How To Darken Black Canvas Micarta.

M

Moses_3

Joined
Feb 27, 2008
Messages
1,095
My Rattle Hawk just arrived and the black canvas micarta handle looks almost the same color as the sage coating. I have a Game Warden that has seen a lot of use and has black canvas micarta handles that are a dark rich color, I want to make my Rattle Hawk's handles that nice dark color, do you guys know how to speed up micarta's color change?
I read somewhere that applying baby oil to the micarta will darken it up but I am bit concerned that the oil will bleed into what it comes in contact with, have any of your tried this?

Thanks in advance.

UPDATE:
I know this is a bit of an old thread but I thought I would post with an update. So, I used Tung Oil to darken up the BCM handles on my Rattle Hawk just before Christmas and I quite like the result. Here are a couple shots:

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Since I treated the handle I have washed it a few times with dish soap to see if it would fade, and it hasn't. Also, the oil has not come off on gloves, clothing, or anything else. Anyone looking to darken up BCM I would consider Tung Oil, I have been happy with the results.
 
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The oils from your hand will eventually turn them dark. I'm not sure about baby oil, but I imagine it will do the same thing faster. If you want you can always wash 'em with dish soap and return them to new.
 
Using it will darken it but for faster results use mineral oil. The nice thing about kineral oil is it soaks in rapidly and even if it does come it contact with anything its just mineral oil and it wont hurt anything.

Garth
 
Garth Reckner said:
Using it will darken it but for faster results use mineral oil. The nice thing about kineral oil is it soaks in rapidly and even if it does come it contact with anything its just mineral oil and it wont hurt anything.

Garth
Click to expand...

:thumbup:

If you want to test the handle before applying the mineral oil to see what the color will look like, try using a wet paper towel to dampen an area on the micarta. It'll dry fairly quickly and is a quick & simple way to see how the oiled handle will look. :)
 
Garth Reckner said:
Using it will darken it but for faster results use mineral oil. The nice thing about kineral oil is it soaks in rapidly and even if it does come it contact with anything its just mineral oil and it wont hurt anything.

Garth
Click to expand...

:thumbup:

If you want to test the handle before applying the mineral oil to see what the color will look like, try using a wet paper towel to dampen an area on the micarta. It'll dry fairly quickly and is a quick & simple way to see how the oiled handle will look. :)
 
You can use Tung Oil which is a very fast drying oil that will darken and seal micarta. It's a hardware store item. Coat the handle and then wipe off all traces of excess oil.
You can also use Linseed Oil which is a very slow drying oil that dries VIA polymerization (same procedure) and be sure to wipe off every trace of the excess oil.

Also your oily rags or paper towels can spontaneously combust so dispose of them carefully by soaking them in water and placing them WET in a Zip Loc bag for disposal.
 
Use it a bunch, It will turn black :)
 
I put black shoe polish on this one years ago and it's never come off on me or otherwise. And it adds grippyness.(is thats a word?)
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I have seen petroleum jelly on ESEE micarta scales that looked black. Should be a semi permanent solution that you could reapply as needed.
 
Thanks for all of the responses! One of the reasons I hang out here, good people.
I think I will try one of the oil solutions over the holidays and see how it turns out. If there it interest I could post before and after pics?
 
The blackness produced by mineral oil is temporary.
I like to dye black canvas with black leather dye... Wipe on, let it sit for a spell, then thoroughly remove excess by scrubbing with mineral oil, towels, scotch brite pads etc. turns it deep black...looks awesome IMO

Here's an R9 I did many months ago...

DSC05504.jpg

DSC05505.jpg

DSC05506.jpg
 
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Raging Rhino said:
The blackness produced by mineral oil is temporary.
I like to dye black canvas with black leather dye... Wipe on, let it sit for a spell, then thoroughly remove excess by scrubbing with mineral oil, towels, scotch brite pads etc. turns it deep black...looks awesome IMO

Here's an R9 I did many months ago...
]
Click to expand...

That looks really good! Do you find there is any transfer to you hands, gloves, clothing, etc?
 
Raging Rhino said:
The blackness produced by mineral oil is temporary.
I like to dye black canvas with black leather dye... Wipe on, let it sit for a spell, then thoroughly remove excess by scrubbing with mineral oil, towels, scotch brite pads etc. turns it deep black...looks awesome IMO

Here's an R9 I did many months ago...

DSC05504.jpg

DSC05505.jpg

DSC05506.jpg
Click to expand...

wow, that made it look like black g-10:)
 
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