home made paper or linen micarta wrap handles ?

[bigeard09]

Hello all , can anyone here point me in the right direction for making micarta wrap for knife handles , either paper or linen and the types of ready available resins used ? Once the wrap is in place do you just leave it to dry naturally ? also does it need compressing and if so can you just wrap some plastic tape around to keep the micarta in place ?
Thanks

 

[BitingSarcasm]

There have been multiple threads in the Maintenance and Tinkering forum, it would be faster to just do a search here and get walked through the process. There are multiple fail points for homemade micarta that can be avoided by doing research, but short answer for you is yes, you a need lot of compression. Off the shelf epoxy will work, the different varieties result in slightly different properties, but compression is extremely important. Multiple clamps will be needed to get the layers bonded to each other or they could look fine but blow apart when they are worked.

 

[Ilikesharpstuff]

Are you suggesting you want to wrap the paper/linen into the form of the handle on the knife and then soak it in resin and let it cure in place? I've never heard of anyone doing this and I don't think it would work well. Micarta is usually made in slabs/blocks/billets and then cut, ground, or otherwise machined to shape before being attached to the knife.

 

[Danke42]

Once you have the block of Micarta this is a walk through of how scales could be made. It seems like you are describing a fixed blade so a little bit easier to do.

 

[madcap_magician]

I believe Kailash had figured out a way to make micarta by wrapping and forming the materials around the tang of their kukris. I am unsure how successful that was.

 

[bigeard09]

Are you suggesting you want to wrap the paper/linen into the form of the handle on the knife and then soak it in resin and let it cure in place? I've never heard of anyone doing this and I don't think it would work well. Micarta is usually made in slabs/blocks/billets and then cut, ground, or otherwise machined to shape before being attached to the knife.

Yes planning on doing a tight wrap using some kind of linen / burlap .

 

[Danke42]

Sure I guess. Just build a jig with a ratchet to hold the knife. Spool the wrap on crazy tight. Dip in resin and compress in the mould. When it's cured sand as required. Easy.

 

[Sam Wilson]

I have done this many times. A tight wrap, followed by saran wrap, then the compression type sports bandages wrapped tightly around to squeeze everything. The wider the better, 2" or wider is better so you don't have as many seams and points digging into the handle. Use a slow curing epoxy. I've been using this process for over a decade, none have come loose or even moved yet.

Sam

Are you suggesting you want to wrap the paper/linen into the form of the handle on the knife and then soak it in resin and let it cure in place? I've never heard of anyone doing this and I don't think it would work well. Micarta is usually made in slabs/blocks/billets and then cut, ground, or otherwise machined to shape before being attached to the knife.

Yes planning on doing a tight wrap using some kind of linen / burlap .

 

[Crag the Brewer]

I have done this many times. A tight wrap, followed by saran wrap, then the compression type sports bandages wrapped tightly around to squeeze everything. The wider the better, 2" or wider is better so you don't have as many seams and points digging into the handle. Use a slow curing epoxy. I've been using this process for over a decade, none have come loose or even moved yet.

Sam

Sam, do you have any work in process photos?
I've never even thought about This......very interesting idea!
Thanks.

 

[Sam Wilson]

I don't, unfortunately. It's a bit of a messy process, probably why I didn't take any photos, lol. I put the blade in a vise, and put newspaper on the floor under the knife handle.

Sam

Sam, do you have any work in process photos?
I've never even thought about This......very interesting idea!
Thanks.

 

[scdub]

I think linen or another fabric ribbon (just one - not multiples) would work much better than paper because you can wrap it tight.

I’d suggest adding resin to the fabric before it’s applied or as you wrap, rather than wrapping the whole handle and then soaking it in resin.

Please let us know how it goes and post pics if you can!

 

[bigeard09]

Are you suggesting you want to wrap the paper/linen into the form of the handle on the knife and then soak it in resin and let it cure in place? I've never heard of anyone doing this and I don't think it would work well. Micarta is usually made in slabs/blocks/billets and then cut, ground, or otherwise machined to shape before being attached to the knife.

There is evidence it can be achieved

 

[bigeard09]

I have done this many times. A tight wrap, followed by saran wrap, then the compression type sports bandages wrapped tightly around to squeeze everything. The wider the better, 2" or wider is better so you don't have as many seams and points digging into the handle. Use a slow curing epoxy. I've been using this process for over a decade, none have come loose or even moved yet.

Sam

Hi Sam , thanks for the info . What is Saran wrap ? Thanks

 

[Crag the Brewer]

Hi Sam , thanks for the info . What is Saran wrap ? Thanks

Sometimes it's called cling wrap.... Saran is a Product name. Like Kleenex tissues or Bubbler drinking fountains, Xerox copies, etc.

It's basicly thin clear plastic used to wrap and keep air out of leftover food in the refrigerator

 

[bigeard09]

Sometimes it's called cling wrap.... Saran is a Product name. Like Kleenex tissues or Bubbler drinking fountains, Xerox copies, etc.

It's basicly thin clear plastic used to wrap and keep air out of leftover food in the refrigerator

Yep understand now