Home made "Micarta" (TM)

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jeremyseip

Joined
Feb 9, 2005
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About two weeks ago I glued up a bunch of demin strips into a nice chuck of laminated fabric. I used fiberglass resin but probably was a little low on the amount of catalyst for the temperature in the shop (55-60 deg F). Question: It hardened up well, I can sand it and polish it pretty well (it's a bit soft) BUT it still reeks of the resin. Is this something that will go away with more time, more room temperature heat,and more ventilation? I'm in Los Angeles so it's not like there is snow out there.

Basically does this stuff ever stop smelling? I had it in mind for a long term project (The old "Knife List Knife" if anyone was on that mailing list) but not if it's going to smell like it causes cancer for the next 5 years. I'm open to remaking the stuff with more catalyst if that was the problem.

Thanks, I'm so glad I found this site.

Jay Seip
 
i think your supposed to use poleyester resin? anyone know where to get that stuff anyway?
i think if you leave the scales out for a while in the sun the smell should go away and it should harden a little more. or you might put them in an oven for a few minutes.
 
If it still smells it has not cured completely...try a lamp in a carboard box trick or an oven set at about 125-150 deg F
Or you could wait a couple months and it might finish curing
I used Fiberglass resin and it works ok
Not worth the effort to me G10 is much better material IMO
 
Yes, post cure it like blinker said, then just polish it and leave it outside for awhile. It shouldn't really smell anymore.

BTW, Micarta is made with phenolic resin, and g-10 with epoxy.
I guess it doesn't really matter though, just experiment and you'll get different material characteristics by using different resin matrix systems and reinforcements.

Composites are fun!
 
Fiberglas resin is polyester resin, but usually has waxes in it (for mold release).
I would not cure in an oven.
Add a thin coating of hardener to the outside of the handle, then warm it up a bit in the sun.
That should get rid of the smell, and will help cure it through.
Just don't ever get the hardener on your skin. Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide (MEKP) is the hardener and is nasty stuff.
I prefer slow curing epoxies for making laminates, as the result is harder, and shrinks less than polyester resin.

Howie
 
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