Micarta question

[ironraven]

Greetings and salutations.  Long time watcher, and I've decided to get around to asking real questions.

I've got an idea for doing micarta using some camouflage cloth- probable woodland for the first, but maybe multicam down the road. So my question is, is this even feasible? I know the top layer will have the pattern, but there will be a lot of layers. Is this going to look like poo, or do people think it will actually work?

Also, what recommendations would people make for the epoxy, and are there any tutorials for making and working Micarta, keeping in mind I have access to hand tools, a dremel and a toaster oven (for upcoming Kydex experiments) if it will help. If I can figure out a way to add channels to make Plus-type scales for SAKs (and maybe for small fixed blades), I have a buyer all lined up for a Huntsman with multicam scales.

[Sparky415]

Welcome IronRaven 
It's doable but I don't know how it will turn out with all those
colours it might just look a mess 

There's a how to thread here

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,25042.0.html

I cut mine up on a band saw and belt sander,
A hacksaw, Files, sand paper and a dremel will all work as-well (don't forget your mask) 
Don't forget to take some pictures as I'm still learning 

[ironraven]

I was wondering if there was more than that, Sparky. But if not... cool, even I can't screw it up. When you pressed it during the cure, how did you keep the boards  you were using from pressure from sticking the laminate though? Although if I can get the grain... hmmm, that might not be a bad idea so I have something to give it a grippyier surface texture.

And alternatively, I'm thinking one layer of camo for the surface, then subdued colors under it for most of the thickness.

[Sparky415]

This is the first time I've made any so I'm no expert 
I used grease proof paper that you use for cooking but it still stuck to the finished micata

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greaseproof_paper

There's another tutorial here 

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/content.php?82-Home-grown-micarta-(picture-intensive)

The textured surface thing sounds like a good idea 

Oh yea;
This stuff makes everything sticky and gets everywhere so get everything you need ready before you start! 
when you tighten the clamps it will run out the edge and drip on stuff in the night
I didn't have any gloves so I used an old paintbrush and still got covered 

[Sparky415]

Ironraven
Hows your project going?
(I only ask so I can post this  )

My latest go
I used an old HiViz vest and black cotton Tshirt
I used two layers of orange top and bottom, as the orange is thinner than the black I should have use two pieces of orange for every layer 

[Zed]

This is the first time I've made any so I'm no expert 
I used grease proof paper that you use for cooking but it still stuck to the finished micata

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greaseproof_paper

There's another tutorial here 

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/content.php?82-Home-grown-micarta-(picture-intensive)

The textured surface thing sounds like a good idea 

Oh yea;
This stuff makes everything sticky and gets everywhere so get everything you need ready before you start! 
when you tighten the clamps it will run out the edge and drip on stuff in the night
I didn't have any gloves so I used an old paintbrush and still got covered 

looking good tony, and that artical on the britishblades forum is cool, love the look of jeans on that knife 

[Sparky415]

I was really inspired by a guy called warren on that site who makes great knives and handles 
He uses all sorts of materials including HiViz vests 

[Zed]

I was really inspired by a guy called warren on that site who makes great knives and handles 
He uses all sorts of materials including HiViz vests 

not to sound stupid tony but what is a hiviz vest 

[Sparky415]

Sorry Mate
When you drive down a motorway, you enter the roadworks and see 6 blokes watching one bloke work....They are all wearing HiViz jackets 

[Zed]

Sorry Mate
When you drive down a motorway, you enter the roadworks and see 6 blokes watching one bloke work....They are all wearing HiViz jackets 

lol stupid me i get it now    infact have 2 in my cupboard, 

[Sparky415]

Its probably my countryside accent (We just call them Hivi's at work) 

[Zed]

Its probably my countryside accent (We just call them Hivi's at work) 

 

[ryan1835]

we call them a pain in the arse at my work

[ironraven]

  Uh... hasn't gotten past the planning stages. I have moved since I asked- it was the availability of workspace with the new place that had me thinking of this. I'm in research right now, which is a fancy way of saying unpacking, finding everything, and waiting for slightly warmer weather- we've had well over a foot since I asked this, to. 

Although your orange and black is purty. I'm wondering... if you have a region of say two or three layers where it is split in two or more peices along the length of it, so you get something like a red-black-red block pattern, would it degrade the strength too much? Especially if you did something like put spectra or kevlar cord in between each layer. I'm still trying to figure out how to make the camo idea work. Making sure the paper fits would be easy enough- the different pieces together. 

[Sparky415]

This is how my O/B micata turned out
(I have something else drying at the min, show you tomorrow)
Its another chunky chap 





It actually looks duller in real life but the flash on my camera made it stand out a bit 

[Sparky415]

I used all my offcuts of O/B micata to make a little knob for a fero rod
The layers of orange and black didn't line up in this block is that what you meant here 

Although your orange and black is purty. I'm wondering... if you have a region of say two or three layers where it is split in two or more peices along the length of it, so you get something like a red-black-red block pattern, would it degrade the strength too much? Especially if you did something like put spectra or kevlar cord in between each layer. I'm still trying to figure out how to make the camo idea work. Making sure the paper fits would be easy enough- the different pieces together. 

It might go on a diet oneday as its also chunky

[Threeme2189]

That fero rod handle looks AWESOME!!!!

[Sparky415]

Thanks Threeme 

Its been on a bit of a diet will post a new pic later or tomorrow 

[Neil]

I think the thinner orange stripes works really well actually

[Sparky415]

Thats better 

[ironraven]

Yeah, had a feeling I might not have been at my most coherent.

So in the example of your orange-black (which I might steal, after halloween papers go to clearance), what if rather than being orange and black layers, you were to have the hi-viz orange right beside hi-viz green to give it a front/back color scheme, with black through the full length. I've stuck an image at the end to give a rough idea. Basically, it would be a layer with a seam in it. I know it would be a weakpoint, but with long threads between each sheet of material it might not be as bad, particularly if I don't have a straight border but the orange and green shift back and forth some.

Now, with the firesteel handle, I assume it is two pieces that were inletted and glued? Becuase a particularly masochistic part of my brain was thinking of something like that but where the laminate was molded around a rat tail tang.

[Sparky415]

I think your idea will work,
If its for scales I don't think you want the strength that you need if you were making a glass fiber repair for example 

I made the handle by cutting up the off cuts and stacking them together with resin A on to B etc
they were wedge shaped because the orange was too short in places so I turned each one through 180 degrees to make a square block
(I would have taken pics but everything gets sticky)
I ended up with a squarish block that I drilled a hole in and 'turned' on my 'lathe'

[ryan1835]

you should really think about selling some of your stuff tony it looks ace

[Sparky415]

Sometimes you think a job is finished but when you look at it later you see that something else needs to be done   

I saw a knife on another site which inspired me to get this out to play with 



These are wet in the pictures, they are quite dull when they are dry so I think I need to seal them with some more resin

[Metropolicity]

WHOOOA

I love the 3Dness of the scales! now that's something you can't let go of...literally.

[Neil]

...

(Image removed from quote.)

   That is so cool!

Sorry only just found noticed this 

[Sparky415]

...

(Image removed from quote.)

   That is so cool!

Sorry only just found noticed this 

I never thought to bring it to the meet
I sealed it with resin and it needs a polish/rub down
I wonder where I have put it