Micarta safety and alternative materials ?s

P

Palamino

Joined
Nov 28, 2012
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I have a knife I made a few years ago. Recently got the bug to finish it out. Ordered some micarta blanks, then started digging through old threads for advice. All the talk of formaldehyde and such has me a little sketched out.

Can't find any new cartridges for my AO respirator. Locally I have Lowes, Home Depot, and Ace. They have 3M half masks with OV/AG cartridges, but nothing that specifically mentions formaldehyde. I'd like to get started this weekend, but not at the expense of my lungs. At this point I'm looking at a 3M half mask and (60925 or 60926) cartridges from boss safety. A plastic suit and latex gloves which I'll toss when done. Sealed goggles which I'll wash when finished. I'll work outside (that's my preference anyway) and can set up a squirrel fan at my back. Plan is to rough cut on a band saw, shape on a stationary belt sander, and finish by hand. Is this good enough from a safety standpoint or overkill? Any thoughts are appreciated.

My second question is in regard to a potentially safer alternative material... "Tero Tuf".

"This material is polyester resin reinforced with polyester textile; whereas g10 and micarta are made with a phenolic resin. The polyester resin makes for a more stable handle material that will not crack or break and has negligible water swell. This material is best for tactical knives that require a handle with no slip."

I can't find an MSDS on it. The manufacturer claims it contains no harmful chemicals. Obviously I wouldn't want to inhale the dust, but off hand it seems like it wouldn't have the fume issues of a phenolic resin.

Thoughts?

Also curious about C-tek if anyone has experience working with it.

Thank You
 
I've worked with a bit of Micarta and always just use a good repirator and googles, along with having a fan behind me. Most of the danger comes from the possiblity of inhaling it, not it coming in contact with the skin. If that were the case, you couldn't use it on a handle since the user holds it. I would think the plastic suit and gloves are overkill. I do recommend using gloves when runnig the sander to protect your hands though. I've never heard of Tero Tuf and C-tek but have been happy with the results micarta gives me.
 
Any resin is dangerous to breath in. Wood dust is dangerous to breath in. If its anything but clean air you could be breathing in then wear a respirator.
I would love to get a hold of some c-tek, but haven't used it yet.
 
Palamino said:
I have a knife I made a few years ago. Recently got the bug to finish it out. Ordered some micarta blanks, then started digging through old threads for advice. All the talk of formaldehyde and such has me a little sketched out.

Can't find any new cartridges for my AO respirator. Locally I have Lowes, Home Depot, and Ace. They have 3M half masks with OV/AG cartridges, but nothing that specifically mentions formaldehyde. I'd like to get started this weekend, but not at the expense of my lungs. At this point I'm looking at a 3M half mask and (60925 or 60926) cartridges from boss safety. A plastic suit and latex gloves which I'll toss when done. Sealed goggles which I'll wash when finished. I'll work outside (that's my preference anyway) and can set up a squirrel fan at my back. Plan is to rough cut on a band saw, shape on a stationary belt sander, and finish by hand. Is this good enough from a safety standpoint or overkill? Any thoughts are appreciated.

My second question is in regard to a potentially safer alternative material... "Tero Tuf".

"This material is polyester resin reinforced with polyester textile; whereas g10 and micarta are made with a phenolic resin. The polyester resin makes for a more stable handle material that will not crack or break and has negligible water swell. This material is best for tactical knives that require a handle with no slip."

I can't find an MSDS on it. The manufacturer claims it contains no harmful chemicals. Obviously I wouldn't want to inhale the dust, but off hand it seems like it wouldn't have the fume issues of a phenolic resin.

Thoughts?

Also curious about C-tek if anyone has experience working with it.

Thank You
Click to expand...


overkill?
The formaldehyde exposure is very low.

If you are outside with airflow away from you eye protection and a P100 mask I"d call that good.
 
Shut down your shop! Just looking at it may cause you a serious problem ! Too much hype and not enough reality !!! Frank
 
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Frank Niro said:
Shut down your shop! Just looking at it my cause you a serious problem ! Too much hype and not enough reality !!! Frank
Click to expand...

Thought I was invincible for most of my life. After some bad experiences and watching a few friends meet early ends I no longer throw caution to the wind. But paranoia is paralyzing... point taken.

Ordered a new 1/2 mask and 60926 P100/multi-vapor for $16. I'll tape the vents on my ESS goggles, wear long sleeves, gloves, set up the fan and call it good.
 
Another thing you could try is to set up your shop vac to suck up the dust while you are working it. Also when you are hand sanding, you can wet sand to control the dust.

Don't be too paranoid. I thing you are on the right track with respirator. Minimally, I'd use the respirator and eye protection.

Ric
 
The worry with Micarta is the very annoying vapors.
If you just use a shop vac, it will suck the dust away, but the vapors will exit the vac back into the shop. An external outlet for the vac is a good idea. Just put another hose in the exhaust port and set it's end outside the door. The gasses from the Micarta are like chopping onions, but on steroids. It irritates the mucous membranes, making your eyes water severely, and making your lungs not feel great. It won't kill you, but isn't good either. A fan blowing good air at you and one exhausting the shop air out a door or window will help a lot. Filters rated for organic gasses and specifically formaldehyde are recommended.
 
new to the custom knife world & i am trying to determine what grade of "micarta" ,phenolic, garolite what ever name it goes by is the most commeon to use for handles. I order supplies from Mcmaster.com a lot and figured i could find it there. If any one knows the Mcmaster catalog # that would be great.
 
bladsmth said:
The worry with Micarta is the very annoying vapors.
If you just use a shop vac, it will suck the dust away, but the vapors will exit the vac back into the shop. An external outlet for the vac is a good idea. Just put another hose in the exhaust port and set it's end outside the door. The gasses from the Micarta are like chopping onions, but on steroids. It irritates the mucous membranes, making your eyes water severely, and making your lungs not feel great. It won't kill you, but isn't good either. A fan blowing good air at you and one exhausting the shop air out a door or window will help a lot. Filters rated for organic gasses and specifically formaldehyde are recommended.
Click to expand...

I had to check this with my father-in-law, who is a PhD chemist with 40 years of industry experience... The phenolic resins normally used in modern composites do not off-gas significant quantities of volatile organic compounds or "vapors" AFTER they are cured. The MSDS you are reading apply to the uncured LIQUID resin. If you burn the micarta, you might generate some VOCs, however...

What you are smelling when you are working micarta is the fine particulate matter - so we should use a fine particulate mask or respirator and eye protection. Additional protections are probably overkill, unless you are sensitive/allergic...

TedP
 
In fact for most of the work we do the particulate masks are all that is needed. However if it makes you feel better ----. The normal everyday problems of health that come along are far more likely to get to you. Frank
 
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