Sandpaper (used &/or "High Grit") as Micarta material?

Bushwhacker2666

Bushwhacker2666

Joined
Nov 1, 2013
Messages
6
Noob maker here,
I have searched this forum looking for the answer to my question- using every permutation of the wording that I can think of, with no results....I am wondering if anyone has used, (or heard of using) old, "retired" sandpaper for making micarta- to use as scales? I just finished a batch of micarta- using two different colors of heavy-weight oxford cloth, from old button-down collar "dress-shirts" (I believe it is called "twill"?)...was cleaning up the shop & throwing out old sandpaper and it occurred to me that it would make, possibly the World's "grippiest" micarta! LOL...I was thinking of just mixing it in with my next batch of paper micarta? Maybe just a sheet of sandpaper between every 4th or 5th sheet (or even less often, possibly?) of the heavy-weight paper I normally use, when making paper-micarta?? First though, please allow me to say, "Thank You" to ALL of you, "For Real" makers, for the time you take out of your busy lives, to answer questions-a LOT of them idiotic, I know... from FNG's such as myself! This forum is a GOD-send for people like me.
Thanks again,
Bushwhacker
 
I feel like you would get a lot of grit contamination while sanding, esecialy if your micarta sand paper is 150 grit and you are finish sanding your knife with 400 or something
 
John Katt said:
I feel like you would get a lot of grit contamination while sanding, esecialy if your micarta sand paper is 150 grit and you are finish sanding your knife with 400 or something
Click to expand...
Thanks John, I hadn't even considered that angle...I was considering trying- say, 600 grit, or higher? just so-as to keep blisters to a minimum! hahaha...but, this is EXACTLY why I love these forums! Thus far I have only done full-tang, carbon, fixed blades (Aldo's 1084 mostly) & usually have 99% of finish work done before attaching scales...so, I may just HAVE to try it...(due to EXTREMELY hard head...just ask my wife, it is one of her favorite subjects of discussion! lol)...but if I do, I figured that Pro's such as yourself would either, a) have tried this idea & ruled it out or, b) Have already come up with one-or more reasons why it won't work very well!
 
If you are using 600 grit and finishing with 600, I cant see anything wrong with that, but remember buffing wheel compound is in the 3000 range, and the buffing compound is sticky and will pick up anything on the knife ;0)

And by no means am I a pro ;0)
 
I wouldn't want to cut and shape it. Alumina oxide is almost as hard as diamond. I imagine it would be very hard on drill bits and saw blades.
 
tump said:
Will the resin soak into the belt material enough fo be effective?
Click to expand...
I was only thinking of trying sheets of either previously used A.O. paper, or wet/dry paper...old belts hadn't occurred to me...I would guess that you are right, backing probably wouldn't soak up the epoxy resin...may try just a small test-batch, for sh#ts & giggles...probably a novelty with no real value...but, will post results....Thanks for responding
 
Maelstrom78 said:
Give it a whirl. I can't think of a scenario where the result wouldn't look like dog-doo though :)
Click to expand...
Bwahahaha!! You are correct to a 99% certainty, Maelstrom! Next time I clean up the shop- probably this time next Jan....I plan to give it a whirl, (a very small batch w/ cost of epoxy these days!) just so I can say, "I tried that ONCE...& it looked/worked for CRAP!"
 
It's kind of an interesting idea... I see all kinds of potential problems with it, but I really don't know for certain. It would only take a few sheets' worth to make a small sample and try it out, though.

Gator belt mycarta would be pretty cool if you could get it to laminate together worth a hoot :D

IG300-3.jpg
 
If you used gator belts and colored the epoxy, and filled all the grooves, might be nice. Keep us posted.
 
I would try it with the cheapest paper back stuff you have because i think that it would absorb the most resin. Wet dry paper probably would work as well as wax paper. I don't see any reason that it wouldn't work as long as the paper absorbs the resin. Have fun shaping it though, itll be sand paper on sand paper lol
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top