cutting micarta

S

smorgan345

Joined
Mar 8, 2007
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I'm using all hand tools and Ive got micarta on the way for my handle slabs. What's the best way for me to cut this given my means? a hacksaw? I also have a jig saw. how tough is this stuff to cut? Thanks.
Scott
 
A jig saw with a fairly course metal cutting blade should work or a hachsaw will work.It's not really that hard to cut.
Stan
 
The jig saw will work fine, and is actually easier than the band saw sometimes.
 
From what I've worked with it seems like regular wood. I would watch the dust though, it can make you a bit sick. If your going with a jig saw you might want to watch the heat if its slow going, i cant say but I don't think the smoke would be good and it could melt pretty easy.
 
I've used a small wood worker's band saw with a metal cutting blade, table saw with a carbide blade, coping saw.

You can use a wood cutting blade on the band saw but it seems to get dull faster.

Micarta is a high temperature plastic. I tend to burn it, not melt it. As others have said be careful of the dust and fumes.

Ric
 
I use my metal cutting bandsaw or a jeweler's saw with spiral blades to cut micarta. They both work about as fast.

- Chris
 
i use a scroll saw with a 15tpi blade. it does much better then my crappy old bandsaw ever could, especially since you can cut all the nice tight curves
 
FTO_dude said:
i use a scroll saw with a 15tpi blade. it does much better then my crappy old bandsaw ever could, especially since you can cut all the nice tight curves
Click to expand...

can you use a scroll saw to cut metal too, or just micarta and wood? I saw one at the store and it looked like it would b good for cutting round cuts.
 
they sell metal cutting blades, and you can make it run slow but dont expect to cut anything of reasonable thickness or hardness
 
You're not going to melt micarta, phenolic is a thermoset. Once polymerized it can not be made to melt any more than a piece of wood can melt. It can burn or char, when it does it releases formaldehyde. In small doses it will make you not feel well and give you a sore throat. If you actually breath in real smoke it is pretty bad for you. I suggest keeping it cool by keeping it wet and it wont give you any trouble unless you work with it a lot.

I love the stuff and use it for a lot of stuff. Stiff, dimensionally stable, high temperature, similar coefficient of thermal expansion as aluminum (about .000013 in/in per deg F, about 1/10th the amount of most polymers) and inexpensive. Truly an excellent material. I even occasionally use it for knife scales.

Coarse tooth saw works well, about 6-12 TPI. You can shape it with a wood rasp. If you grind it, take care not to over heat it or you'll get into those toxicity issues.
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
You're not going to melt micarta, phenolic is a thermoset. Once polymerized it can not be made to melt any more than a piece of wood can melt. It can burn or char, when it does it releases formaldehyde. In small doses it will make you not feel well and give you a sore throat. If you actually breath in real smoke it is pretty bad for you. I suggest keeping it cool by keeping it wet and it wont give you any trouble unless you work with it a lot.

I love the stuff and use it for a lot of stuff. Stiff, dimensionally stable, high temperature, similar coefficient of thermal expansion as aluminum (about .000013 in/in per deg F, about 1/10th the amount of most polymers) and inexpensive. Truly an excellent material. I even occasionally use it for knife scales.

Coarse tooth saw works well, about 6-12 TPI. You can shape it with a wood rasp. If you grind it, take care not to over heat it or you'll get into those toxicity issues.
Click to expand...

thanks for the info, I'll be using a file, rasp and sand paper to shape by hand. I may use my hand sander clamped in my vice to round the slabs but I'll keep it as cool as I can. wet is a good idea, seems it would cut down on dust too which Ive heard is not the greatest thing to be inhaling. I wear a respirator but I definitely don't want formaldehyde gas filling up in the garage.
 
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