Linen Micarta

M

Mike Mossington

Joined
Jan 1, 2004
Messages
108
I have seen some very nice handles using black linen micarta, but the couple of times I have used, it looks all washed out. Maybe I am using too too fine a grit. I rough out with 60, then 320 and finish with 400.

Any suggestions on finishing?

Mike
 
If your going straight from 60 to 320 your probably not getting all the deep scratches out. Might account for it not getting the look you want. I would use at least 120 or 150 and then 220 before the finer grits. This is hard stuff and takes some rubbin to get a good finish.
I generally spend a lot of time dry sanding with the 220 and 320 grit, and then wet sand with 400.
This will get a really smooth handle, thats fairly shiney. You'll have to go even finer if you want a high gloss. Some folks like to put a coat of oil on them too (danish oil, tru oil etc. ) I don't have any experience with that though.
 
Hey Mike, how's it going?

For my non-bolstered type knives I finish the handle with a blue scotch brite belt that I got from Jeff Diotte, this works very well. These scotch brite belts especially the blue one are really handy for finishing synthetic handles and also for cleaning blades up if you are going to satin finish the blade. They are expensive but last a very long time, I'm only on my second one, the first one lasted me almost a year. These were mentioned at Ed's symposium a little over a year ago as a way to speed up handle finishing.

For bolstered knives I tend to buff linen micarta as it better matches the mirror polished bolsters at least for me in my little mind it does.

Actually all you might have to do is once you've sanded to 400 grit is spray the handle with WD40, this might be the solution for you. If you've tried this and didn't get what you were looking for try the scotchbrite belt.

Take Care,
Sean
 
J. Neilson said:
I take it to 220, 400, 600, 800 and buff with white compound.
Click to expand...


yeahup that's that way I'd do it plus up to 1000-1200 grit:)
you think Black is bad try white Micarta :eek:
gray160-1.JPG
 
I use files to shape the handle, then 220 grit and if it's a "tactical"/using knife I leave it at that. On maroon linen you'll have an almost pink color to the scales and a lot of gray on the black linen. If you use the knives a lot they'll soak up oil from your fingers and darken on their own, but a squirt of oil or WD-40 will also do the same, while still leaving them plenty "grippy."
 
I put a semi-gloss on micarta when I use it. I hand sand starting with 100 grit then move to 220grit and sometimes 320. Then I buff with white compound.
Scott
 
Dan Gray said:
yeahup that's that way I'd do it plus up to 1000-1200 grit:)
you think Black is bad try white Micarta :eek:
gray160-1.JPG
Click to expand...

Dan, that's the shiniest micarta I've ever seen! I buff my micarta too, when I want a shine, but that's fantastic!

Nice work, Dan. :)
 
Thanks Don white micarta is real paid to get this way with nothing but a buff for a shine..
Ivory and bone is a lot easyer to work :)
 
I have often wondered if stabilizing the loose fibers of linen or canvas micarta with a rub of crazy glue would make sanding easier, kind of like a sanding sealer on softwood.
 
george I get about the same results from linen micarta as the paper
I haven't used the canvas micarta as of yet so I can't comment in it..

I would think that Micarta would be consitered stabilized anyway?
I'll machine this stuff down to 15 micron when I can before going to hand sanding, with little of that..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top