Paper Micarta... HELP!

Mike Martinez

Mike Martinez

Well-Known Member
Ok, so I've ruined a few pieces trying to shape them. I've tried slow, fast, 24 grit, 36 grit and 120 grit. Still, it heats up so fast that by the time it feels warm, it has already began to split and crack.

Any ideas before I use my remaining pieces of micarta as clay pigeons?

Regards,
Mike
 
Is this White paper micarta? If so, you won't find a much more labor intensive material to finish out. You gotta work is SLOW, with new, sharp belts, at a fairly low speed. Keep it cool (don't dunk it in water!). You can only got to about 120 on the grinder, and then everything from there is by hand, changing paper often, so an not to get those "black dots and lines" all through it. As you get finer and finer in grits, you have to change paper more often. After you put all the time an effort into it, don't make the same mistake I have in the past......trying to buff it. That just total wrecked about a days worth of hand finishing....had to go all the way back to 320, and then through the grits to 1200 to correct my mistake.

Once it's down to 1200 or so, use ONLY a brand new, clean buff, with NO compound. Then I acetone it off, and apply a single, very light coat of Tru-oil......put the tru-oil on with your fingertip, and then wipe it dry with a clean paper towel. Set the knife aside for at least two hours and your done.
 
Thank you Mr. Caffrey... its actually the black stuff but man its a pain. I dunked it in water the first time it got hot and got to see it, "explode." I really hate this stuff, almost as much as I hate water buffalo horn... which its supposed to replace in my project.

Steven, I may have to get out the old 12 gauge and have a go at it... this stuff is hard to work and even harder to keep from coating everything in its very fine dust.
 
Mike,
Do you think some white Corian would work?
It's impervious and machines like butter and polishes anywhere from satin to " hey, where's my RayBans?" shiny.
I got some...could give you some scales N/C.
PM me your phone number if you want a sample.

Steve
 
I don't understand all the fuss about white paper micarta. A friend of mine,who I am teaching knifemakng,had an order for a liner lock folder with white paper micarta. He called me to get advice about how to work it,I told him what I had learned by my own experience. Use sharp drill bits and new belts,to go slow and not over heat it. He didn't have any problems with it,he worked it down to 400 grit then hand sanded it to 1200 grit then brought it to me to polish. I polished one side with a 3" loose wheel with pink no scratch compound and light pressure. I gave it to him to polish the other side and he polished it with no problem.
White paper micarta is useable but you must work it properly.
 
I wish that I could help you but I did a black paper Micarta handle on an integral that I made and I don't remember having any problems working it on my Coote.

Doug
 
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