micarta question

[Robdude]

Hello gentlemen, my custom fat Ash1 is the apple of my eye..she has black canvas micarta that I love..however I feel like I would like to round the edges on the scales just a bit.. can I use just sandpaper and sand it to the desired feel an that's it? or is micarta sealed or something after it is machined??

 

[honorearth]

I don't think that busse seals the micarta. I never sealed any of the knife handles i have made from micarta. I have also oiled my busse handles and it just absorbs the oil right away.

 

[FloridaBlade]

Yep, I think sealing it would kind of defeat the purpose of the canvas micarta.

 

[safetyman]

The micarta is already sealed as a result of the way it's made: layers of material (canvas, paper, linen) sandwhiched together, soaked with resin, pressed, and let to cure. I am probably oversimplifying the process but those are the basics. Just sand the parts you want; there is no other treatment necessary.

 

[PeteyTwoPointOne]

The micarta is already sealed as a result of the way it's made: layers of material (canvas, paper, linen) sandwhiched together, soaked with resin, pressed, and let to cure. I am probably oversimplifying the process but those are the basics. Just sand the parts you want; there is no other treatment necessary.

exactly this ^^^^

One of the big advantages of Canvas Mike is that you CAN hand shape/smooth it with normal tools like a file, rasp, or good ole sandpaper...it will just discolor the affected area a bit <lighten the color> until you add re-patina it by adding some old fashioned hand oil & grime back to it and give it some character.

Only disadvantage I can see for canvas is that it's pretty absorbent, as the brothers said, and it's not <my choice> for skinning or food prep...I'm leery that it would harbor bacteria-- this may be overly-cautious on my part, however.

You'll love it rob, trust us on this one, we're professionals.

 

[Robdude]

thanks gentlemen! that's what I assumed

 

[evltcat]

Just make sure you wear a mask while sanding Rob. Don't want to breath in a bunch of the dust!

Also, if you put Ren Wax on the Micarta it makes it a little darker and seals it.

Pix when your project is done please!!!

 

[resinguy]

Just make sure you wear a mask while sanding Rob. Don't want to breath in a bunch of the dust!

It is generally a good idea to wear a dust mask with any dust making process, but micarta is not nearly as evil as G10. It is the glass fibers in G10 that you really want to avoid breathing.

 

[David Brown]

thanks gentlemen! that's what I assumed

Bring it on down to the shop and we can do it quick, fast and in a hurry

 

[inkynate]

I would add that I use wet/dry automotive sandpaper and always sand wet, which all but eliminates airborne dust. For any heavy sanding I'll put on my respirator anyway though.

 

[PeteyTwoPointOne]

I would add that I use wet/dry automotive sandpaper and always sand wet, which all but eliminates airborne dust. For any heavy sanding I'll put on my respirator anyway though.

good call ^^^ :thumbup: -- because lungs are rough to have to heal up...too often, impossible