Does micarta dry out?

4

4W4K3

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Dec 13, 2006
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I have a cane with a micarta grip, and I leave it in my car.

I've noticed the last few days it gets BLISTERING hot in my car (Texas heat) since I have to park it in the open sun, 9 hours a day. The Micarta looks nearly green it fades so much (black linen micarta) and it gets kind of chalky.

I wipe it down everyday with some mineral oil as suggested by anotehr forum member, but one day in the car and it's all discolored again. What would you suggest? Does micarta crack/brittle from heat? I'd hate to have it crumble away.
 
No, it's not fine. But it's not the heat. Throw something over the handle, like a jacket or a piece of aluminum foil, to block the UV when it's in the car.

Laminated composites can shrug off most temperatures. The problem is UV degradation. Seeing that windshield glass already filters out around 95% of all UV naturally, that micarta grip must have used a rather UV-vulnerable epoxy. Cover it and it should no longer degrade.

Though, I think what damage is done is already done, and it's not much damage, it probably just roughed up the surface. I'm no materials engineer, but I don't see how oil actually "fixed" the handle. The oil probably just filled microscopic pits in the surface temporarily to make it more transparent, and when the oil evaporated (from the heat, this time), the surface went back to the way it was. To truly repair it, I think you need to repolish and buff the surface.
 
Good idea, I'll throw a jacket over it. I can start storing it in my trunk when I get the release latch/cable fixed. Any special tricks to polishing micarta? I've done some car detailing but nothing like micarta.
 
exactly. UV is getting to it (which will happen with almost every material out there anyway).

Hit it with a shot of WD40 now-n-then to keep it nice.
 
I'd consider getting the stainless steel grip, but it's a lot heavier and if left in the sun would probably give me third degree burns on my palm haha. Better go buy some more mineral oil, I don't really like the way WD-40 smells.
 
Daniel Koster said:
Hit it with a shot of WD40 now-n-then to keep it nice.
Click to expand...

Not a good idea. WD-40 is a great penetrating oil to free up creaky or sticky joints, but it is next-to-useless as a preservative, because it evaporates clean off and leaves no coat. Worse, it does tend to just attract dust. Mineral oil is a much better choice, and I would also try out Breakfree CLP if you have any. No guarantees to its effectiveness at polishing, but it does leave a thick coat.

I'm not sure personally how to polish micarta, but depending on how bad the surface is, it's probably just a standard polish process: a high-grit sandpaper (at least >600-grit), and buffing cloth+buffing agent.
 
I'll give it a whirl, got the day off tomorrow and I've got to find some particle board (or something) to throw my knives at indoors :) Should have some kind of polishing stuff at the hardware store.
 
Oh my, now you've got me looking at NA Miata's...one of my favorites. I'm being torn from knives to cars now, I just ordered an H7 conversion kit for my MR2 :P But thank you, that list of supplies is perfect.
 
Mineral oil is indeed a good protectant/lubricant, but does not penetrate the material. Better for storage, than for use. And you'll leave a heckuva mess in your car with your knife and handle coated in it.


Has anybody tried Balistol?
I love the smell of it...works like WD40.


Micarta can be polished with buffing compound, or even with wax. I use both. For wax: BriWax...but any paste wax would work.



that said....don't leave any knife in the sun...can get crazy hot!
 
I failed to mention something....:o


When I sandblast a handle...or even just sand micarta up to 400 grit...I always finish it off with several "coats" of WD40. It literally soaks it up. You can watch it happen. Spray the blade and spray the handle (after sandblasting). The blade will stay "wet" and the handle will dry out. After I give it several "coatings"....the handle does stop "drying out". But, with time...will need more.

There are those that have achieved success by dropping the handle into a jar of mineral oil and leaving it for a day or two...in a sunny spot. This does work well for just about any material...the oil seems to fill voids that were "dried out" before. It doesn't solidify or permanently fill them...but does help.

Best of luck! :thumbup:
 
Just pointing out that if you need the cane for medical reasons then maybe putting oil on the handle is not the best idea.

Edit-I would look around the makers forum for ideas on how to polish micarta
 
Sunscreen.

moving-van.jpg
 
Sunscreen, haha. Banana boat smells nice.

Sounds like if I rough up the surface with some sandpaper, then eiher soak it in mineral oil or spray it down repeatedly with WD-40 it should "soak it up". Then every so often wipe it down. That doesn't sound too difficult.
 
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