Finishing micarta

[flatgrinder]

I've been having some problems getting an even polished finish on micarta. It usually ends up patchy -some regions are polished, some are dull. I handsand with water to 800 grit and then go to the buffer.

Any tricks to get an even, polished finish? Would coating with superglue and then sanding work better? Just curious as to what you other makers do?

Also, which color is the easiest to finish? I heard white linen is difficult? Is this true?

Also, is paper easier than linen and linen easier than canvas to finish?

Thanks!

 

[Karl B. Andersen]

I guess first I would ask what grade of Micarta? Paper, linen or canvas?
Secondly, 800 just isn't fine enough to go to the buffer. You need to finish out with at least 1200 and I go to 1500. then buff on a slow buffer. To fast and it will actually heat up and melt! I even use a totally clean wheel with no compound so it doesn't discolor the Micarta.

 

[Sean O'Hare]

I never buff G10 or Micarta anymore. But when I did I went to 1200grit hand sanding and then very lightly buffed it. If you use much pressure you could overheat micarta. I also used to use a wheel that had white compound but would apply very little compound to it for micarta. Handle material is really soft, so it is easy to raise the pins if you buff with lots of compound or push very hard. The least amount of buffing you can do the better.

Good luck.

Sean

 

[Del Raso Knives]

White paper I refuse to use. All the stuff I have seen has been epoxy based rather than phenolic, leaving it with micro pores that won't polish well. The polished surface also tends to get dirty easily. Black paper is much better.
As the other guys have mentioned 800gt is good but 1200 would improve your finish significantly. If you are using water and the micarta looks whitish when you have dried it, try spraying it with light oil (WD40 type) before buffing. Makes a lot of differance.

peter