Is your white micarta staining?

NotSoSharpBob

NotSoSharpBob

Joined
Mar 26, 2009
Messages
250
I recently sharked a white micarta handled handyman and really love it. I took the advice of the forum members and got me a Rick Lowe and a Joufuu sheath for it. I understand from the makers both of these are natural on the inside but I'm getting some staining (the color of the leather) on the white handle of my knife. Phillip suggested the inside of the sheath may need to be sealed.

Has any else had experience with White Micarta and leather?

Thanks

Bob
 
White micarta will stain due to color and also porosity. Over time, it tends to age like ivory (hence the name ivory micarta) and yellow a little bit (which occurs more on some types than others). It will also pick up dirt and dye marks. This happens less with synthetics such as G10 and corian, due to the physical properties of the materials.

A few thoughts:

You could use a sheath with natural leather instead of dyed leather (I like natural leather sheath interiors for this reason)

You could sand it (wear a mask) but it will still pick up marks with use.

You could put it behind glass and admire the micarta from afar.

Or (my personal favorite), you could consider the marks as honor marks, and in doing so be welcomed with open arms to the stained micarta club!

It is likely self limiting and fixable if you have the time and energy.
 
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Bob,
My handyman is pristine but I have never got the sheath wet or moist, I was thinking that might have caused the staining.
 
I have a pretty sweet white paper micarta Lonestar EDC that gets orangish-brown marks from the sheath. I use one of the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser things and it gets most of it off without leaving any marks or damage that I can see.
 
Thanks everyone for the input. I thought far enough ahead to ask if these two sheaths were natural on the inside and was told they were and they look undyed but the handle is picking it up somewhere. I really need to get over it and just use it (Thanks Triple T), I never thought of using the Mr Clean Magic eraser though thanks Jomammie
Scotcha - I haven't taken mine off the desk yet as I fiddle with which sheath I like best and want to carry out in the woods so I'm pretty sure neither of mine have gotten wet yet, may I ask who made your sheath? Thanks

My last thought was send my Handyman to Rick and have him make one of his leather over kydex models.
 
Jomammie said:
I have a pretty sweet white paper micarta Lonestar EDC that gets orangish-brown marks from the sheath. I use one of the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser things and it gets most of it off without leaving any marks or damage that I can see.
Click to expand...

+1

I use the ones in the red box. They work fantastic on synthetic handles. It was the only thing that worked on a white G10 knife that I had. They really brighten a handle. I even use them on new knives that I receive. Even a new knife is sometimes a bit dull from finish polishing compounds, general handling for packaging, etc...

You can see the difference in this pic. (the area by the 2nd screw)
20150427_170053_zpsblpcfm4g.jpg


20150427_170425_zpspw3cjowz.jpg
 
If the discoloring of the micarta bothers you let me know and we can sand it out. That may not prevent it happening again though. I like the white micarta better than the corian or G10 because it gets that coloring. Kinda pics up stains like bone, but with much more durability than bone.


Jomammie said:
I have a pretty sweet white paper micarta Lonestar EDC that gets orangish-brown marks from the sheath. I use one of the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser things and it gets most of it off without leaving any marks or damage that I can see.
Click to expand...

Nice tip. I didn't even think to use those sponges.
 
I have a white linen EDC that I have had for several years now the only staining I have ever had issue with is dye from the interior of the sheath. I thoroughly wet and tried to remove any dye that could be removed from the sheath way back when I got it and this has helped but carrying it all day on a very humid day will still cause some staining. I remove the stains with whatever i have handy at the time magic eraser or a little bartenders friend on a wet rag with the knife wet for very minor staining. I have removed more aggressive staining from the dye very fine sand paper 1000-2000 grit I use dawn dish washing liquid to provide some lubricity with the knife and sandpaper thoroughly wet. This is much less aggressive than it may sound and does not leave any scratches in the scales, only takes a couple of minutes and they look like new once done.

The staining in my experience does not penetrate far, if at all, into the scales so it doesn't require much to remove it. I have not noticed any aging whatsoever on either of my white linen scaled FB's, though only one of them really gets carried/used they both sit in the same location as the rest of them and my woods have aged nicely sitting in this location.
 
Leather will pick up contaminants as well and transfer to the knife. I've made undyed sheaths and the porous nature of both materials will gather stains and transfer to the handles. There's going to be maintenance to both leather and knife. To 'seal' leather to the point it's no longer absorbant pretty much makes it plastic .. and nobody wants that.
 
This is a long shot, but I would maybe try this:

Take a clean dry, white cloth and dab a little bit of Scotchgard Tile & Grout Multi-Surface Sealer onto the handle and work that into the scales. As mentioned, the Micarta is porous, so it will absorb. You mentioned that it will eventually be a user, so I don't think it would hurt to try.

Otherwise, you could get Bud to hunt down a great white Albino cow and craft an all-white leather sheath for you. :cool:

How about a white Kydex sheath?

Okay, I'm out of ideas and getting a bit silly. I think it's the unusually cool weather down here in Florida these last couple of days.

Happy Friday
 
I agree with Bud. Even undyed, natural leather can put stains on white linen micarta. This same problem came up around 2yrs. ago and I totally stopped dyeing any interior contact point leather. It's still possible to get transition stain from the exterior surface through moisture wicking of the leather. I have used white linen micarta for handles and really like the look, and I own a couple Fiddlebacks with that handle material, but anything that can stain it will stain it. My solution is some pink rouge on a buffing wheel, but the guys have given some great tips on how to deal with the stains.
 
Just in case it's still in the cards, I'm a big fan of Rick's hybrid, leather over kydex sheaths. Had one for the Patch in my avatar that I no longer own. That's definitely a stylish option.
 
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