First attempt at Micarta...

[SamuraiDave]

Well, I couldent find the Marine Epoxy, or Fiberglass at WWorld (yes I asked and no they didn't have a clue). So I decided that for a little under 2 bucks a tube I would get some 2 ton Devcon epoxy. I had 6 bucks and change in my pocket so I got 3 tubes.
While waiting for dinner to cook and watching the news I took out a piece of 440C that is 12"x1.5" and used it as a template to trace out and cut 35 strips of a gray t-shirt I had been meaning to throw away.
I didn't realize that the 3 tubes of epoxy wouldent be enough for all 35 strips of t-shirt. I should have realized that the majority of mass micarta has is from the glue holding it together.
I only got 8 strips glued up with the 3 tubes of epoxy. Currently it is drying between 5 clamps and some spare lumber I have. Maybe I have 1 good pair of scales in there, and maybe I need to go read more archived information.

Tomorrow I will hit a boating store and see what I can pick up as far as Marine Fiberglass or Epoxy goes.

 

[Fiddleback]

The marine epoxy is so expensive that I've given up on making my own mikarta. I just don't like the results I get from the cheap polyester stuff you can get for fiberglass work at HD/Walmart. Its not clear, its not nearly as hard, and it has a smell.

You'll spend fifty bucks on marine epoxy, and get a few sets of scales. I had good success after figuring out I was overclamping and squishing out too much epoxy. Check your blank. If the epoxy has formed a wide boundary around the cloth, then you lost that material. Clamp with less pressure.

 

[trentu]

Personally I use the fiberglass resin. Works good and you get many layers out of 1 mixed cup.

 

[PMLKnives]

I've made cloth micarta a few times with the west system. It's expensive but I can make what ever colors or layering I'd like. After searching for what you want, for a good price, and shipping it's usually just a little more. With the west system I am looking for a way to thin it abit. If you try for a higher tahn satin finish it has tiny inclusions( you can't even see unless you look real hard) also I've been told it frays when machined. It's not perfect but it's good for what i need.
I usually paint it on with a cheap brush in 12"x12" peices between a piece of corian and marble and squeeze the crap out of it. When I'm painting I use only a little, by the time I finish painting if you can see where its absorbed into the material, add more , I usually don't have tooo much waste this way. I also use wax paper so it doesn't stick to the slabs, make sure it's tapped down or it will wrinkle, it's cheap but you can buy a release agent if you find this to difficult. I also paint only the first and last piece on both sides.
I've posted some pics of my knives withs my micarta

 

[SamuraiDave]

Well, the slab of gray t-shirt mycarta came out alright. I could possibly get 1 pair of medium scales or 2 pair of small scales from it. It is pretty thin, and due to the lumber I used being warped it is thicker in the center of the 12" long piece than on the ends.

But I did go out and buy some Fiberglass resin today, it says it only has a 15 minute pot time, so the next batch I work with I will have to be quick about it. I have some ideas, but we will see.

Anybody else put 2nd rate scales on their 2nd rate knives?