Quick Question on Stripping RMD

T

Traverse

Joined
May 10, 2011
Messages
59
I bought Klean-Strip Premium Stripper (aerosol), and it says "Strips Paint, Epoxy & Polyurethane...". I would like to strip the whole thing, including the tang, but I'm worried that the paint stripper will strip the epoxy from between the handles. Is there a safe way of doing the tang so this does not happen?

-Traverse
 
I've never had that problem and I've stripped several Swamp Rat knives. JUST DO IT!
 
That was quick! I was just coming back to EDIT and ask about the epoxy holding the micarta together as well. Thanks, I guess Ill just go ahead and do it
 
I use this stuff and I have never had an issue. There was a lot of pressure put on those scales when they were epoxied on. I doubt it could get in there. I've also found that it strips easier if you wave horizontally folded $20 bills at it.
 
The scales aren't epoxied onto the knife... they are held on by the flared tubes.


You can't hurt it by stripping it. Nekkid steel is sexy...


:D



.
 
Haha, I'm going to have to try the $20 method. Ok I feel real good about it now, thanks for the assurance guys
 
Just so people know, the stripper took the color out of the first layer of the micarta scales. I'm sure it will return when my oily fingers use it a bunch, it was just unexpected. Now I know, in the future, to use a little more precision.
 
Traverse said:
Just so people know, the stripper took the color out of the first layer of the micarta scales. I'm sure it will return when my oily fingers use it a bunch, it was just unexpected. Now I know, in the future, to use a little more precision.
Click to expand...

That surprises me too. How did it look, though? Cool? Ugly? What color Micarta was it, and what did it end up looking like?
Just curious 'cause I know black canvas Micarta has layers of canvas that look a kind of greenish gray, same as tan and its pale yellows and brick reds. I wonder which of those is the color that gets removed.
 
No, it didn't look cool. I was actually pretty disappointed, but the color finally came back for the most part. I rub my fingers over it a bunch and it settled back in. It seems that it took the epoxy out of the first layer and left the off-white canvas look, so it turned it almost desert tan when it was originally gray.
 
Traverse said:
No, it didn't look cool. I was actually pretty disappointed, but the color finally came back for the most part. I rub my fingers over it a bunch and it settled back in. It seems that it took the epoxy out of the first layer and left the off-white canvas look, so it turned it almost desert tan when it was originally gray.
Click to expand...

Need some pics in this thread.
 
I have never experienced that when stripping (blades that is). We need pics for sure.
 
At your request:

Before:

IMG_20110525_171943.jpg


After:

CameraZOOM-20120305093836.jpg


I would liken it to this: If before it looked "wet", It now looks "dry".
Like I said before, the color came back for the most part, but for a while there I thought I really screwed up my knife.
 
If the color returned by you touching/holding the knife, then perhaps the stripper didn't actually change the color of the scales. I think it just dried the oils and residue that were within the pores of the scales (i.e. sweat, body oil, lub, etc) giving it them the appearance of being altered. Once you got some more body oil on there it matched the other areas that still had oil, sweat, lub on it.
 
It hasn't fully returned yet. I was thinking that only the first layer changed and by getting wet, or in this case having oil rub off on it, that it took on a darker look. When I first removed the stripper the color was a slightly brown, dried look. Either way, I'm not worried about it. I was in the beginning because I thought I trashed the color, but I'm good with it. Plus the stripping is coming along great, and I'm really liking the look; not to mention what it will do for me when I'm using it.
 
Here is what I do to restore the canvas scales.

Clean with a scrubby sponge the green one in the sink or use carb or break cleaner.

If you want it dark again use WD 40 or something like that.
 
It'll come back, just oil it up... skin oil, lard, butter, or anything else you have available to apply to the handle will take it back to the way it was before, if not darker. Micarta & G10 all do the same thing with exposure to chemicals that remove the oils on the outermost layer, but it isn't a permanent effect, just like staying clean after you take a shower. If you over do it, clean it off with carb cleaner and start over, but they will get darker from use anyway, especially if you are sweating.
 
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