Help with red Micarta!

A. Brett Schaller

A. Brett Schaller

Joined
Mar 22, 2001
Messages
787
I just finished up two knives for a customer using red linen Micarta. When I leave them in their sheaths for as little as 30 minutes, there are white splotches on the Micarta, almost as if the red dye had leached out. This only occures in a couple of spots on the handle - possibly where the leather is pressed more tightly against the handle than in other areas.

A brisk rub with a fingertip (or better yet, a little mineral oil) restores the color, but when I put the knives back in their sheaths, the same thing happens.

This is a new leather that I haven't used before, but it's from Wickett and Craig, who are spoken highly of in the sheath forums, so I assume the leather is good. I haven't used red Micarta in years because of inconsistent dye jobs and black inclusions, but this was at the request of my customer.

Any ideas?

Thanks!
 
I always coat my micarta handles with a thin layer of Renaissance wax. It kinda sounds like the micarta is dry. Try the wax. The color shouldn't be leaching out, espcially if you can rub it away with your finger. What grit did you take it down to, and is it home made or did you buy it from a supplier?
-John
 
I actually tried some Johnson's paste wax, but it seemed to make things worse - color leached out in splotchy patches. Micarta is from Jantz supply. I took it to 400 grit, then buffed.
I wonder if I should just keep a coat of mineral oil on it for several days.
 
Wierd... I usually take mine to 600 or even 1000 grit so as not to buff it too long. Can you post pics? Does the color come off on a rag when you wipe it down?
-John
 
Here are some photos...

Color will not come off on a white rag, no matter how hard I rub - even rubbing with mineral oil. Neither will putting the knives in and out of the sheaths rub the color off. Only leaving them in the sheaths for about a half hour will do it. A light rub with mineral oil will restore the color indefinitely - until I put them back in their sheaths.

I'm stumped...

redmic1.jpg


redmic3.jpg


redmic4.jpg
 
Did you wax the sheath? Apply a good coat of Sno-Seal to the leather and your problem should disappear.
 
Those may be spots where you haven't got the polish as good as the other areas. The leather sucks the oil that fills the micro scratches and hides the dull spot. Try this:
Clean with acetone,then re-polish up to 1000 grit, buff well, and make sure there is no spot at all. Insert the handle into the sheath (with no oiling at all) and see what happens.
Stacy
 
I hope you get this straightened out. The Red Micarta looks great on those knives.
 
Thanks, I will try these suggestions and let you know what happens.
I don't usually apply any finish to the inside of my sheaths, only the outside, on which I use Fiebing's Tan-Kote. I've never heard of Sno-Seal - can you tell me where you get this? Any other good products for coating the inside?

Thanks!
 
You can get snow seal at any hunting supply store. I use it on my boots. It looks like the micarta is just dry. I agree that the leather is probably pulling the oil out. Try the Renaissance wax next time. It's not an oil and I think it seals things up nicely.
-john
 
Brett: I have never seen that happen. But, if the dry leather is soaking up whatever oil you put on the scales, then you need to treat your leather.

When I used to make sheaths (and I made hundreds!) the absolute best thing I ever did was to put sno-seal on them-and in them. Look it up on-line, and buy a jar. It will make your sheaths look georgeous and they will become TOTALLY waterproof. They won't show scratches or wear, either. If you use high quality, stiff leather, your sheaths will be the envy of everyone. The color the sno seal gives to natural leather is rich and beautiful-Much nicer than dye, IMO. If you dress the edges in dark brown, the look is awesome.
 
Barker, how does the micarta feel with the Renaissance wax on it. Does it still feel grippy enough for use? I ask, because I really have been needing some to put on my sword and axe, which I have had rust issues with before. And it would be great to have something that does double duty for making micarta look nice too.
 
I have to go with Stacy on this one; this has happened to me before but it's been due to missing some larger scratches along the way for some reason or other. They are hidden by the oil for a time but when absorbed by the sheath then the deeper scratches become more apparent. I think if you repolish those spots they would disappear for good.
 
Well, I found some Sno-Seal in a local sporting goods store and tried it. It reduced, but didn't eliminate the problem. So I sanded down the white spots with 400 grit (just to take a few thousandths of an inch off, as it seemed these spots were pressing harder on the leather than the rest of the handle) then wet-sanded with 1200 grit and buffed. That took care of the problem!

I like the Sno-Seal, though. I'll start using it on all my sheaths. RJ, do you use any other finish on the leather, or just the Sno-Seal? My leather is from Wickett and Craig, and is already drum dyed and already has something of a finish on it - "deep tallow top coating" is what W&C calls it.

Thanks to everyone who helped me with this. This site is the best, and so are the people who come here!:thumbup:
 
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