Micarta question

B

bluerain

BANNED
Joined
Aug 15, 2008
Messages
170
Hi, I tried some maroon micarta and was puzzled why I lost the color when sanding. I ended up with a dirty white handle with maroon stripes. I thought the color would remain the same. I'm I mistaken? Ty
 
what grit are you up to in your sanding? IME, once you get to 280 it starts to look recognizable, and at 360 you rediscover your material. At 600 it starts to look quite rich and the topographical appearance begins to fade.
 
Ty, that's the problem. I was using 60 grit for a fast handle profile. After that, I used some linseed oil to try and get a quik look. I will bring it up to 400 grit to see the difference. Ty
 
Buff it it you have a buffer, just make sure you sand out all the scratches from the previous grit, and don't try to skip to many grits. If you don't have a buffer, you can get wet/dry sandpaper and take it to the highest grit available. It will shine like plastic if you can get it there. Some folks sand it then blast it to get that grippy, cloth-like feeling. It's not as pretty, though.
 
What is the recommended grit progression? And does it change for canvas vs linen vs paper?

Also, those who blast it what type of media do they use?
 
Dewberry said:
What is the recommended grit progression? And does it change for canvas vs linen vs paper?

Also, those who blast it what type of media do they use?
Click to expand...

I shape with 80 or 100 grit. Jump to 200 then 400 for initial sanding. Then to the automotive finishing paper - 800, 1000, and if needed, 1500. A little green rouge on a cotton Dremel wheel will give it a very high gloss surface.

Most phenolic micarta (not the homemade epoxy-based material) will polish out nice and glossy if you want it - canvas, linen, and paper. I usually leave the canvas micarta on working knives sanded out to 400, then I take an unloaded muslin wheel to it to give it a bit more refined - but still textured - surface.
 
I shape with ~100 and files, then 180, 280, 360, 600
 
If it is truly maroon Micarta it may be a yellowish color with courser grits (I rough with 60 grit, finish at 1200P). Linen Micarta also like to burn (a yellow color) so make sure and use sharp belts and use a good progression of grits to your final finish. My progression is 60, 220, 400, 600, 800, 1200.

I have seen light colored paper Micarta with colored stripes through it.
 
David Sharp said:
If it is truly maroon Micarta it may be a yellowish color with courser grits (I rough with 60 grit, finish at 1200P). Linen Micarta also like to burn (a yellow color) so make sure and use sharp belts and use a good progression of grits to your final finish. My progression is 60, 220, 400, 600, 800, 1200.

I have seen light colored paper Micarta with colored stripes through it.
Click to expand...

^That

Maroon micarta is one of the toughest materials I have ever tried to polish, it burns very easily. I recommend fresh zirconia belts and low speed to shape or hand sanding.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top