Micarta or G10

B

Brooks2

Joined
Jan 7, 2019
Messages
79
I am planning to make my own knife handles for my rat II. I am now choosing between 2 different materials for making my handles out of- Micarta and G10. I know that both are durable and respected on this forum their qualities. Are there any differences between these materials in terms of texture and density? Is one materiel harder to work with than the other? Which of these two do you prefer from your experiences? Thank you in advance.
 
Bill DeShivs said:
I'll bet if G 10 contained asbestos fibers everyone would stay away from it.
Instead, it contains glass fibers. There isn't a lot of difference. G 10 makes you itch, is very hard on cutting tools, and can kill you. What's not to like?
Click to expand...
I [use to] know someone who use to work around places where asbestos was being cut, so I know that wearing goggles and a mask is important when you are cutting asbestos. I am strongly leaning towards micarta because I don't want to deal with the risk of mesothelioma. Also if I did cut g10 should I do it outside where the fibers could go anywhere or inside where the fibers could lurk for months after I've finished this project.
 
I don't use G-10 unless there is no other choice. Micarta is far easier and safer.

With any product that makes fine dust or particles:
Wear a good respirator.
Wash off exposed skin when done working.
Shake off or blow off clothing.
Vacuum up as much dust as you can WHILE it is being created and vacuum the bench and area around it when done grinding for the day.
 
7C1F1F64-501E-4AD0-A4AE-0AD263B77CAF.jpeg I like the layered g10, I use a dremel to shape with the shop vac catching most of it. It doesn’t make me itchy and I wear a respirator.
 
G10 is excellent in the hand, but definitely denser. Dunno how that will compare to the existing scales.
Plus all the caveats about dust and tooling that were properly mentioned first above. But take the same precautions with micarta anyway.
 
Synthetics don't have to be the boogie man. Eventually you'll get asked to use them. Take the necessary safety precautions and have fun with it. Be creative and take advantage of what synthetics can offer (color, texture, etc) versus other material options. I don't use them often myself, but when requested, I try to be as creative as I'm capable of.

 
The majority are thermosetting plastic anyway so all will eventually kill you if inhaled enough, plastic particles are bad umkay. G10 Glass should be a bit more durable than most others aside from carbon and kevlar. Paper and cloth base chip out easier. Metal wire base like lighting strike are cooler and I suspect durable.
 
Bill DeShivs said:
I'll bet if G 10 contained asbestos fibers everyone would stay away from it. Instead, it contains glass fibers. There isn't a lot of difference. G 10 makes you itch, is very hard on cutting tools, and can kill you. What's not to like?
Click to expand...

Bill, I've often been amazed how little attention is paid to fiberglass dust compared to asbestos myself. I just wonder if asbestos is actually any worse than fiberglass. Considering how badly fiberglass dust itches to the skin, just imagine what it does to lungs. I have a bit of COPD - I expect it came from years of grinding on fiberglass boats with minimum breathing protection.

I like micarta MUCH better than G10 for that very reason. Both are made the same way, use fiberglass with epoxy resin and it's G10, use paper, linen, or Canvass with epoxy resin and it's micrata. I expect most G10 and micrata use polyester resin rather than epoxy due to cost.
 
@Ken H , original micarta are made with phenolic resin not with epoxy .Maybe that s why Micarta soak water and have excellent grip when is wet . I make only one knife with orange G10 .That material from kinfe shop have very low content of glass and was easy to grind with file ...I use file for industry micarta and sand paper . Industrial G10 are twenty times harder /have far more glass / to grind then this from knife shop and will dull file faster then steel ...
 
I prefer g10. Mircata is more difficult to cut and smells WAY worse. Plus you can burn mircata quite easily if you dont use sharp belts
 
I find g10 a little easier to work with. Both materials arent too bad. Canvas micarta will provide the best grip in my opinion but if you sandblast eaither material you will increase the traction a bit.
 
Ken H> said:
Natlek, you are 100% correct about the original micrata. I have question, what is micarta we use as knifemakers made with?
Click to expand...
It's all thermosetting plastic aka phenolic resin, it could be argued that epoxy resin falls under that same category since it is pressure and heat activated as well, as I see it it's the same process with differing binders. Micarta was a brand name for thermosetting plastic invented and made by Westinghouse, the term Micarta is widely used now to describe some thermosetting plastics aka paper, cloth, burlap etc, oddly the term isn't applied to carbon, kevlar, glass or other similar composites so strangely confusing as well. I'm used to the generalized term Micarta so I use it too.
 
Have you considered Richlite in your list? It is similar to Paper based micarta. It also feels grippier when wet. I got some from Masecraft.

I like G10 best for machining and grip. Canvas micarta is hard on belts to me and I just can't get it to feel grippy even at low grits (180-220)

Here is blue richlite
g2JGvHH.jpg
 
ashwinearl said:
Have you considered Richlite in your list? It is similar to Paper based micarta. It also feels grippier when wet. I got some from Masecraft.

I like G10 best for machining and grip. Canvas micarta is hard on belts to me and I just can't get it to feel grippy even at low grits (180-220)

Here is blue richlite
g2JGvHH.jpg
Click to expand...
I have never heard of it. It seems like a branded materiel used to make guitar finger boards. It seems good enough but it is a bit pricey and harder to get.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top