Micarta additives

[KPeacock]

I'm pretty interested in micarta handles. I've build a few boats from fiberglass and resin and am quite familiar with it's properties. I also have a gallons of the stuff laying around at various places where I would make these boats. As I was sanding a piece last night I thought of adding stuff to the micarta. Just as one can pattern weld steel to include certain shapes, one can do the same with the fabrics used in the makinf of the laminate. What would stop someone from adding steel or lead shot to the mix? If nothing else, it would certainly be unique.

 

I may make a test batch using some small bolts, an nuts added into the mixture. The blade I'm working on now started as a timing chain for a SBC engine. It only makes sense that the handle have some nuts and bolts in it.

 

Have any of you tried this or seen it attempted before? any thoughts?

 

Thanks,

 

Kris

[Willman]

I’ve never made Micarta, but I would think the bigger the object the more chance a void will form around it. If you use steel shot, you might try roughing it up a bit, to help it adhere to the cloth. Also, personally I would avoid using lead in a handle. But over all it sounds like an interesting idea.

 

Mike Willman

[KPeacock]

I agree with the lead concerns. I think No. 8 shot will be small enough that i on;t have to worry about weakening the handle too much. As far as lead concerns and toxicity goes, I'm not terribly worried about it. I reload my own shells as well as rifle rounds and side-arm ammunition. Heck, I'm killing the animal with lead, a little lead on the handle of the knife that skins it can't make much of a difference.

 

I'm working on my first micarta handle right now. depending on the finish of it, I may use some sort of a clear coat to provide a more lustrous finish. The jury is still out on that though. I'm just attempting all sorts of knife designs, metal, handles, and sheaths. Heck, I've even got a section of deer hide in the process of being tanned in an effort to make my own sheath leather as well. The end product is hopefully going to be a very functional and aesthetically pleasing knife for a good hunting buddy of mine that is to be married next summer.

 

All of this bladesmithing is new to me, so I'm trying all sorts of stuff to see what works for me.

 

thanks for your input,

 

Kris

[Beau Erwin]

Bound inside it might come out kinda interesting.

I just wonder how it'd shape afterwords.

 

I've done a little patterning, one way would be to layer up your fabric, place a sheet of wax paper over the top, and then spread the shot around ontop of the paper, and then place your top clamping board and squeeze it up tight, the shot would press into the layers disrupting their straight flow creating pattern.

 

Be interesting to see what it'd be like with chunks of stuff in it, the small shot would kinda interesting.

[JCWalker]

I don't like having anything that will rust in the handle. I helped make my own micarta from denim blue jeans and guerrila glue and a 40ton hydraulic press.

[Robert Mayo]

I think it would get hot when grinding and ruin the handle material.

 

Bob

[Beau Erwin]

Perhaps, but if it was small enough shot and you kept dunking it, it might turn out alright.

What I wonder is if you ground past the halfway mark if they'd pop out.

Might be better to just use the items to pattern it on the surface.

[DJPratt]

If you wanted a shot pattern in the handle why not inlay it later? you could just mark it out and drill small dimples and bed the shot in there with clear epoxy or casting resin polish off the extra then varnish over the top to prevent lead contamination. i wouldn't do it in a heavy use knife but i could see it being cool looking.

 

 

~~DJ

[KPeacock]

Many good points.

 

Ultimately, I can;t say what will happen when this is tried. Next time I make a batch of micarta, I'll smake a small batch with shot in it just to see what will happen. It does seem likely that it would get too hot during the shaping. It also seems like the shot woul pop out when 50%+ of the diameter is removed. I'll keep you posted.

 

Thanks,

 

Kris