It Rubs The Paper On Its Handle (MS-e Canvas Handle Polish Pix)

Jaxx

Jaxx

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Spent a few days hand sanding the handle on my designated user MS-e LE, thought I'd share the pix snapped during its makeover.

I started with 220grit dry paper and kept going until the machined pattern was gone...

0722160410_HDR-01_zpshe9udgtk.jpeg


Moved up to 320grit, and worked it over. At this point I dropped back to 220grit to deepen the valley between the swells of the middle & pommel tube fastener holes. Not much, but enough for a better reverse grip pinch draw.

After 320grit paper:
0723160137a_HDR-01_zpsqluc3q1m.jpeg


After 400 grit:
0723162358b_HDR-01_zpsuzgdqshg.jpeg


After two rounds of 600 grit and starting to get grippy:
0724161800_HDR-01_zpsxmqwkvsh.jpeg


Ok, this is when I discover that I'm outta grits between 600 & 1500...and want to continue, even though it's Sunday and the hardware stores have all closed... So what's a HOG to do? Frak it, gimme the 1500... :D

Round one: Almost looks darker than black G-10 in this pic:
0725160042_HDR-01_zpsnbutwuqy.jpeg


Round two, with a quick Ren Wax application to see how it looks. (looks better with...but handles better, grippier without):
0726160152a_HDR-01_zpsgqqnh4ls.jpeg


Round three with 1500. Ren Wax sanded off, then I used my beat pieces of 1500 to polish it up. Last pic before the tape was removed.

0726161935_HDR_zpskgd85p4m.jpg


Boom. No waxes, oils, dyes, stains, polish, or even water used in these two pix below to make the handle look darker. It is just lighter than black, much like a very dark granite or slate. Me likey. :cool::thumbup:

0726162016_HDR-01_zps0sxthch4.jpeg


0726162017a_HDR-01_zpsbaksudrq.jpeg


Thanxx fer lookin'! :)
 
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That looks amazing Jalexx!!!! I'm seriously going to have to give this a go. Top work mate!
 
Awesome!!!!!
I love the look and will probably steal the idea soon, well done!
 
Thanks, mate! I gotta come up with a few time saving tricks because I love the look, but dayum I put some serious time in on it. :D
 
That looks great!
 
thanks for the tutorial, I love the hand sanded scales but have always been scared to try it
 
Nice! As someone who appreciates doing a lot the old fashioned - way kudos for not breaking out the Dremel. Carpal Tunnel here we come!
 
That looks fantastic! So I'm curious; what exactly does this feel like? Is it an improvement over the machined pattern in some way besides how it looks? Because if so, I may need to try this on my SHe2.
 
^^^^^^ wondering this too.

In particular, I use many knives this size with wet hands. Canvas micarta remains very grippy even when wet as it comes from Wauseon. Did the sanding change that? If so, how significant is the change? Does it remain pretty grippy when wet?

Looks awesome Jaxx.... thanks for the post.

.
 
kdstrick said:
^^^^^^ wondering this too.

In particular, I use many knives this size with wet hands. Canvas micarta remains very grippy even when wet as it comes from Wauseon. Did the sanding change that? If so, how significant is the change? Does it remain pretty grippy when wet?

Looks awesome Jaxx.... thanks for the post.

.
Click to expand...

Looks like he already answered this on another thread:

Jaxx said:
Not often, but occasionally I get the urge...like on this knife. As soon as I handled these, I knew I wanted to carry one. Soon as I knew that, out came the tape & sandpaper. :D
It is almost like a soft slick feel to the touch, extremely comfortable in the hand. Slippery enough during grip changes, but nice & grippy in the hand when you apply a normal pressure grip. This improves depending on dampness and your hand. More than it was by a considerable margin. :thumbup: But, I think the slick finish may become too wet (rain use) and lose some grippy-ness at some point. That's where the machined grips really shine anyway, staying grippy...and that's why I got 2 of these. ;) So, not "sticky", just nice & grippy. :) I gotta hunt down some 2000 grit, but it's good to go now. Getting ready to work on the spine & tang today, polishing that up some too.
Click to expand...
 
Daniel Halcomb said:
That looks fantastic! So I'm curious; what exactly does this feel like? Is it an improvement over the machined pattern in some way besides how it looks? Because if so, I may need to try this on my SHe2.
Click to expand...

Feels kinda like medium polished Corian. Grippier though. A lot like polished paper micarta. In the dry to damp/moist/sweaty hands range, I feel it can be grippier than machined. But in total wetness, rain, animal blood, etc. this might start working against traction? Use will see.

Thanks everyone for your kind words! I think it will be worth the time spent in comfort of use. :) I like how it turned out. Gotta send it out for a sheath, thinking leather, and horzontal cross draw for one and another for IWB reverse draw.
 
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