Micarta Questions

S

sodak

Joined
Mar 26, 2004
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I apologize if this has been asked before, but the search function keeps returning an empty page to my browser...

Can anyone give me a good source to purchase Micarta? Also, are there any special precautions that need to be taken while sanding (respirator, hood)? I know that sanding fiberglass is dangerous if you breath the dust, but I wasn't sure about Micarta.

Thanks!
 
You can try USA Knifemaker Supply and there are many other knifemaker supply outfits out there. Sometimes you can find useable pieces on eBay. Try a Google search for "knifemaker supply" and see what you find! TKS and Sheffield come right to the top too.

You will always want to wear a good respirator for anything you grind.
 
I bought a North 7700 1/2 mask and some 75SCP100 filters which will catch pretty much anything you can run into in knife making including organics and formaldihyde vapors and they have a P100 particualte prefilter. It has a mostly downward facing exhaust, but is going to be a bit big for many full face shields.

Micarta releases some nasty stuff when ground besides the fine particulates. Stuff like phenol and formaldihyde gets released from the combo of belts and micarta. Also, other materials like desert ironwood and other domestics/exotics can have some really nasty effects on the lungs. Fungal infections that can be fatal, silicosis, etc....

ALWAYS wear a respirator when grinding. A lighter particualte filter is probably sufficient for most metal working tasks as long as there is good ventilation. However, handle and other materials need the protection of a multiuse filter such as listed above.

Micarta can be had at most knife supply companies including Texas Knife Supply, Sheffield, and Pop's knife supplies.

--nathan
 
Check Canmanstan on ebay. He sells a bunch of micarta, G10, oddball stuff also such as kevlar based material, carbon fiber,etc.
 
How does G-10 differ from micarta? To show you how little I know, I thought G-10 was a micarta color designation.
 
G10 is a glass woven fabric impregnated with resin under pressure. So it has difficulties similar to (or worse than) fiberglass when ground. Micarta is usually layers of paper, linen, or canvas impregnated with a phenolic resin under pressure.

--nathan
 
James Todd said:
It's not micarta, but G-10. You might like this.:D
Click to expand...

+1, but have a particulate mask, such as the one Silver Pilate suggested. And you're gonna need a way to cut it, too. A table saw with a masonry blade works pretty good.
 
A bit off topic but not much I hope. When counter boring handle material for a full tang fixed blade, how much micarta or G-10 do you leave for the Corby to hold on to? I would imagine that a range is probably more realistic than a fixed thickness, but what say you?

Cheers,

dczippo
 
dczippo said:
A bit off topic but not much I hope. When counter boring handle material for a full tang fixed blade, how much micarta or G-10 do you leave for the Corby to hold on to? I would imagine that a range is probably more realistic than a fixed thickness, but what say you?

Cheers,

dczippo
Click to expand...

I always try to leave at least .1" , but I've not been using corbys for a terribly long time.
 
Thanks for the link Mr. Todd. I had the pictured slab of material lying around for awhile. First I thought it was G-10. After reading through some of the info I started leaning toward micarta.

P1000719.jpg


However, finally, after a bit more research, I reallized that it was actually a close-up picture of a Kit-Kat bar. :D

Trust me... does not make good handle slabs. :p



James Todd said:
This thread might answer your questions.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=575335
Click to expand...
 
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