homeade micarta

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nc527

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Mar 22, 2009
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Ok so i picked up some fiberglass resin last night to make some homemade micarta. My question is, can I mix 2 or more materials in the "micarta" like canvas, then denim, then paper or somthing like that. also want to know what kind of paper is usied for paper micarta. At the moment I have denim and some od canvas that I can use. Anyone who has input on this is greatly apprecieated.
last but not least, WOuld it be best to make the "micarta" when its cooler? as in mabey when its raining?
 
You can use any mix of textiles you want in there as long as they don't interact with the chemicals. Dry and warm is better in my experience, cool and damp make it take longet to fully setup.
 
I want it to be slow acting so I have more time to work it. I think Ima use a combo of canvas and denim. wish me luck as im going to do it now.
 
That should be cool. I made a piece with red cotton shop towels and denim. Looks kind of cool but I haven't had time to work it yet. Good Luck
 
report: I settled out behind the house and got to work mixing the resin. I used the directions on the can and from online. It takes 6-8 oz of resin to make slabs with about 20 layers. On the can it says for 1/4 of resin use 1/4 of hardener, so i just did that since I couldnt measure the 100 and some drops it would take to do by oz. after stirring with a pencil lol, I preceded to make the layers, pouring a small line of resin down the strip then smoothing it all over the strip, then I put the next on and used a plastic scraper to get all the air bubbles out. then I repeated again and again till at about strip 18. Then the resin got thick, then after that strip it became a glob of resin warming as the reaction of the catalyst and the resin took place. in all i got 19 layers on the thing. then I folded the wax paper and put the chunk in between 2 layers of 3/8in plywood with 3 c clamps compressing it. as I tightened the c clamps, I notices somthing. My mixed container for the resin was SMOKING. so I calmly picked it up and threw it in my dirt forge hole in the ground. One thing about that stuff is it makes me kind of high just thinking about it, even outside with a breeze. right now the whole slab is hardening. I might peek at it tonight before bed.
 
you dont really want to inhale the fumes from the resins..

also when your cutting and sanding the finished product you again dont want to be inhaling the dust and fumes created from it ,

wear a respirator suitable for what your doing ..

and a dust mask isnt really good enough ..
 
nc527, I had a similar experience. I tried to do my first micarta when it was around 80F outside. I was able to put 14 layers of denim before the resin got thick. The resulting material was just under 1/4" and turned out pretty nice. The second time I was making it when the temperature was in the 60-s and was working faster, so I had enough time for all 20 layers.
 
When working West Systems epoxy and I needed a bit more time, I made sure that I poured the mixed up epoxy into a larger container than the mixing cup. I used an old tupperware-style container. That exothermic reaction seems to really get cooking in small containers.

A guy at the store suggested a cold water bath for your mixing cup as another idea to keep it from setting up too quickly.
 
about the container size, I was using a soda can with the top cut off, so that might have speeding it up.
 
Suggestions:
Be certain to have everything ready beforehand.
You can use a little less hardener than it says on the container and it will give more working time...However do this when mixing.
Mix up in whatever container the transfer it to another container after about a minute or so, Use a clean mixing stick for the second stir.
Why you ask...Because you will get a cleaner mixture and better ratio of hardener to resin.
Next be patient do not PEEK untill you are sure it has setup.
 
I took it out today and it looked alright, cept on my last layer when the stuff was globing up i dint cover it. So I used the bandsaw to trim it, and now Its hardening with a coat on the exposed canvas.
 
Have fun with it, but try and not call it Micarta. The name I like for home made stuff is MyCarta. Micarta is a very different thing. It is a brand name product and uses a phenolic resin.

Try getting a slower setting resin from System Three. You don't want a standard epoxy repair resin. System Three Cleat Coat is a good choice. Here is a link to their epoxy guide book PDF. It has a lot of good info. Read the chemistry part well, it covers curing.
http://www.systemthree.com/members/literature/The_Epoxy_Book.pdf
(You may have to scroll down past the first white page to see the cover page)

Use thin resin.
Use a wide mix pot, not a tall one.
Mix exact amounts of two part resins- never cut back on one part in an attempt to slow the cure.
Start with cooler part A/B, it slows down the set time.
Mix by weight.
Use two mix bowls. Mix in one, transfer, remix.
Chilling the mix bowl will slow things down.
Clamp while still liquid, and before any gelling.

Making a pressing box that will allow a 6" piece of 2X4 to fit in it works well ( the box can be made from 2X4s and a plywood bottom.). Wax the box sides and the 2X4 ram. Mix the resin and stir in the cloth. Take the strips out,one at a time, wipe them with gloved hands, layer them in the box till it has all you want, and put the 2X4 ram on . Clamp the ram down tight on the cloth, and allow to cure for 24 hours before removing. Don't rush things, let it sit for a couple days before doing any trimming of the block. Allow to cure at room temp for about a week to become fully ready for use.

Stacy
 
its really fun to do here is one I made recently with olive and tan canvas
DSCN0420-1.jpg
 
No photos . If you know what a butter press is, that is pretty much what this is,too.
It is just a piece of plywood ,about 12X14", with four pieces of 2X4 ( two = 2X4x14, and two = 2X2X4) screwed and glued to it to make a frame with a chamber of about 2X6". The ram is a 2X4X6" piece of wood that is sanded to fit in the box moderately loose. Coat all the surfaces with paraffin wax or a commercial mold release compound.
Stacy
 
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