Help with DIY micarta scales.

F

Futz Brown

Joined
Jan 6, 2011
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118
I'm currently working on some micarta scales for my rat-1 knife and I'm almost finished, but this is where I have a few questions. I've never done anything like this before so for a first time I think I'm doing pretty well.

Is there any way to darken the scales without a finish? Like using finer grit sand paper or something like that?

Should I put some sort of finish on the handles? Why, and what would you recommend?

Thanks.
 
Micarta requires no finish. Fine sanding and polishing will darken it some. A final coat of paste wax or WD 40 will darken it fully.
 
0000 steel wool, followed by Simichrome on a soft cloth "shoeshined" in the opposite direction from the steel wool.
Canvas micarta won't really take a high polish, so you can probably skip that part. Just buff it with the steel wool, and give it a squirt of WD 40 when finished.
 
In my experience, micarta and other laminates sand "light" and polish "dark". The darker the material (eg black canvas) the more pronounced the effect.

Oils, like the wd-40 Bill mentions, will darken it but is by no means needed as sealant.

-Todd
 
fod said:
In my experience, micarta and other laminates sand "light" and polish "dark". The darker the material (eg black canvas) the more pronounced the effect.

Oils, like the wd-40 Bill mentions, will darken it but is by no means needed as sealant.

-Todd
Click to expand...

He has risen!!!
 
Alright, well I'm almost done. I used 0000 wool as recommended, I just need to get the screw holes in and shave off the last little bit of excess material.

A few minor things though. One, I'm having a little bit of trouble removing all the dust. The other is that there are little divots, probably from air bubbles, on the surface. I didn't have access to clamps at the time so I just used 80 pounds of weights, so that could be why. Anyhow, is there a way to fill those in?

Even with the air bubble problem I'm really happy with how this turned out and I can't wait to buy another knife and do this all over again. I'll put up pics when I have it all the way finished in case anybody is interested.
 
Use super glue to fill the voids. Fill them before finish sanding.
 
Billy boy I can't begin to tell you what a help you've been. These will be done tomorrow and then I can move on to duracoating the blade. I really dig the RAT-1 and this project is gonna be the first of many cause it's so much fun.
 
OK, I have a picture of the *near* finished product. I just need to finish up a screw hole and put in the pocket clip. Sorry for the bad quality, all I've got at my disposal is the webcam on my computer. It's black and green in case you couldn't tell.

ax1cu8.jpg


It's not great, the screw holes for the blade aren't lined up exactly right so the blade sits inside the liner kinda crooked. But, all in all, I'm pretty happy with it for a first try and my next one will be twice as good. I think it looks pretty cool, a lot more interesting than the boring black plastic it had before.
 
Great thread folks, I've done 3 or 4 batches using t shirts and Carhart pants. I knew nothing of this 0000 steel wool trick and sanding light and polishing dark.


A picture, cause it didn't happen without a pic.


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Thanks again folks.
 
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