micarta question please help

raylaconico

raylaconico

Joined
Jan 30, 2004
Messages
4,030
Is there a type of micarta that doesn't darken from hand moisture and oils? I've made plenty of knives with black linen micarta that I buy from Texasknife.com and it always darkens so I assumed that's how it is supposed to be. Today, I got a request from a customer to use micarta that doesn't darken. I'm just confused now. He's a knife collector and I'm sure he knows more about different handle materials than I do. I only know about the stuff that I use. Does it make a difference where I buy the micarta? Is there a difference between linen, paper and canvas with regards to this? I would appreciate any help on this. Thanks much.
-Ray Laconico
 
I have only used linen micarta for a llittle over a year now..... I like wood and bone much more. I do notice that it darkens when it begins to heat up any.... Could this be it? I rough sand with grinder (belt-new) then do most of the sanding in a vise by hand with wet/dry and I keep it wet always. Cuts down the dust and just works better.... I am curious myself of your question.

never had a problem with it yet and I get most of it from Sheffield. Or the local power plant.....
 
I don't mean darkening from heat like wood when it starts to burn. I mean darkening from moisture like sometimes your shirt when you sweat, it will darken when it gets wet.
 
The only way to get a micarta hanle to not change color with hand oils or oxidation is to seal the surface.
A sanded or blasted surface will pick up oils.
 
Hi! Ray: Been using the stuff for 30 some odd years. If Left bead, sand, blasted, it will pick up oils. If you do a complete polish on it, after sanding. It should eleviate the problem. I have learned to really like Pink compound as it doesn't leave a residue in the fibers. Even with Canvas Micarta. Start with Black compound, followed by Pink on a hard muslin wheel, then soft muslin. Let us know how it works for you. If you can't get a hold of pink, Green chrome or white works as well. Green, brighter, but much dirtier, M. Lovett ;)
 
raylaconico said:
Is there a type of micarta that doesn't darken from hand moisture and oils? I've made plenty of knives with black linen micarta that I buy from Texasknife.com and it always darkens so I assumed that's how it is supposed to be. Today, I got a request from a customer to use micarta that doesn't darken. I'm just confused now. He's a knife collector and I'm sure he knows more about different handle materials than I do. I only know about the stuff that I use. Does it make a difference where I buy the micarta? Is there a difference between linen, paper and canvas with regards to this? I would appreciate any help on this. Thanks much.
-Ray Laconico
Click to expand...

Tell the customer to wash it with soap and water, It will come right back to the way you sold it to him. Light colors darken with age, the natural is the most evident. but black darkening is just a buildup of dirt and oil in the exposed linen fibers. A little dish soap and the kitchen sponge will make it look new.
 
Ilovetoolsteel said:
Tell the customer to wash it with soap and water, It will come right back to the way you sold it to him. Light colors darken with age, the natural is the most evident. but black darkening is just a buildup of dirt and oil in the exposed linen fibers. A little dish soap and the kitchen sponge will make it look new.
Click to expand...
Yeah, it will look new again if he washes it and I'm sure he knows. I think buffing with white compound will be the best thing to do. It will pre-darken it just a little so that it will have a nice smooth even tone. The compound should prevent further darkening of the fibers by sealing it. I'll try this on an existing knife to see how it looks. Thanks guys.
 
Ray,
I used the knife you made me, doing a bunch of whittling on some nasty hard limbs in the back yard, and even a little chopping. I was sweating, so I know my hand was sweating too! I couldn't really notice a difference on the handle, I was pleasantly surprised. I hadn't heard of buffing with the pink compound before. I had a bead blasted green micarta handle that I carried as a neck knife many times. the body side darkened considerably, obviously. I tried washing it, and it didn't really change. That may be because it was already too stained? That's why I enquired about the linen v. paper micarta absorption. After checking the handle of the first knife, I don't think we'll have any problems using the same material on the others we talked about! :thumbup:

Scott
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top