Using Acid Paint Stripper on Knife w/ Micarta Handles?

[Ethan_Hardy]

I have stripped the blade coating on knives with removable handles with no problem. Is it risky to strip blades with non-removable handles that have canvas micarta handles? The acid in paint stripper is pretty strong (have accidentally gotten it on my skin before) and I am worried it will soak into the canvas. I have a SRKW RMD and the blade coating is getting a bit raggedy.

Has anyone done this? Will washing the micarta thoroughly with soap and water be enough?

 

[filedog]

Looks like the Busse guys do this all the time. No one mentions a problem with the scales,
but no specific comments I can see. Lots of good reading here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/933097-Stripping-A-Busse-Knife
And you could post in their forum if you don't get more info here.

 

[knarfeng]

Which paint stripper are you using? Paint strippers are normally not acidic. Rather they contain strong solvents which soften the paint. (Some contain solvents strong enough to cause chemical burns.)

There are hundreds of versions of "Micarta" and "resin infused fabric", made with different resins. So it is hard to provide an all encompassing answer as to whether one individual handle will be damaged by a specific stripper.