dyed micarta handles, color rubs off, can I use sealant on them?

BryFry

BryFry

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I'm modding the factory micarta scales on a knife by reshaping them a bit, and dying them a darker color. I used Fiebings leather dye, and though it looks pretty good, the color transfers off onto my hand and rubbing cloth no matter how much rubbing and buffing I do with the cloth.

I've used up half a dozen cloths rubbing and buffing these things over the course of three days and still get color transfer! So I'm wondering if there is some kind of sealant that is safe for use on micarta that will stop the bleeding color??

I have some beezwax already, but I'm not sure if it is safe to use on micarta or not? Or if it would even help?

Anyone have experience with this?
 
There have been threads on dying micarta, I remember them from the former ESEE forums. They all used Rit brand dye. Boil water, add dye, then the micarta scales, but with more details.

Thing is about the micarta, you're only going to get the dye to stain the top layer of fabric. So, in the future if you scuff the handles, you might take off the dye.
Bark River uses some kind of wax and a buffer to smooth out lots of their micarta handles. Adding wax, and buffing can darken the color of micarta.
Rubbing petroleum jelly, or any oil to micarta will also darken them, grey becomes almost black. This of course wears off, or just gets lighter over time. Depends on how much gunk, blood, sweat, etc.. the handles see.
 
oops.. Sounds like I should of researched more before I started this project! I wonder what effect the beezwax stuff I have would have on my dyed handles?
 
Fiebings leather dye has a sealer you need to buy, and apply after the dye to stop color transfer. I have some but cannot find it to get the name right now.
 
Is this home made "micarta"? I.e. Epoxy and fabric? I've never heard of micarta, i.e. phenolic, bleeding color.

- Paul Meske
 
lonepine said:
Is this home made "micarta"? I.e. Epoxy and fabric? I've never heard of micarta, i.e. phenolic, bleeding color.

- Paul Meske
Click to expand...

They are production scales. I'm modding an ESEE Junglas. It came with very light tan, (almost white) scales.
Just snapped a few pics of it after my dye job....

015-4.jpg

010-4.jpg


....I'm not looking forward to it, but I guess I'm going to have to strip most of the color back off. :grumpy:
 
One nice thing about Micarta is it does NOT absorb things. I would not try and seal anything in. Only going to come off with use. Maybe the boiling technique would work for the outter most surface??
 
jll346 said:
One nice thing about Micarta is it does NOT absorb things.
Click to expand...

Right. That's pretty much the whole point of using micarta or G10 for handles - they're tough and are affected very little if at all by moisture, most chemicals, etc.
 
The one problem that I have with micarta is that when you finish it up rough for grip either by sanding or blasting, it turns all washed out grey. In theory, if you could spray some kind of epoxy based substance on it, it would probably darken up again, but the trick would be to get the coat thin enough that it wouldn't fill in the texture you want for grip. I wonder if the no-bake version of the epoxy based coatings like Gun Cote or Duracote might do the trick? They are made to go on pretty thin. You could also pick your color.
 
Why not just make new scales for it in whatever color you want? Scales aren't rocket science, and it can be a lot of fun.
 
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