G10 Dryout....keeping them fresh...tips & tricks please.

Rival1314

Rival1314

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Aug 17, 2012
Messages
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hey all, been doing a lot of work on scales lately and i have been trying to make sure they stay nice long term. any tips for a nice finish on g10? I keep them oiled to make the colors pop, but sometimes they seem to dryout. I've tried different grits to do final sanding and that seems to help...what works for you?
 
I have this problem. I was thinking for my next set of scales I would see if I could sort of impregnate the G-10 with oil, sort of drop them in a shallow trough of hoppes #9 and leave em in there for a few days.
no idea if that'll work though. I kind of doubt that it will
 
It's a glue filled and compressed fiber, how is it drying out when it has no moisture?
 
I have used tru-oil , gun stock finish, with good results, just takes some time to dry with multiple coats.
 
buff your scales, that's the only way i know to make it look ''bright'' for long term, when your g10 looks washed it's not because it's dry, it's just not polished enough, oiling works because it fills the scratch pattern but it'll go with use.
 
Drying out may not be the correct term to describe the change to G10.

I've pocketed an XM with a new black G10 scale for about 8-9 hours at the office.

It went from a uniform jet black to looking faded with the lighter spots in the crests of the textured pattern.

The porous surface of the G10 seems to loose colour fairly quickly.
 
My guess would be more to the effect that the glue bonding the layers is fading due to atmospheric conditions.
 
Some synthetic resins will outgas and/or oxidize a bit, which can leave a hazy or grayish coating on materials made with them. Older versions of black delrin were known to do this occasionally. In the Delrin's case anyway, I think most of it happened with new material that was enclosed in airtight packaging for a while, and the vapors from the outgassing resin were not allowed to dissipate.

I'd bet a more finely-sanded and polished finish on G10 would keep the colors bright. I have several Case folders in orange and red G10 (polished), and they've never had any issues with dulling or fading.
 
Thanks for all the recent feedback. My description was kind of poor. Its a dry look, not actual dryout im trying to avoid. I put them in a baggie w/oil & let sit a while, then wiped, and used superfine wet-sandpaper and they are holding an amazing finish. I just wanted to get opinions on long term care and it sounds like a good final buff should hold up well!
 
I reserve a cotton buffing wheel just for my "Plastics" (I know G-10 is Fiberglass). I wet sand and buff with Flitz, and the finish on my G-10 scales stays nice.
Peel ply, and textured factory G-10, on the other hand just gets plain ol dirty, down in the texturing. A good wash at the sink with dish wash soap, and a brush, followed by a light wipe down of just about anything that turns your crank,WD-40,Armor All, mineral oil, Hoppes #9 etc. etc., will make them look good as new.
 
I kinda think of it like sandblasted glass. If you oil it it will have a sheen, then it will dry up and be matte again. Polish it, and it waill stay.

lol and I came in here thinking I would have to keep my g10 knife in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator in a ziplock.
 
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