You know, I don't ask for much

B

Blackie Scantling

Joined
Dec 26, 2013
Messages
444
But is wishing my Micarta scales on my ESEE-4 remained the blue/grey it was born with instead of turning a dull, tarball black after handling asking too much? I know the drill, wash them with Dawn, which I did last night except I used what the ole' lady has, Palmolive liquid dish washing detergent which has the same result, beautiful blue/grey scales again.
But now I don't dare touch them because it leaves black areas.

I read after Googling to wash them with Dawn and then spray them with WD-40 but common sense tells me that will just turn them black again plus oily. Or will it? Anything to seal them with, varnish, lacquer, Minwax?
 
I have actually used good 'ol carnuba car wax on some of my micarta scaled knives, helped preserve the original condition of them, but otherwise didn't affect the feel all that much--might be worth a try.
 
Before I Rit dyed my Esee scales I was cleaning them a lot. Washing with Dawn and scrubbing with a toothbrush worked best for me. I don't think I'd oil them though. If anything, make sure they're totally dry before reinstalling them, and maybe a thin coat of oil on the knife-facing sides to prevent rust. I personally wouldn't want my bushcraft knife having oily (ie, slippery) scales.
 
Fish30114 said:
I have actually used good 'ol carnuba car wax on some of my micarta scaled knives, helped preserve the original condition of them, but otherwise didn't affect the feel all that much--might be worth a try.
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I've read of carnauba car wax being used. I'll give it a shot, thanks. As a result I did use Turtle Wax Ice spray wax the last time I cleaned them which was all I had but it just turned them a slight darker color until it dried and then black again after handling. To keep them grey it would take almost a daily washing. I can't imagine what they would look like after dressing and skinning a greasy feral hog.
 
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Looking at Survive Knives GSO 4.1 and 5 reviews one of their attributes are their Micarta handles are clear coated so as not to soak stains like the ESEE's and Rats but retain their original look. I looked up clear coat and Krylon #5130 Clear Coat spray came up. It says it works on multiple surfaces including masonry to paper machete so Micarta should fall in there somewhere. I'm going to give it a shot. Science Mr White!
 
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I just tried Krylon Clear Coat on my scales. It turned them a wet looking solid black, not anything near what I wanted. I steelwool'd and washed the shine off and was finally able to show the Micarta grain again but now they are black Micarta.. Don't try this at home, it doesn't just seal, it darkens.
 
Think of it as a type of patina, but on the scales instead of the blade. It is a tool after all, and not a museum piece to be on display on your mantle. Be proud of its "battle scars" and enjoy your knife without having to worry about its getting a little dirty and worn. I read once about a dog trainer that took his brand new saddle and threw it into a horse trough and let it soak for a few minutes before taking it out and laying it out to dry. He then said, "I am glad that is over, so now I can use it and not have to worry about it getting wet when it rains." He later told about taking his new pick-up and driving it through a rose hedge thicket so he would not have to worry about getting any scratches on it when he worked his dogs in the fields of Oklahoma. They are tools to use and enjoy, and not to have to worry about them staying pristine new for as long as you own them. Just some old timey advice from someone that has been to several rodeo's in my life time. Enjoy your life as it is short and we only get one time around.

Blessings,

Omar
 
Oh no's, I used my knife and it got dirty.......


The only answer is to clean it up, put it on a shelf, under glass, and never touch it again....




Or, you could use it, and get over it.



Another answer would be g10 scales.
 
Never had an issue with mine. They get dirty but never slippery. Izula II and Junglas. My 6 has paper linen micarta or whatever they call it; it doesn't absorb anything. If it bothers you so much, hit up TKC and get some g10 scales. If you're someone who hunts, kills, and cleans animals, I don't understand why you're worried about a little dirt on your handles.
 
Bill DeShivs said:
Next time, maybe you'll listen to me.
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I fretted about it off and on all day and when I got home sanded them lightly until I got to fresh Micarta. They look grey again. If you say neutral shoe polish works then I'll try it but I don't see how it differs much from hand oil.

To those that say it's a tool not something to put on the mantle, you're preaching to the choir. It's not the "dirt" I'm concerned with. You don't see any thread of mine asking how to buff the scratch out of my ESEE blade. The scales, however, are beautiful and I want to keep them looking that way, like some flint napped artifact, as I use the heck out of it. Even dirty.
 
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