Questions about making Micarta?

W

Will Crocker

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Apr 15, 2020
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I think this is where I should post this so I have made a few knives and I have some polyester resin lying about and I was thinking about making Micarta for some handle scales and i just had a few questions,
-- I've only heard about it being made with epoxy or Bondo "fiberglass resin", has anybody got experience with using polyester resin for micarta as I know it can be more brittle than epoxy resin and was wondering if A it's possible and B if there are any ways to make it better.
--what is the best way to finish it up, should I seal it with CA or polish it or wax it or just sand it to a high grit (or low grit?).
--finally, does anybody have any tips about the actual making process to get even scales?
Any tips are a help as I've done a bit of research but I'm unsure if the polyester resin is any different to the stuff people normally use?
 
Hey Will, use the link above and do a custom search for home made Micarta or mycarta... There are a ton of threads about it, and the benefits and pitfalls.

Long story short, it's hard to get a comparable product to factory made stuff, but if you are doing it for fun the have at it!
 
Thanks, I've searched for micarta but all seem to use epoxy resin which is a lot softer than polyester which is kinda brittle and so I wasn't sure if polyester would crack if dropped or anything
 
Bondo fiberglass resin is a polyester resin as far as I know. I have seen a few people use polyester resin on youtube to make micarta. I think it will work ok if you can deal with the smell.

I have only made micarta once using marine epoxy and a vacuum laminating press. It worked well but I think you could do just as well with a couple of pieces of plywood and a few clamps.

CA glue helps while sanding and can also be used as a finish, but I do not like the feel of a CA finish.

I would only make micarta from materials that are not available commercially as finished micarta. The process is pretty messy and at least with epoxy, you are not saving any money vs buying micarta.
 
ohhhh thanks, I didn't realize bond fiberglass resin is polyester, I have a press that should work. ill bare that in mind with the finish also, I might post a picture if it works, thanks
 
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