Please help with micarta.

NearlyNormalMike

NearlyNormalMike

Joined
Oct 2, 2015
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43
I acquired a very lightly used well known brand knife with micarta handles.
While the scales are beautiful to behold, they are extremely slippery to hold. With my hands dry it is like trying to hold onto a catfish by the tail. With my hands sweaty I won't even pick it up.

I tried roughing it up a bit with course steel wool which seemed to help a little bit, for a little while, but that is clearly not the answer.
I want to use it but I consider it too dangerous as is. I have grown quite attached to all 20 of my fingers and toes.

I bought the knife largely for its looks. Friction tape should work but would be a mighty ugly.
I might have to resort to Plasti Dry but consider that sub optimal too.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to make it more "grippy" but maintain its beauty?

Thank you in advance for your help.
 
Hmmm ... Micarta is not know to be slippery, quite the opposite.

Try sandpaper. Start with 100grit. Move down to 80 or 60 if necessary.

You could also try stippling them with a small hammer and nail or a dremel *if* you have the necessary skill.

I take it that the scales are not removable? Otherwise, I recommend you replace them.
 
TravisH said:
Hmmm ... Micarta is not know to be slippery, quite the opposite.

Try sandpaper. Start with 100grit. Move down to 80 or 60 if necessary.

You could also try stippling them with a small hammer and nail or a dremel *if* you have the necessary skill.

I take it that the scales are not removable? Otherwise, I recommend you replace them.
Click to expand...

If it's polished it is slippery as heck; I have a BHK lumberjack toothpick LE with polished micarta scales; it is difficult to keep a grip on it in any condition really and it is supposed to be able to be used a small chopper... :eek::thumbdn:

I'd try silicone tape wrap (if it's a fixed blade) or grip tape; both are easily removed with no permanent damage.
 
Real easy as TravisH put it, start with 600-400 grit wet dry sandpaper and work your way down. You can wet or dry sand them, but wet sanding with soap and water works well. Sand, dry them, and then check how you like the grip. If it's still not how you want move down a grit. You don't have to go to town on them, a light sanding will work. If you want to keep the tang/pins polished just work around them with the paper. If you want really grippy, wet sand with dish soap at 200-100 grit, then hit them real lightly with 60 grit. If you don't like it you can always work back up through the grits to a polished scale.

You don't have to hit them up hard to change the surface texture, just light sanding will work.

Otherwise wrap in grip tape/bicycle inner tube (ranger band) for immediate results. Won't be as pretty but it works.
 
Maybe a bit more info on the knife would help. I am wondering if the handles are either smooth linen or paper micarta or even G10.
 
Thanks fellows.
I tried sanding some. I had never heard of using dish soap & water but gave it a try.
Initially used 320, then lightly hit it 180 grit.
Grip ability much improved, but it did take off the black finish leaving a very dull grey. I then put a light coat of olive oil on the scales. It brought back some shine, but at a slight expense of grip. I think I am now at a reasonable compromise and at least I can use the knife whereas before I could not.
I would be a "happy camper, if I were a camper, but am no longer a camper of any mood. I am just happy.
 
Take a dremel tool and add your own texture... Guys have done anso patterns before hunches bunches of times with a dremel 😊
 
I'm wondering if part of the problem was a surface treatment to make it a darker black. I would avoid olive oil as it can get nasty as it oxidizes. I'd leave it as the slate gray, and use it.
 
I used olive oil as that is what I used on my blade for protection. I know it is far from perfect, but I use knife for food prep and do not want use petroleum based products.
I might try the 100 grit. I can stand the grey color if necessary, but it does look better darkened up a touch.
I will keep an eye on the olive oil as that is something I just thought I would try. Have not used it before this knife.
 
Olive oil, any vegetable oil, will go rancid and start to smell as it rots.

Pharmacy-grade Mineral oil is food safe, colorless, odorless, will not go rancid, and costs only $3/pint.
 
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