Micarta inlay clean up?

Officer's Match

Officer's Match

Joined
Jan 23, 2013
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Howdy folks, been a while since I've been in this subforum since becoming CRK-less a year or so back. Considering adoption of a micarta inlayed Sebbie, and wondering about reblasting to clean up. Anybody with any experience/knowledge in this matter care to share some thoughts? Would a mothership spa visit be the best way to go? This will go straight to the pocket so not absolutely needing as-new perfection, but this one has had light scotchbriting done and doesn't suit me.

Edited to add:

I was unclear, but what I'm asking about is removing a "scotchbrite" finish from the titanium on a micarta inlay small sebbie.
 
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What was the effect of the scotchbrighting on the micarta? Did it make it fuzzy?

I'm curious also what affect blasting would have on a CRK micarta inlay.

On my 21, the micarta has taken on a definite greenish-yellow tint instead of the grayish black it started out with, and I wonder if blasting it will bring it back more to my preferred grayish black.

My 25 micarta has remained grayish black for about 6 months so far, but the 21 micarta was exposed to far more natural sunlight than the 25 ever was. The 21 sat on a desk top exposed to indirect light for a year. I then bought a toolbox to store my knives in, they both went in it, and have not changed color since then. I wonder if UV exposure is what turned the 21 greenish, and if blasting it would even affect the color now.
 
My experience with micarta is that it will pretty much go back to its original colour when washed with a grease or oil solvent (dish soap for example).

I would try that before messing with blasting or more drastic options.
 
Thanks for that Mike. It is the ti that I really want to re-finish, I'm not into the scotchbrite look. I know I've seen Micarta Sebbie's that have been reblasted, but don't know who can do it or what to expect in terms of cost. Looked in the exchange, but haven't seen anything on it.
 
Yep...I have blasted mine several times..Looks good. Probably the only inlay that you don't need to worry about blasting :)
 
Thanks, I'd try it myself if I had a media blaster (which I don't). I did pull the trigger on it, should ship Monday.
 
If I get my Micarta inlays nasty looking, I scrub them with alcohol on a rag.
They perk right up, look as new.
 
gull wing said:
If I get my Micarta inlays nasty looking, I scrub them with alcohol on a rag.
They perk right up, look as new.
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Thanks, I know what you mean. The micarta on my Custom Super Roadhouse Emerson cleans up just like you say. It's the titanium I'm interesting in refurbing.
 
Spray the Micarta scales with Windex.

Don't rub- just let it sit for an hour or so- the solution will draw out the oil or dirt.
 
I will check on it in the early morning..I use what is in the cabinet and don't pay too much attention to exactly what that might be. :)
 
I've heard that a very tiny amount of dish soap, warm or hot water, and a nail or tooth brush will bring back CRK micarta inlays to like new condition after just a minute or less of scrubbing. When the Micarta gets used, it soaks in the dirt and oils from your hands which darkens them and makes them feel much harder than like when new. Supposedly this dish soap technique makes the micarta look and feel softer just like when they're new.
 
burnside said:
I've heard that a very tiny amount of dish soap, warm or hot water, and a nail or tooth brush will bring back CRK micarta inlays to like new condition after just a minute or less of scrubbing. When the Micarta gets used, it soaks in the dirt and oils from your hands which darkens them and makes them feel much harder than like when new. Supposedly this dish soap technique makes the micarta look and feel softer just like when they're new.
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Just use naptha (Ronsonol) or rubbing alcohol. It will look brand new in seconds & strip all the grease out.
 
Like everyone said, micarta is micarta and it cleans up easily with soap and water, but....

Officer's Match said:
It's the titanium I'm interesting in refurbing.
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...If that's the case, I'd send it back to CRK. When you get it back it will look like new, allowing you to earn your own scars.
 
MatthewSB said:
Like everyone said, micarta is micarta and it cleans up easily with soap and water, but....



...If that's the case, I'd send it back to CRK. When you get it back it will look like new, allowing you to earn your own scars.
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Thanks Matthew, I'll go back and edit my original post. I was unclear, but what I'm asking about is removing a "scotchbrite" finish from the titanium on a micarta inlay small sebbie. :)
 
Here is the info for the sandblaster media;

Either 54 grit garnet or 60 grit glass beads. (60-120 mesh indicated on the package)
 
Thank you my friend. I have some pics to show now. It looks much better in person to me than it did online, jury is out as to whether I'll blast it or not now that I see it. It actually looks pretty good IMHO.







 
So when people say "scothbrite finish" they mean that the Ti was lightly sanded with a scotchbrite pad to knock down the rough sandblasting and polish it a bit?

I think that yours looks great, it should certainly wear better than the beadblasted finish which shows every single ding and scratch. Buying used, I'd much rather get one that looks like yours, than a knife with someone else's snail trails all over it. The only thing I'd do is wash the micarta with dishsoap and water and a toothbrush, that way it would be your hand oils staining the micarta black and not someone else's :eek:
 
Officer's Match said:
Thank you my friend. I have some pics to show now. It looks much better in person to me than it did online, jury is out as to whether I'll blast it or not now that I see it. It actually looks pretty good IMHO.







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I think yours looks great. I wouldn't be in any hurry to change it
 
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