mortised micarta

[Keith_H]

I just got a piece of 1/2" micarta and was wondering if it would be nice as a mortised tang knife. I know how to do it, but im not sure if that amount of exposed "grain" would be nice. thank you!

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Sanded properly, and using a colorless or dyed to match resin should barely show a line. Another trick is to add a third piece, mortised around the tang, as a contrast. White -Black-White, or my favorite, Black-Yellow-Black.

Stacy

 

[Keith_H]

Thanks Stacy, what i meant was the edge of the micarta itself, where you could see the layers.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

That will not be a problem. Actually, micarta looks sort of blah without the layer lines. go for it.
Stacy

 

[Keith_H]

Thanks! Its a real nice brown, And I have about 3' by 4"

 

[Phil705]

Interesting thread. Just how do you mortise micarta? I've tried, and found it to be like chipping concrete. Hints appreciated.

 

[Robert Dark]

Interesting thread. Just how do you mortise micarta? I've tried, and found it to be like chipping concrete. Hints appreciated.

I use my mini-mill with a router bit. Works great.

Another hint......... After I get the final sanding done on the micarta, I usually put a coat of tung oil on then back over it with 0000 steel wool. Tung oil helps seal the fibers and sort of evens out everything.

Robert

 

[Keith_H]

Great, how is steel wool grit measured, out of curiousity?

 

[Keith_H]

Come to think of it, My micarta looks similar to mr. Dark's avaliable knives on his site, for electrical, right?

 

[therulebookman]

Steel Wool is measured by its number...typically its in 0's (pronounced and spelled "aught") So the above is the finest grade available "quadruple aught" or "four aught" steel wool. With types 000, 00, 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 being available with 4 being the most coarse.

see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_wool

 

[Keith_H]

I was going to do a wiki search but i might as well ask here..

 

[Robert Dark]

Come to think of it, My micarta looks similar to mr. Dark's avaliable knives on his site, for electrical, right?

Yup...... I understand the stuff I am using is some of the original Westinghouse canvas micarta. I know for a fact that it is 27 years old, and is probably older than that.

Some tuff stuff for sure.

Robert