Oiling carbon fibre scales possible?

K

kreisler

Joined
May 11, 2012
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Recently i learned that Micarta scales can be easily modded/treated (with dye, oil, file, etc) because it is cloth material and porous. Micarta scales would take in finger oils, get dirty, darker, shine up, get slippery, can be roughened up. Interesting.

How about CF scales? Do/can they absorb oils (and dyes) too?

I know that CF scales (like wood scales) look prettier with a drop of mineral oil on them. But to me it seems that the oil doesn't get soaked into the CF scale. One can wipe it off with toilet paper. Or maybe i am overseeing something.
 
Think of them as G10 with hopefully better resin. They should not absorb anything. Generally, micarta uses phenolic resin which will not wet out the fibers as well as polyester or better yet epoxy, which is why you can dye it.
 
Thanks D Diemaker !
I didn't get the part about the micarta explanation haha but i understood the part on carbon fibre, which is what i was asking about.

Good to know :thumbsup:
 
Important to note as well that if you are going to be filing or shaving down any part of CF scales it should be done outside/with a respirator. Nasty stuff if it gets into your lungs.
 
c7m2p3 said:
Important to note as well that if you are going to be filing or shaving down any part of CF scales it should be done outside/with a respirator. Nasty stuff if it gets into your lungs.
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The same goes for G10. If possible do any grinding, cutting or sanding wet. Like with stones on a knife the water will help lubricate and clear the swarf.
 
Decades on, till using 3M house painters half mask with fresh filters appropriate to job screwed in place. I remember how much it hurt buying it, very expensive as I worked my way thru school. Amazing, with a little care the respirator has lasted over 35 years. Why did I bother? Research out of one of the northern tier European countries demonstrated house painters were over represented in violent crime stats for that country, Sweden maybe but don't hold me to that. Yeah yeah, coincidence is not causal, could a been self selection.... Particulate matter of these types should be filtered with more then a disposable N95 or lesser dust mask, unless lung transplants sounds intriguing, or you wanna burn off some of your excess lung capacity... Ten dollar helmets for ten dollar brains sort of idea.
 
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I used work with a lot of C/F. As others have said, if you are going to cut or grind it dry, please remember to use the proper safety equipment. You don't want the dust in your lungs.
If possible, do wet sanding instead of dry. I used to wet sand over the sink, no fuss no muss. The natural oils in your hand will make the c/f shinier over time, but no problem if you want to add a drop of oil or lube.
 
Barry H said:
The natural oils in your hand will make the c/f shinier over time,
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Well, this sounds like a contradiction to what we've said before ("shouldn't absorb oils"), hmm 🧐
I would love my CF scale to stay shiny, so that it can't be washed off with soap or alcohol.

Thanks everyone for the safety advice. Fortunately i was thinking about oiling only, not modding as in shaving/filing/milling/working 😇
 
The oil doesn't absorb into cf as it would with wood. The oil is filling the sanding scratches left behind from the last sanding grit you used. You want a finish that is highly polished?
A "satin" finish can be obtained sanding out to 220 grit. For a polished look, sand out to 2000 grit and then buff out on a buffing wheel with green compound. And that goes for any phenolic material, be it cf, Micarta or G10.

Polished cf handles tend to be slipper in the hand for "most" people. Not a bad thing if you are carrying a "gentleman's knife. But most guys that are carrying a hard working knife tend to prefer a satin finish as its gives a better grip.
 
Ah, i have no sanding planned. I got two different commercial quality CF scales on my suru folders. One has smooth CF finish, the other one has textured CF finish; the finish is nice as it is, original, professional, commercial. I am no modder.

I was just wondering about the oiling aspect. (The thread title is misleading, i've edited it, sorry)
 
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