Finishing ironwood/linen micarta

[Ethan Spalding]

I’ve made a handle of desert ironwood, with g10 layers, and a black linen micarta bolster. I’m curious about the best way to finish, as I’ve never used linen micarta before. I was thinking linseed oil on the ironwood and just polish the micarta? But I’m open to suggestions. The linen micarta seems like it will absorb moisture to a degree

 

[fishface5]

I finished a black linen micarta handle by sanding then swabbing with black dye and then a little oil. It's a kitchen knife and has held up pretty well but not as clean as black paper micarta would have been

 

[Hengelo_77]

Why not hand sand or micro mesh the whole handle?

 

[john april]

i would sand it all to a clean 1000 grit, and buff with white compound. no finish required. genuine micarta will not absorb moisture.

 

[REK Knives]

Depends what look you are going for... For an example, here's a 2k sand then buff.

 

[Blackdirt cowboy]

Ironwood doesn’t need an oil on it to finish it. Sand it to a high grit and then buff with scratchless compound. I like to do ironwood with brass or copper bolsters. I’ll sand it up to 600 on the belt sander then move on to hand sanding. I’ll go back to 400 then 600 and then move to polishing papers all the way up to 8000. Then I’ll go to the buffer with a scratchless compound. I’ll buff on a couple of coats of wax to protect it. They turn out fantastic.

 

[Ethan Spalding]

I am sanding it, I intend to take it to 1500 grit and then buff. But this is going to be a knife that is carried often and I’d prefer the wood to be sealed in some way

Why not hand sand or micro mesh the whole handle?

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Ironwood doesn't need sealing.
A coat of paste wax occasionally will keep it looking nice.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Sealing ironwood is like varnishing your granite countertop ... it doesn't need it, and looks better without it.

Sand to 8000 and buff and it will be as nice as it will be. Your 1500 will be sufficient. too.

As Bill said, a coat of good wood grade wax every once in a while is OK. Personally, I rarely wax handles.

 

[godogs57]

Sealing ironwood is like varnishing your granite countertop ... it doesn't need it, and looks better without it.

Sand to 8000 and buff and it will be as nice as it will be. Your 1500 will be sufficient. too.

As Bill said, a coat of good wood grade wax every once in a while is OK. Personally, I rarely wax handles.

Like you I rarely wax handles, especially desert ironwood. Most waxes I’ve found will darken desert ironwood and make the figure less apparent. I don’t like that on that wood. One wax I have used that’s worked well is Odies wax (not Odiesoil!). It protects the ironwood, yet doesn’t darken the figure Like other waxes will.

 

[JoWa]

Good afternoon, I would also like some feedback on finishing Micarta, but I'm looking for more of a 'grippy' matte finish. Any thoughts on how to do this? Bead blast the micarta, or is that too harsh? Finish with a low grit-count sandpaper?

I'm finishing up two sets of scales, one for a ZT 0562 to replace the stock CF scale, the other for a Spyderco Mule Team. Both are green linen micarta, if that information helps at all.

 

[Dimitar Popov]

I am not a big fan of very glossy polish so I sand it to around 1200 and that's it. Nu buffing or oiling. Sometimes for the highest grits I sand with oil so the sandpaper doesn't clog , then I wipe the oil as much as I can and that's it. It leaves smooth satin finish.

 

[FredyCro]

For a matte and a grippy finish even 400 grit with some oil or wax will do. I think you need to try out and see what you like in terms of aesthetic and grippynes.

 

[Eeey_Yo_Mikey]

Might have to Odie's a try! wonder how it holds up compared to carnauba wax