Micarta Handle

[JakeR]

I went to the beach today and dropped my sheath (knife included) in the sand, i thought nothing of it but when i took it out, the handle was badly scratched. I was wondering if there was a way of repairing it.

Also...how is micarta made? Is it fixed all the way through, so if it is damaged it wont just fall apart?

Cheers,

Jake

 

[sargey]

if you think that fibre glass is a resin with glass fibres running through it providing strength and abrasion resistance, micarta is a resin with other sorts of substrates running through it, canvas,linen, paper. it's ver tough and solid, you can sand it, file it, or grind it.

cheers, and.

 

[Martyn]

I went to the beach today and dropped my sheath (knife included) in the sand, i thought nothing of it but when i took it out, the handle was badly scratched. I was wondering if there was a way of repairing it.

Also...how is micarta made? Is it fixed all the way through, so if it is damaged it wont just fall apart?

Cheers,

Jake

Jake, I cant imagine it was that badly scratched just from contact with sand. You can touch up the finish with sandpaper if you like, but I wouldn't bother. If you sand the handle every time you get a blemish on the surface, you'll sand away the knife well before the end of it's useful life. Just leave it as is and accept the minor blemishes as "character" in a working knife.

 

[JakeR]

Thanks guys, I was just worried that it could get worse. I wanted it to be a working knife, and im not worried about the look of it, its just i dont want it cracking etc!

Cheers,

Jake

 

[Martyn]

It wont crack unless you give it enough abuse as to invalidate any normal use warranty. The linnen micarta used on the woodlore is made by stacking hundreds of layers of linnen, then impregnating with and epoxy like resin under pressure. The result is a highly cpmpacted and extremely tough material, that is far more durable than any wood. It wont shrink, it wont expand, it wont warp, it wont twist, it's water-proof and thermally resilliant. You can sand and shape it like wood (and therefore obviously you can scratch it), but it's minor surface damage only.

 

[Adi007]

Was the damage at the flared end of the handle, where the micarta layers are at their thinnest? If so, I can see how you might have taken off a few chunks of it from there but I would thisn that nevertheless it's still just cosmetic damage.

 

[JakeR]

No its from the handle itself, its ok, I dont mind cosmetic damage, its the real damage i worry about! But i also notices there is a *tiny* gap at the end of the blade between the metal and the handle. I dont think it is something to worry about though.

Cheers,

Jake

 

[Hoodoo]

Jake, I'm thinkin' it depreciated quite a bit. You might consider cutting your losses and selling it and buying a new one. How much do you want for it, given it's pitiful state?

 

[Martyn]

Jake, I'm thinkin' it depreciated quite a bit. You might consider cutting your losses and selling it and buying a new one. How much do you want for it, given it's pitiful state?

Goot point Hoodoo, it's cant be worth more than a fiver now. Tell you what Jake, I'll do you a favour and give you £10 for it, but dont tell the wife, she thinks I'm a soft touch.

 

[JakeR]

Okay guys! Enough pulling! Just 'cos i worry, some people...
Call me paranoid!
Thanks Martyn, i think your being more than generous!
:rolmao:

I lost my waterstone BTW.

 

[Adi007]

I was just about to post that I don't like to carry waterstones in the field (or ceramic for that matter) as you tend to find yourself coming back with 2 ... two pieces that is! I much prefer diamond for field carry ...

... but if you are going to lose them first, it makes no odds!

 

[JakeR]

i am gonna drive to B&Q and hopefully pick up a DMT. They look like a good introduction to diamond.

 

[Martyn]

Thanks Martyn, i think your being more than generous!
:rolmao:

.

No problem Jake, generous to a fault, that's me. :-D

 

[Adi007]

Thanks Martyn, i think your being more than generous!
:rolmao:

.

No problem Jake, generous to a fault, that's me. :-D

At least we didn't try the "damaged micarta is poisonous" routine on Jake!

 

[Hoodoo]

I don't know what a fiver is but it can't be very much. I'll double the offer. :-D

 

[Adi007]

I don't know what a fiver is but it can't be very much. I'll double the offer. :-D

Wow, a thousand for the knife - that's generous ... Just kidding!

Fiver = £5 = GBP£5
Tenner = £10 = GBP£10

Add to the confusion all the slang that abounds, here is a small sample:

Pony = £25
Monkey = £500 (the term monkey supposedly came from soldiers returning from India, where the 500 rupee note had a picture of a monkey on it)

 

[JakeR]

Hoodoo, Adi's lying... a fiver is a cheque with £500 written on it. If your willing to double, im willing to accept!

At least we didn't try the "damaged micarta is poisonous" routine on Jake!

Hmmm, that would have been interesting .

I just went to the garden center and bought myself a "Green Gem Proffessional" Axe for a fiver (pretty expensive, hoodoo). Has anyone ever used one of these?

Cheers,

Jake

 

[Hoodoo]

I can write you a check for £500 but I don't have any £ in my bank, just $. :-D

 

[JakeR]

It'll do!

 

[Hoodoo]

I'll bet! :mrgreen:

I'll tell ya what. I already have a WS Micarta and there's not a single scratch on the handle. I'll send you mine and you send me your old dilapidated one and £250 and we'll call it square. :-D