my first attempt at homemade micarta

[TPVT]

...FAIL! Lol. i'll get to that in a minute.

so, i watched a couple youtube videos about it. and, i figured...heck, i can do that. that's easy enough.

so, i found me a jacket at Goodwill

and proceeded to cut it up

keep cutting

the top is final product...the bottom is just a raw comparison shot

now, on to the failure. it didn't work. it had 3 days to cure and it just didn't set up. it's still kinda floppy and it certainly isn't hard. i can dig my fingernail in, and really, the top layer is still mostly canvas.

a couple things i am wondering about
1) the videos were in the summer during the heat. they recommended using only half the hardener. that is what i did. perhaps the weather is cool enough that i needed to use more hardener
2) i was running out of resin at the end. maybe i just skimped.
3) i suck at making micarta (hi-oooo)

i will try again. but honestly, after going through the process....and knowing what micarta slabs cost....it's probably better to just buy micarta.

i know i saw someone on this forum who made micarta before, but for the life of me...i can't remember who it was. if anyone has any feedback...obviously, i could use it.

 

[zachtateknives]

Stupid question; was it washed and dried, I would imagine grease and oil would mess with the set up. Also, I mix per the instructions on the resin can and have had no issues.

 

[nickortizzle1035]

my guess is not enough hardener

 

[mykel m]

What this thread-I mean those threads need is more hardener!
No,not cow bells...hardener!
Thanks for the trial & error Todd,I have been wanting to try making micarta myself & will go by the instructions with the resin.

 

[TPVT]

thanks guys. and yeah...that's what i figure too. i am definitely not going to skimp on the hardener my second go around. lesson learned. i fully expected it to be a learning experience anyway. so, i guess i was successful!!

 

[mqqn]

Hi Todd -

You learn from doing - and you are doing more than most!

I would say follow the instructions on the epoxy.

The reason to make your own is to make something that you can't buy - so experiment and use colors and layers - I'll be you come up with something very cool!

best

mqqn

 

[KYenglish]

nice try, definitely give it another go, nicely done

 

[TPVT]

Hi Todd -

You learn from doing - and you are doing more than most!

I would say follow the instructions on the epoxy.

The reason to make your own is to make something that you can't buy - so experiment and use colors and layers - I'll be you come up with something very cool!

best

mqqn

right on. thanks andy. it's funny what happens when you start experimenting and thinking about these things. i stopped at my linen curtains the other day and started giving them "the look." i had to talk myself out of cutting them up.

 

[JiffyPark]

Whoa, how much was the jacket? Kavu is good stuff!
Thanks for the pics!

 

[TPVT]

Whoa, how much was the jacket? Kavu is good stuff!
Thanks for the pics!

it was a size Small and fairly beat. it was hanging on a rack at Goodwill for $4.99. can't beat that. well...unless, it was less than that.

 

[JK Knives]

I`d like to see what you come up with next time, looks like fun.

 

[762cal]

Hi Todd -

You learn from doing - and you are doing more than most!

I would say follow the instructions on the epoxy.

The reason to make your own is to make something that you can't buy - so experiment and use colors and layers - I'll be you come up with something very cool!

best

mqqn

errr yeah. definitely cooler.

the GID are white cotton cloth micarta in which I added blue phosphor powder into the epoxy mixture

btw, back to the topic, I agree, you must be lack on hardener. I always use epoxy glue that needs 1:1 for the resin - hardener. I also use low/long setting glue. and I give plenty glue to avoid "flappy" fabrics.

this is what I got after pressing:

I build micarta myself because here the price of importing the micarta is.... more expensive

 

[kyturkey]

I've been considering trying to make some micarta myself, thanks for sharing the learning experience. I might of done the same thing, because I've seen a couple of you tube videos like you, that said not to use as much hardener.

I'm thinking about making some using part of Dad's old uniforms. Then the handle would be from something personal and have a family connection. It wouldn't be a very creative color combo or something outside the box though.

Any guidelines on how many strips of fabric equals a certain thickness micarta when finished?

 

[TPVT]

errr yeah. definitely cooler.

the GID are white cotton cloth micarta in which I added blue phosphor powder into the epoxy mixture

btw, back to the topic, I agree, you must be lack on hardener. I always use epoxy glue that needs 1:1 for the resin - hardener. I also use low/long setting glue. and I give plenty glue to avoid "flappy" fabrics.

this is what I got after pressing:

I build micarta myself because here the price of importing the micarta is.... more expensive

Wow Cal. That micarta with blue phosphorous looks amazing. very cool. i used fiberglass resin that i got at the hardware store. i will try again this weekend and post the results. thanks for the encouragement.

I've been considering trying to make some micarta myself, thanks for sharing the learning experience. I might of done the same thing, because I've seen a couple of you tube videos like you, that said not to use as much hardener.

I'm thinking about making some using part of Dad's old uniforms. Then the handle would be from something personal and have a family connection. It wouldn't be a very creative color combo or something outside the box though.

Any guidelines on how many strips of fabric equals a certain thickness micarta when finished?

hey turkey. using micarta from one of your dad's uniforms is a very cool idea. that's great.

it's hard to say on the thickness. different materials will have different thickness. i didn't count, but i used about 10 strips of this jacket. it was a heavier "canvas" type material. after pressing, it may have been just about 1/4". i would have made it thicker, but i actually ran out of my resin mix.

specifically, i mixed 8 oz of resin with about 70 drops of hardener. it said use 14 drops per oz. that would have been 112. 56 would have then been half, so i used a little bit more than half. like others have said, i am going to actually follow the instructions this next time and see what i get. Plus, i am definitely going to start with more than 8 oz. just wanted to mention what i started with, in case you try to give it a go.

i suppose the amt of resin you need would also be dependent a bit on thickness of material. i suppose a thicker material would require more to get to saturation. i clearly didn't get it saturated either. so, this next time, i am going to start with at least 12 oz.

 

[762cal]

thanks TPVT

based in what I've experienced, normally after the pressing there's about 1/4 until half of the initial stack of sheets. but I put a lot of glue (I soaked the sheets in the glue before stacking) so YMMV.

I'm not fond of any epoxy/resin products, but what I use is the one used for fixing fiberglass boats. and they are based on 1:1 amount of resin and hardener (the package is about 250grams of resin and 250 grams of hardener in different cans), and it costs me under 10 bucks I think. I have a fellow knifeknut in my country, and he suggested me to steer away from epoxies that uses "drops" for the hardener, as it doesn't as strong as the epoxy I am using. But I have never tried another. hope this helps

 

[TPVT]

thanks TPVT

based in what I've experienced, normally after the pressing there's about 1/4 until half of the initial stack of sheets. but I put a lot of glue (I soaked the sheets in the glue before stacking) so YMMV.

I'm not fond of any epoxy/resin products, but what I use is the one used for fixing fiberglass boats. and they are based on 1:1 amount of resin and hardener (the package is about 250grams of resin and 250 grams of hardener in different cans), and it costs me under 10 bucks I think. I have a fellow knifeknut in my country, and he suggested me to steer away from epoxies that uses "drops" for the hardener, as it doesn't as strong as the epoxy I am using. But I have never tried another. hope this helps

I use G/Flex epoxy for glueing on handles. this is the good stuff. the 1-to-1 stuff. BUT...it is expensive. and, i wasn't going to buy a jug of it. the videos i've seen used this Fiberglass Resin stuff, and they didn't have a problem with it. as you said...it is the same stuff for patching boats. i will try doing it correctly, and see if i have better luck.

thanks for the info.

 

[PGeo00]

More hardener and more resin... it doesn't look like the resin soaked through the fabric. You may want to check the local fabric store and buy some canvas. They are only like $3.99 per yard and you get to pick the colors.

 

[TPVT]

More hardener and more resin... it doesn't look like the resin soaked through the fabric. You may want to check the local fabric store and buy some canvas. They are only like $3.99 per yard and you get to pick the colors.

PG! yes. you were the one that posted about it before. and yeah...when i was making it, the fabric seemed saturated, but it was clear after that it wasn't.

i was planning to visit a fabric store and see what they might have that's cool.

and speaking of cool....that's a great pic you posted.

thanks for the info.

 

[outdoorsfan]

I have seen some cool homemade micarta. Looking forward to seeing what how the next batch turns out.

 

[TPVT]

haven't done anything yet, per se. just wanted to get your attention again. cut up some new material tonight. gonna put it together tomorrow and see how she sets.