![Bravo Company BCM](/images/2016/banners/sticky/BCM_StickyBarAd_225x40.gif)
![Login](/images/2016/spacer.gif)
Posted: 6/21/2024 1:06:35 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Dragynn]
And dang but i'm having a hard time finding my own pics as I just don't take that many, but will keep looking and post.
I like blades like the Becker/Kabar collabs that have removeable scales, it's just so hard to find micarta that I like that I finally had to start making my own. Some factory blades with micarta they use so much freakin resin in it, that it feels like glass in your hand. Once in a while you find some pretty grippy stuff, I have an Ontario Ranger that came with pretty grippy micarta, albeit rough on the edges. I tried a bunch of different materials, but have found denim is the best all-around for my taste, not as rough as burlap, but much grippier than linen or paper or other material. I buy old blue jeans when they go on sale at secondhand stores. I use regular fiberglass resin, and weigh the stack down really good once I get everything gooped up and stacked. It produces a finish that really feels like the texture of denim at the surface, in fact enough so that it will stain over time, but then you just wash it with a little soap and water and it cleans right back up. It's grippy even when wet, even when oily. Curious if others do this, and what materials you use? ETA: Bonus too for me, I have size XL hands, and I can make the scales much thicker to suit my grip. |
|
Smaug:"I laid low the warriors of old and their like is not in the world today". 1 dedicated marksman who held his ground and kept shooting:"Haha bow go twang!"
|
[#1]
Originally Posted By Dragynn: Curious if others do this, and what materials you use? View Quote I've made it a few times, but not as slabs. My survival knives have micarta wrapped while wet directly to the tang. I let it harden and then grind to shape. I use various fabrics and I've used bankline and hemp cordage. I wish I had access t my pictures, but photobucket is a scam and facebook is fucking me because I am the guy with no smartphone, so they see that as a security issue.(if anyone knows a free photohost, let me know) |
|
|
[#2]
I've made quite a bit over the years. I use West System epoxy, but I did make the first few using fiberglass resin. The fiberglass resin would start setting too quick, epoxy has a much longer pot time. Walking through a craft store one time and saw a bunch of burlap in rolls 6" wide, all different colors. Finished a knife recently with lime green burlap, came out awesome, reminds me of a dragonfly. I've also used orange safety vest material on a little survival knife.
With the denim, try some alternating layers for contrast. Two layers of light/faded and two layers dark, and keep stacking like that. One-one is too fine a pattern, just kind of runs together, but 2-2 are thick enough layers that they come out looking great when contoured. |
|
|
[#3]
Can we get some pics??
|
|
|
[#4]
Originally Posted By wsix: I've made it a few times, but not as slabs. My survival knives have micarta wrapped while wet directly to the tang. I let it harden and then grind to shape. I use various fabrics and I've used bankline and hemp cordage. I wish I had access t my pictures, but photobucket is a scam and facebook is fucking me because I am the guy with no smartphone, so they see that as a security issue.(if anyone knows a free photohost, let me know) View Quote https://imgdump5.novarata.net/ |
|
Smaug:"I laid low the warriors of old and their like is not in the world today". 1 dedicated marksman who held his ground and kept shooting:"Haha bow go twang!"
|
[#6]
Nice! I really was hoping to see what actual blue colored blue jean micarta grips would look like on a pistol or knife...
|
|
|
[#7]
|
|
|
[#8]
I’ve done the same thing with denim. I worked exactly as you described but was damn messy to do. I’ve also used burlap and it also worked but aesthetically was not as good. I have a crate of felt in the garage of different colors I plan on experimenting with some day
|
|
|
[#9]
Originally Posted By wsix: Thanks Dragynn. Hemp wrapped micarta https://imgdump5.novarata.net/v4i1fi.jpg https://imgdump5.novarata.net/hymeiu.jpg Linen https://imgdump5.novarata.net/dqxa7c.jpg Bank line. https://imgdump5.novarata.net/cm1wem.jpg View Quote Very nice! Rustic looking and from what i've read pretty accurate historically, I read about people back in the day doing this and using tree resin for the binder. ![]() |
|
Smaug:"I laid low the warriors of old and their like is not in the world today". 1 dedicated marksman who held his ground and kept shooting:"Haha bow go twang!"
|
[#10]
Originally Posted By Curmudgeon762: I’ve done the same thing with denim. I worked exactly as you described but was damn messy to do. I’ve also used burlap and it also worked but aesthetically was not as good. I have a crate of felt in the garage of different colors I plan on experimenting with some day View Quote Have not tried felt, but have used fleece back in the day, not for knife scales but some custom fabrication and no weighted squeeze to get out excess, stuff turns out hard as nails, couldn't imagine it working too well for scales but I could be wrong. Have also wondered about trying towel material, might give an interesting looking texture to 'em. |
|
Smaug:"I laid low the warriors of old and their like is not in the world today". 1 dedicated marksman who held his ground and kept shooting:"Haha bow go twang!"
|
[#11]
I got the felt in a bunch of bright colors. I’m sure it will darken when the resin hits it but I’ll see what happens. I’d thought about using red rags or old towels/sheets etc but I mainly use rosewood for scales. The whole mycarta experiment was to do something different and to meet a requirement for the Compositr Materials merit badge a few of my Scouts were working on
|
|
|
[#12]
My first knife was layered blue jean pants material and cement from a fiberglass repair kit. Layers squeezed slightly in a clamp but wrapped in wax paper.
|
|
What we lost in the fire, we found in the ashes.
|
[Last Edit: Dragynn]
[#13]
Originally Posted By Ascendent: My first knife was layered blue jean pants material and cement from a fiberglass repair kit. Layers squeezed slightly in a clamp but wrapped in wax paper. View Quote Yep, got to use that wax paper. But I weigh mine down pretty heavily for the clamp, 40 pounds or better of steel weights. Makes for a "drier" micarta where you can really feel the texture. Got a knife from Buck that I just actually sold, but it had linen micarta and truthfully you could only tell it was micarta by looking at it closely, smooth and hard as a regular phenolic handle, kinda defeats the whole purpose of micarta IMO. |
|
Smaug:"I laid low the warriors of old and their like is not in the world today". 1 dedicated marksman who held his ground and kept shooting:"Haha bow go twang!"
|
[Last Edit: tsg68]
[#14]
Originally Posted By Dragynn: Yep, got to use that wax paper. But I weigh mine down pretty heavily for the clamp, 40 pounds or better of steel weights. Makes for a "drier" micarta where you can really feel the texture. Got a knife from Buck that I just actually sold, but it had linen micarta and truthfully you could only tell it was micarta by looking at it closely, smooth and hard as a regular phenolic handle, kinda defeats the whole purpose of micarta IMO. View Quote You sure it wasn’t a paper micarta and not linen? Many paper micartas just look like plastic. |
|
|
[#15]
Originally Posted By tsg68: You sure it wasn’t a paper micarta and not linen? Many paper micartas just look like plastic. View Quote Positive, as per Buck and from visual inspection, bought directly from Buck as a limited edition. I mean it was a 119, not a full exposed tang kinda knife, so maybe a rougher grippy micarta might have looked funny on a fixy knife with bolsters. |
|
Smaug:"I laid low the warriors of old and their like is not in the world today". 1 dedicated marksman who held his ground and kept shooting:"Haha bow go twang!"
|
[#16]
Tagged for info. I have a knife that could use scales.
|
|
I know I'll never go home.
So set fire to your ships, and past regrets, and be free. |
[#17]
Originally Posted By lukus: I've made quite a bit over the years. I use West System epoxy, but I did make the first few using fiberglass resin. The fiberglass resin would start setting too quick, epoxy has a much longer pot time. View Quote This is an important point, if anyone is considering using fiberglass resin but doesn't have any experience with it, I STRONGLY recommend you mix up a very tiny batch just to get a good idea of what your working time is. You can always adjust the mix a bit to compensate for temperature and working time, but there are downsides to that. Best case scenario, you work it in 70 degree temp, low humidity, and follow the basic recipe as that gives the best results. Too much hardener = dries too quick, and end product tends to be a little brittle Not enough hardener = dries too slow, end product is a little soft. But this is still better than too much hardener for this small project. Temp too hot = Dries way too fast, not enough time to do it right Temp too cold = Takes forever to dry, but this is still better than too hot, at least you'll have a lot of working time Get everything pre-cut, and then some, you will need more layers than what you think, better to have too many as you will be sanding to size anyway. Be very careful when you go to drill holes in the micarta for the screws or pins, you only get one shot to do it right, drill press is waaay better than doing it by hand. |
|
Smaug:"I laid low the warriors of old and their like is not in the world today". 1 dedicated marksman who held his ground and kept shooting:"Haha bow go twang!"
|
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.