I gave my micarta a mineral oil bath

Arkanian

Arkanian

Joined
Feb 27, 2011
Messages
1,558
After seeing the results Moose attained, I decided to give the micarta a mineral oil bath. As a word of caution, the results were... dramatic. The BK10 micarta came out the best so those moved to my BK77, the 77's came out darker so they went on the 10 and the CM-BK77's turned out so dark the most apt description for the color is chocolate.

CM-BK77 Before
5806205348_85ce79425c_b.jpg


CM-BK77 After (no flash)
5970243569_8984dcc7dd_b.jpg


CM-BK77 After (with flash)
5970243577_326332609a_b.jpg
 
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Did that too. Scrub with dish detergent, dry, repeat. You can get it back pretty close to original color.
 
I'm digging the change too Veeder, I really like the look, and the ever present mineral oil film gives the micarta a softer feel in hand.
 
Looks good ark. I did my 7 and like the feel better, as you mentioned.
 
Funny, I did the same with a little 3 in 1 Oil. Didn't care for it so much...a little dish soap and hot water, back to normal. This leads me to believe it didn't soak in very deep.
 
micarta doesnt absorb since it is epoxy sealed. it will stain but only the surface
 
clichtenwalner1 said:
micarta doesnt absorb since it is epoxy sealed. it will stain but only the surface
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I thought since the ends of the fibers were exposed that it penetrated a little...

if what you say is true, I used tung oil and it should have wiped right off. Instead, my scales are darker... just trying to figure it out.
 
jarodmichael said:
I thought since the ends of the fibers were exposed that it penetrated a little...

if what you say is true, I used tung oil and it should have wiped right off. Instead, my scales are darker... just trying to figure it out.
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yeh the first layer stains but nothing past it. since its layered epoxy and paper/cloth. if you would scrape the handle with sand paper you would expose the natural color almost right away
 
Lefty923 said:
Funny, I did the same with a little 3 in 1 Oil. Didn't care for it so much...a little dish soap and hot water, back to normal. This leads me to believe it didn't soak in very deep.
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I also used 3 in 1 oil when I first got mine but I did a really heavy coat and just left it to soak. When I tried to wash it off a few weeks later it never went back to its original color.

The color is nice when I freshly wash it, but after the handles absorb moisture from my hands it's almost as if the oil seeps out and makes the middle look wet. When I put the handle to my nose I can still smell the 3 in 1 oil even though I've washed it 5 times already with dishwashing soap.
 
Terpentine and dawn dish soap worked great for me. Although I liked the more aggressive grip that it came with.
 
I have been debating about soaking mine in some blood then letting them sit in the sun for a day or two. No joke. Blood can really work well as a stain.
Now I just need to decide what kind of animal to drain.
 
BushOgre said:
I have been debating about soaking mine in some blood then letting them sit in the sun for a day or two. No joke. Blood can really work well as a stain.
Now I just need to decide what kind of animal to drain.
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Your blood will be on it soon enough.
 
The Logical One said:
I also used 3 in 1 oil when I first got mine but I did a really heavy coat and just left it to soak. When I tried to wash it off a few weeks later it never went back to its original color.

The color is nice when I freshly wash it, but after the handles absorb moisture from my hands it's almost as if the oil seeps out and makes the middle look wet. When I put the handle to my nose I can still smell the 3 in 1 oil even though I've washed it 5 times already with dishwashing soap.
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Mine did darken up a little bit more after the wash, no worries tho. I'm sure it will darken up more as more and more dirt and hand oil gets on it.
 
Lefty923 said:
Mine did darken up a little bit more after the wash, no worries tho. I'm sure it will darken up more as more and more dirt and hand oil gets on it.
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Yep, if I don't wash mine after each use the handles actually become dark brown.
 
BushOgre said:
I have been debating about soaking mine in some blood then letting them sit in the sun for a day or two. No joke. Blood can really work well as a stain.
Now I just need to decide what kind of animal to drain.
Click to expand...

Haven't you already done enough harm to yourself? Of course it stains, do some research on the Red Violin.
 
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