Discolored Micarta

[JerkeeJoe]

I just got a knife from Ray Laconico the other day and have noticed that after leaving it in the new leather sheath I made for it overnight, there is some discoloration of the micarta.

I know that there was another thread here a couple of weeks ago asking this same question, and now I wish I would have paid more attention to it. I tried the google search of BF and couldn't find anything, and I can't ever search using the search feature, despite me being a paying member.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

-Joe

 

[v-6]

the search sucks. i always google every thing. like drillbits@bladeforums.com
you should find it. it may not be listed the way your asking it
vern

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

If memory serves me (and it seldom does) I believe they determined the leather soaked up oil from the micarta, turning red micarta pink. Micarta is supposed to develop a natural patina from oils in your hand, but if it is new and seldom used a little mineral oil rubbed on it does the trick.

 

[raylaconico]

Joe, try washing/scrubbing it with dish soap and see if it works. It might be the dye from the leather, I don't know. I only usually use black micarta so I've never had this problem.

 

[JerkeeJoe]

I actually just found the thread I was looking for. They recommended using sno seal on the inside of the sheath.

Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[A. Brett Schaller]

Hi Joe,

I'm the one who made the knives in the other thread. I ended up refinishing the Micarta to 1200 grit and re-buffing (I had originally finished it to 400 prior to buffing,) and also using Sno-seal on the inside of the sheath. The combination of the two solved the problem. Here's a "before" pic...