Polishing canvas micarta

[DHackney]

Hey guys,

Anyone have any suggestions on what they do to polish canvas micarta? I'm doing the finishing touches on a filet knife handle made of green canvas micarta. It's shaped in the
form of a fish body with the tail at the end of the handle (pretty cool if I do say so myself - I'd post it but do not own a digital camera yet). I want to leave most of the handle with a little nap for grip but thougth I'd highlight the tail fin by polishing it (as well as the
bevel at the front of the scale). What grit sand paper should I finish the nappy part with and what do I do for the high luster (if possible) on the tail and bevel?

Many thanks,
Dana Hackney
Monument, CO

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Take the whole thing to 120 grit by hand and buff lightly.Hand sand the highlighted areas to 400 and buff again.It wont get as shiny as paper micarta,but the difference will show.Don't over-buff.

 

[Chiro75]

Here's one I did recently. I think I took it to 600 grit wet sanding, then I oil with tung oil.

 

[rlinger]

Here are two. Both were machine finished to 220 grit, then hand finished to 400 grit. One was buffed using white Matchless buffing compound and one was left unbuffed. Infact both were finished in same manner except for buffing or not. Both are canvas base micarta.

RL

 

[DHackney]

for the great tips. Those are some pretty impressive examples! Man, those are some great grind lines and hamons! I'm hoping to get there someday - makes me know I've got a lot of
work and practise to attain to the quality I see in those pieces.

Many thanks guys,
Dana