one that i will use tro help get the air out of the layers before i put it in the press. im also going to be building a hydrolic press, i came up with a very simple hydrolic press that can be made in like 5 min. the basic idea is to get a car jack and put a press plate in the top ram that would push the car up. then put your stack of meterial that has been soaked in epoxy on top of that plate thats on the jack. now put your other press plate on top of the meterial. now get some strong rope and cut 2 chuncks that are the same size. now tie the ends togather to make 2 circles that will fit around the bottom of the jack and go over the top press plate. space the 2 ropes arart to that when the jack goes up the press plate stayes flat.

next about the epoxy i use, thats a traid secret. hehehe but realy any epoxy or resian will work if it dryes clear.
 
If possible I would try to check the UV resistance and chemical resistance from things like solvents, acid, petroleum products and even the rate of water absorption of any epoxy before you use it. Otherwise the micarta can have some problems in real world use. Ask me how I know...;)
 
As a aside. You may want to consider at least telling the people that are buying your stuff what kind of epoxy you are using. Saying "trade secret" is nice and all but it is like a damascus maker not telling people what kind of steel is going into the damascus. Kind of important information when you get right down to it. Just my opinion.
 
Mark Nelson said:
As a aside. You may want to consider at least telling the people that are buying your stuff what kind of epoxy you are using. Saying "trade secret" is nice and all but it is like a damascus maker not telling people what kind of steel is going into the damascus. Kind of important information when you get right down to it. Just my opinion.
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this is true
and how is your mycarta making going im getting ready to make some more soon maybe in the morning

you going to let me know what the new epoxy your using is since you changed it
butch
 
It has been going well. I got some of the stuff that you use to do paper micarta. I love the fact that it is as clear as it is, I do with that its total cure time was a bit shorter. The colors stay 100% true. I still use a lot of the Dow Chemical D.E.R. 24 for my cloth pieces, I gott some System Three stuff, I like it but with the slow harderner it comes out to dark to use for some light colored fabric and almost all paper. I had hoped that it would be lighter. How did the burl/rag looking piece that you did turn out? The pic that you showed looked great but how was it once you started cutting and sanding on it. I hope it turned out.
 
Mark Nelson said:
It has been going well. I got some of the stuff that you use to do paper micarta. I love the fact that it is as clear as it is, I do with that its total cure time was a bit shorter. The colors stay 100% true. I still use a lot of the Dow Chemical D.E.R. 24 for my cloth pieces, I gott some System Three stuff, I like it but with the slow harderner it comes out to dark to use for some light colored fabric and almost all paper. I had hoped that it would be lighter. How did the burl/rag looking piece that you did turn out? The pic that you showed looked great but how was it once you started cutting and sanding on it. I hope it turned out.
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i had wandered about that system 3 stuff (fine by me )
looks like i ll just be using 2 or 3 different epoxys depending on color and use
take a look at the fruity pebbles santoku in the for sale forum to see how the rag turned out
it had a few pinhole airbubbles in it but sanding it up nice and high then cleaning (boy that dust is fun ) + a clear coat makes it look real nice
butch
 
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