i discovered something about oiled micarta...

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well, i just received my FBMLE...i had seen threads about oiled micarta handles and decided that i would do this to my FBMLE...


well, i used some mineral oil and applied a few coats until the handle got darker and the grain came out...

i had one problem though, the oil would dry out very quickly and the micarta would lighten up in the spots that were dry, especially the raised areas...i reoiled the handle slabs but they would dry out fairly quickly..


i then had an idea that might allow me to keep the darker oiled look without having to constantly oil it...i would seal it with some other substance...

nothing drastic like lacquer or enamel clearcoat or anything like that, just something very subtle that would be very easy to apply...


i had a piece of silicone embedded gun cloth laying around, and i used it to burnish the micarta and it i think the micarta actually soaked up some of the silicone...now it looks newly oiled, but does not dry out...

for those who like the look of oiled micarta, you should try the silicone sealing method, you will like it...

the handle still grips very well, and is not slippery at all...
 
it's late, but give me 7 minutes....i can't resist showing off...:)
 
they look much better in person, but here are the pics:


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it takes a while for the silicone to embedd itself, but be patient and the more you polish it, the better the handles will start to look...
 
I sometimes use a silicone "quick" shoe shine sponge. It gives a subtle change, slightly darkens, and hi-lights the grain. I used it on the lower piece in the photo, compared to stock grips.
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Interesting. Thanks.

I've wondered if linseed or tung oil would darken and seal the micarta without making it slippery.
 
Doesn't the silicone make the grip a little more lubricious than you would want for a chopping blade?
 
"Doesn't the silicone make the grip a little more lubricious than you would want for a chopping blade?"

I would believe you are correct, but I don't think the silicone would last that long once you handled it a few times. If I were going to use the knife I would just leave it stock, but most of my pieces are collectibles for display, and I like to dress them up a bit. I have a few EDC's.
The Micarta always look "thirsty" to me, and I like to add a little shine and color.
 
Lazlo Hollyfeld said:
This is my new favorite word. Thanks for the creativity, GatMan!
Click to expand...

lubricious

adjective
1. having a smooth or slippery quality; "the skin of cephalopods is thin and lubricious"
2. characterized by lust; "eluding the lubricious embraces of her employer"; "her sensuous grace roused his lustful nature"; "prurient literature"; "prurient thoughts"; "a salacious rooster of a little man"

Ha! Works on two levels...if you're talking about a piglet trying to avoid his/her infi falling into the lubricious embraces of someone like, say, JAXX!!! :D

GentleBen and I were talking a few weeks ago (when he saw my BATACLE) about the possibility of oiling the micarta and then spraying on some sort of clear coat or epoxy to try and keep the colors vibrant. It's something I'm still thinking on, and now that Ben has his snakeskin SH-e, I'm sure he's pondering it harder than I am. :thumbup:
 
I'mGatMan! said:

lubricious

adjective
1. having a smooth or slippery quality; "the skin of cephalopods is thin and lubricious"
2. characterized by lust; "eluding the lubricious embraces of her employer"; "her sensuous grace roused his lustful nature"; "prurient literature"; "prurient thoughts"; "a salacious rooster of a little man"

Ha! Works on two levels...if you're talking about a piglet trying to avoid his/her infi falling into the lubricious embraces of someone like, say, JAXX!!! :D

GentleBen and I were talking a few weeks ago (when he saw my BATACLE) about the possibility of oiling the micarta and then spraying on some sort of clear coat or epoxy to try and keep the colors vibrant. It's something I'm still thinking on, and now that Ben has his snakeskin SH-e, I'm sure he's pondering it harder than I am. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

You know me well, brother. My SH-E arrived with pretty vibrant scales. I can see through the top layer to the fiber/color beneath. I'm going to see if it stays that way with use.
 
The sponge I used was an old one, sitting in my drawer for a year. I have to get some new ones. I know there are more effective ways to do this and get much more vibrant colors, this is just a simple way to keep your handle almost stock, but add a little color. I have used mineral oil, but it does evaporate and lose its darkening effect.
 
brilliant -- I've noticed this with the mineral oil too. Great for pics - but doesn't last.

Will have to try the silicone treatment.
 
I picked up a new "quickie" silicone shoe shine sponge today, and this is what I got. The other one was dried out that I showed in the other photos. Much better, and it darkens and really shines. It felt really slick right after I brushed the grips, but it seems to be settling in. A very simple method to use, takes about 20 secs each knife. I have to see if it dries out, though. what a difference.
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