Handle material shaping? Rough

B

blandies

Joined
Aug 18, 2011
Messages
159
Firstly, I did search the forum & could not find my answer.

When I go to sand my handle material to shape (black micarta in this case) it just ruins the finish & makes it all rough looking & it looses it's nice looks.
How do you shape handle material w/out ruining it like I did?

I take it to my belt sander to shape then it just gets all nasty looking/feeling. Like a cloudy/dusty type thing going on....looses its shine & feel.
 
The first thing is that you need to take it to a very fine grit finish, then I hit it with some Tru Oil and wet sand a bit and buff it. I have only done 3 micarta handles so I am far from an expert, bit it worked for me
 
+1 to what moose said.. at the VERY least a dust mask but a half or full face mask is recommended for g-10, micarta or any stabilized woods.... chronic lung disease, no thank you!
 
wolffbite said:
...at the VERY least a half or full face respirator with proper filters is necessary for grinding or buffing anything.... chronic lung disease, no thank you!
Click to expand...

Fixed that for ya ;)

What kind of micarta are you working with? Paper can be polished to a nearly glassy-smooth finish, canvas will probably never get that smooth or shiny. Oiling and sanding to a high grit like Unky said will make it look its best, though, and it will still have most of that "grippy" feel.
 
You can shape with 50 grit belt ,refine with 400 then use strips of wet/dry 400/600/800 even in a shoeshine motion then take a ordinary green scotchbrite pad and go over it. Then spray it down with wd-40 let it soak a few minutes then wash it all off with warm soapy water , then i use tung oil liberally then wipe clean. I've only done 4 micarta handles but I did this on the last one and it turned out nice. Respirator is a must, a proper half or full mask not a cheap disposable plus put your shop vac right next to wear the grinder is shooting out dust. Wear clothes that cover your whole body and after you vacuum up all the dust you can wash them separately. I hate,hate ,hate g-10 and micarta dust.
 
I take it back - I believe it is dymonwood not micarta.

The top & bottom came real slick & shiny, the sides were dull & rough. But when I sanded the top to shape it it turned rougher than the sides are. I was unsure how to shape it but still keep the finish it originally had how they came.
 
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