Micarta strips?

Like for a hidden tang? IE cut the sheets down and make them into rings like leather washers for a stacked handle? Sure, any material can be used like that pretty much! Micarta, G10, wood, rubber, leather, etc. Micarta also comes in solid blocks, too, but you would have to make the tang slot in it. Rings would be easier and you would see the side grain of the Micarta.
 
Taz said:
Like for a hidden tang? IE cut the sheets down and make them into rings like leather washers for a stacked handle? Sure, any material can be used like that pretty much! Micarta, G10, wood, rubber, leather, etc. Micarta also comes in solid blocks, too, but you would have to make the tang slot in it. Rings would be easier and you would see the side grain of the Micarta.
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Yea I'm thinking rings going around scales of another material, if actual rings can be made to go around something and not just stacking chunks that's awesome. What maintains the rings strength though, would it need to be threaded or sowed together where the two ends meet to make the ring?
 
What other material? Micarta is rigid; you cannot sew it or wrap it around another material unless you are making it yourself and do it before you soak in epoxy? It may be better if you show us what you are looking at making?? I thought you were asking about a stacked handle setup, which can be done with most materials. If you want to wrap an existing handle, you would need to use something flexible like leather, paracord, jute cord, etc???
 
Taz said:
What other material? Micarta is rigid; you cannot sew it or wrap it around another material unless you are making it yourself and do it before you soak in epoxy? It may be better if you show us what you are looking at making?? I thought you were asking about a stacked handle setup, which can be done with most materials. If you want to wrap an existing handle, you would need to use something flexible like leather, paracord, jute cord, etc???
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Ah ok, yea I was going to say I thought maybe this would be difficult considering the micarta would have to be made from scratch and isn't there an issue with getting bubbles out of it when making it your self, requires alot of pressure right?
 
It depends. I have made homemade micarta several times and it is different than regular micarta. I did see someone many years ago on youtube wrapping their handle with epoxy soaked fabric strips, then wrapping it with tape or something to compress it and hold it in place while it cured. I don't know how solid/stable this would end up being? If you want to beef up an existing handle, paracord or tennis racket grip tape are often used. Again, seeing what you are trying to accomplish would greatly help us give you ideas!
 
Unless I'm not understanding the OP, I think it isn't "too difficult", although the idea doesn't appeal to me enough to try.
Let's say I have a block of micarta or other material, shaped and set up as a hidden tang handle. Now I cut several pieces of say 1/8" micarta and drill holes in them. If I was crazy enough, I could imagine filing them like one would a guard or spacer, to snugly fit over the handle at desired intervals. A bit of marine epoxy and you're all set.
Maybe the OP should post a sketch in case I'm way off on what is desired.
 
Yu can buy Garolite tubes from places like Mcmaster Carr. It cones in a couple colors and in wall thickness up to 1/4". It is expensive. 1" OD with 1/4" walls is $150 for a 42" piece.
You can also buy carbon fiber tubing.

To make it yourself, you would have to make the MyCarta in a roll fashion. Soak the material in resin and tightly wrap around a center wooden dowel mandrel. Tightly wrap with a rubber strap (the type used for exercise should work well) and let cure. When cured, clean up the outside and slice into discs. Drill out the center wooden part as needed and you have MyCarta rings. Definitely not worth the work, and not real phenolic Micarta. You probably would get a better looking homemade product with carbon fiber sheets.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
Yu can buy Garolite tubes from places like Mcmaster Carr. It cones in a couple colors and in wall thickness up to 1/4". It is expensive. 1" OD with 1/4" walls is $150 for a 42" piece.
You can also buy carbon fiber tubing.

To make it yourself, you would have to make the MyCarta in a roll fashion. Soak the material in resin and tightly wrap around a center wooden dowel mandrel. Tightly wrap with a rubber strap (the type used for exercise should work well) and let cure. When cured, clean up the outside and slice into discs. Drill out the center wooden part as needed and you have MyCarta rings. Definitely not worth the work, and not real phenolic Micarta. You probably would get a better looking homemade product with carbon fiber sheets.
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Thanks for the insights, I probably wont be going with this method now that I know more.
 
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