leather micarta???

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J.McDonald Knives

J.McDonald Knives

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i dont know if it works but if any of yall want to try it and get back to me about the results feel free. to take care of the problem with the oil in the leather you take a bowl of rubbing alcohol and dip the leather in it for about 5-10 seconds and then ring it out with two fingers and do it again just to make sure you got it all and then let it dry in the sun. they make alcohol based leather dyes. i got that information on how to get the oil out from the saddle maker and sheath maker in town. i just figured that since you can make micarta from paper, linen, canvas, and other materials, then why not try it with leather. if anyone has already tried it using those methods above and it didnt work please let me know. thanks.
 
If I had any leather layin around here that would work I'd give it a go this weekend... gonna work on making some other micarta... I'll see what I can dig up though.... Sounds fun/interesting...

DM
 
Well, Ka-Bar and many others have been making stacked leather handles longer than we been alive and they hold up pretty well, so I don't see why you couldn't make leather micarta the way you're saying. Gotta work better than duct tape :D :o :mad:
 
I would imagine the trick to it looking good layer wise would be using thin leather. Otherwise seems like it would more resemble glue hardened leather. With thin layers you should be able to get the hard smooth micarta look with nice layering. Two tones of buckskin would be awsome.
 
I'm not sure resembling glue-hardened leather is a bad thing, but I do agree the thin layers would look nice. Even if they were the almost the same color.
 
GibsonFan, your still thinking in terms of layering the leather. im talking about scales just like canvas or linen micarta.
 
I have a old US issue flack vest I shot a bunch or rounds through. I bet kevlar micarta would be extremly strong kinda like carbon fiber.
 
PimpinSquee said:
GibsonFan, your still thinking in terms of layering the leather. im talking about scales just like canvas or linen micarta.
Click to expand...
Both types are layered materials in resin. I guess I don't understand what you're talking about either. I was assuming you meant layering the leather with resin like micarta scales are.
 
thats what i meant. layering it with resin like micarta scales.

i think kevlar would be sweet. ashtxsniper, if you make it or have someone make it let me know so i can come see it. ill even bring my first knife with me so you can have a good chuckle. HEHEHEHEHE!!!!!
 
No on the kevlar idea. Sanding it makes it really fuzzy. Unless you like fuzzy scales...
Leather would probably have to be vacuum autoclaved to get full penetration, or pressed real well...
It would need to be oil free and bone dry, too.
 
Oupa stabalizes leather with epoxy! Use a heat gun to get it to saturate the leather.
 
Wonder if it would work with layers of rawhide? Just a thought, very few oils to worry about that way.

sounds like it could be a real neat look.

About the Kevlar being fuzzy, if it was bonded with epoxy, wouldn't that solve the problem? Just a thought as well.

Gonna quit now, I've had my two thoughts for the day. :-)

Charles
 
http://www.ramanon.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44590

1174382789-BearJawboneHunter.JPG
 
PimpinSquee said:
GibsonFan, your still thinking in terms of layering the leather. im talking about scales just like canvas or linen micarta.
Click to expand...

Whattaya think I'm stooopid? I realize you're talking about scales, not stacks and I think it would work fine and look cool :D It doesn't matter how you orient the layers, the results should be good either way. The finer grade of leather, the better... or mix thin buckskin in with heavy cowhide... dye each layer however you want... it could be kinda labor-intensive, but I think a guy with some time on his hands could do a whole lot with that idea. :thumbup:

Unless you find a slab of rhinoceros leather or something thick enough for each scale, that would be burly as ****...

Great googly moogly, Fiddleback! Does it ever feel like those are going to chew off your hand?!?
 
has anyone tried making leather micarta scales yet? if so how did it go? did it hold up? did it look good? show pics please.
 
Small experimentation has shown me that soaking leather with Superglue makes it hard as a rock, soaks it up like a sponge.
My suggestion would be to Contact cement the layers together and soak the whole thing in Superglue. Be certain to keep flat with something while it dries.
Another option is using a food preserver vacuum machine. Not certain how the bag material would hold up to Superglue but have had great success doing a molded leather sheath that way.

One more thought is to Contact cement up the layers attach to the blade and sand to finished state. Apply Superglue and then finish sanding. Getting creative with this thought would be to skip the Superglue and finish the scales the same as the sheath. There are plenty of durable leather finishes out there.
 
Those sound like excellent ideas, RobertHankins!

ashtxsniper said:
I have a old US issue flack vest I shot a bunch or rounds through. I bet kevlar micarta would be extremly strong kinda like carbon fiber.
Click to expand...

You still got some of that kevlar? I just bought a tub(s) of epoxy and would like to try that.
 
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