Point me toward some Canvas Micarta Folders please

Wow there is a whole lot posted here since I last visited this thread.
Thank You ! ! !

This what I started with so far. Long story how I wound up with two Buck 112s in canvas.
So
it wasn't quite what I expected but pretty great.
I then tried to hot rod the canvas to make it more rough and canvas like; I sanded one with 60 grit sand paper.

First lets back up a second and say that first I took a stainless steel bristle TIG welding brush to the scales . . .
and you know what happened ?
This is a brush that can abrade the surface of aluminum and steel and stainless steel to clean off oxidation and what not that keeps the weld from being as good as it can be . . .

The stainless steel bristle brush did NOTHING to the canvas micarta scales !
Nothing !
They looked as fresh when I got done as when I started.
Durable stuff this micarta.

Then I reached for some serious abrasive and the micarta did indeed get less shiny and more canvas like. See the knife with the lighter scales. In reality they don't look this yellow as they do in the photo.

The surface wasn't what I expected though. I expected it to be more grippy. To my fingers it feels "soapy" . . . not textured and rough and kind of prickly as I thought it would.

I put the green Outdoor Edge knife with the Bucks because I wanted to show what I think I prefer in a knife handle. Once again, textured rubberized scales.

I'll keep looking at and experimenting with the canvas though I just haven't hit on what I want / expect from the canvas.
IMG_5939.jpg
 
Wowbagger said:
Wow there is a whole lot posted here since I last visited this thread.
Thank You ! ! !

This what I started with so far. Long story how I wound up with two Buck 112s in canvas.
So
it wasn't quite what I expected but pretty great.
I then tried to hot rod the canvas to make it more rough and canvas like; I sanded one with 60 grit sand paper.

First lets back up a second and say that first I took a stainless steel bristle TIG welding brush to the scales . . .
and you know what happened ?
This is a brush that can abrade the surface of aluminum and steel and stainless steel to clean off oxidation and what not that keeps the weld from being as good as it can be . . .

The stainless steel bristle brush did NOTHING to the canvas micarta scales !
Nothing !
They looked as fresh when I got done as when I started.
Durable stuff this micarta.

Then I reached for some serious abrasive and the micarta did indeed get less shiny and more canvas like. See the knife with the lighter scales. In reality they don't look this yellow as they do in the photo.

The surface wasn't what I expected though. I expected it to be more grippy. To my fingers it feels "soapy" . . . not textured and rough and kind of prickly as I thought it would.

I put the green Outdoor Edge knife with the Bucks because I wanted to show what I think I prefer in a knife handle. Once again, textured rubberized scales.

I'll keep looking at and experimenting with the canvas though I just haven't hit on what I want / expect from the canvas.
...
Click to expand...

Of my factory and customized micarta scales, DoAT's are my favorite, as he bead blasts them to give just the right amount of grip/tecture IMO. Personally, I am a huge fan of the rubbery grip on the BM Boost (although many disagree). The Freek feels pretty good in hand but not for the way I hold the knife (again, many others disagree). Additionally, the Grizzly Ridge has rubberized handles. All of these knives are 3.5"+. I have not handled the mini Boost nor the mini Freek, however.

I'll also add, that some CF scales have more grip than others. My CF/M4 980 has a slight micro-grip to the texture, and the CF on my CF/Ti S90V Millitary has significant grip with the added texturing (I believe that model uses full CF for the scale and not a laminate over G10).

One last suggestion... the C&C S30V Micarta/brushed Nickel 110 and 112 have more traction than their Dymondwood/brass or polished Nickel counterparts. I think the factory 110 Pro might be similar, but I have not handled one.
 
Scott321 said:
the C&C S30V Micarta/brushed Nickel 110 and 112 have more traction
Click to expand...
I was just looking at the 112 with Micarta and Nickel last night. Mostly because the handle is Fat / wide. I think I would enjoy it for that.

Some how I thought the canvas or burlap had some serious gription like an old rope that has been used on the dock.

Curently I'm getting my "fix" of handle texture gription from a Contego (M4 natch').
I don't understand all the "ohhhhhhh it's so rough; it ruins my poor witto hands" comments. I actually expected the scalloped areas around the edge to be much bityer. Mostly the grip / bite comes from the plain old high traction micart and not the sculpting or toothy choils.

I may not be happy until I take an old rope, cut it up, soak it in epoxy and make knife scales out of it..
I'm kidding but not by much.
 
Wowbagger said:
I was just looking at the 112 with Micarta and Nickel last night. Mostly because the handle is Fat / wide. I think I would enjoy it for that.

Some how I thought the canvas or burlap had some serious gription like an old rope that has been used on the dock.

Curently I'm getting my "fix" of handle texture gription from a Contego (M4 natch').
I don't understand all the "ohhhhhhh it's so rough; it ruins my poor witto hands" comments. I actually expected the scalloped areas around the edge to be much bityer. Mostly the grip / bite comes from the plain old high traction micart and not the sculpting or toothy choils.

I may not be happy until I take an old rope, cut it up, soak it in epoxy and make knife scales out of it..
I'm kidding but not by much.
Click to expand...

I haven't handled the Contego. I have often taken sandpaper to handles that have a hot spot when I use them or just personal preference, e.g. melted the edges of my PM2 and slight modification of Bucks 112 & 110 angles. My personal standard for handle comfort is push cutting through a 2" styrofoam container (which I have to break down often). It previously was shaving slices off of wood but it didn't translate to the styrofoam task comfort.

My favorite micarta texture scales were made by DoAT (currently in 2 Grips). Canvas micarta plus whatever finish he puts on it leaves a very comfortable yet grippy texture. Much more so than my factory or DE micarta scales. I don't know if some rough sandpaper would imitate that finish or not.
 
Scott321 said:
I don't know if some rough sandpaper would imitate that finish or not.
Click to expand...
It didn't for me (see my earlier post where I sanded the 112 with 60 grit). It still feels kind of like a dry bar of soap; I don't know how else to describe it.

I think I am learning that the best texture is MOLDED into the surface when the micarta is made.

I wonder how ESSE gets the surface they do on the small scales I have had in mind when I started this adventure ? Do they sand blast them ? They don't look like they could get that look from just molding them that way. I was going to say do they use a solvent to take off the outer layer of resin but not much would disolve that ! Lacquer thinner ?
esee-izula-handle_1.jpg
 
Wowbagger said:
It didn't for me (see my earlier post where I sanded the 112 with 60 grit). It still feels kind of like a dry bar of soap; I don't know how else to describe it.

I think I am learning that the best texture is MOLDED into the surface when the micarta is made.

I wonder how ESSE gets the surface they do on the small scales I have had in mind when I started this adventure ? Do they sand blast them ? They don't look like they could get that look from just molding them that way. I was going to say do they use a solvent to take off the outer layer of resin but not much would disolve that ! Lacquer thinner ?
esee-izula-handle_1.jpg
Click to expand...

If I dig through my old emails later I might be able to find the technique that DoAT uses (right now waiting for CT scan results on my mother in ER). It just brings up enough fibers and leaves enough grit pattern on the surface to feel pretty smooth but grippy. Bead blasting maybe?

The way he does it also offers pretty decent grip on G10, too.
 
Scott321 said:
If I dig through my old emails later I might be able to find the technique that DoAT uses (right now waiting for CT scan results on my mother in ER). It just brings up enough fibers and leaves enough grit pattern on the surface to feel pretty smooth but grippy. Bead blasting maybe?

The way he does it also offers pretty decent grip on G10, too.
Click to expand...
Thanks.
CT scan results on my mother in ER
Click to expand...
Oh man !
I hope everything turns out OK.
 
Wowbagger said:
Thanks.

Oh man !
I hope everything turns out OK.
Click to expand...

Thanks, she is fine now. Her asthma acts up every so often but at her age and medical history we support ER visits and testing whenever she exhibits abnormal characteristics.
 
Wowbagger said:
Looks like he even makes them for the 940 !
That would be sweet.
Click to expand...

I have 2 Grips with his micarta scales and 2 940's with his G10 scales. I am super pleased with all of them. I even like his plain G10 scales better than my factory 940-2 scales (DoAT shape is more true to the aluminum handles).
 
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