ok but how brittle is Micarta REALLY
- Abyss_Fish
- Member
- Posts: 811
- Joined: Tue Apr 21, 2020 3:23 pm
- Location: Minnesota, USA.
ok but how brittle is Micarta REALLY
Hia, I ordered some paper micarta scales for my native 5 a while back. It was a big custom project, blade swapping a maxamet blade into a linerless g10 body with a deep carry clip, refinishing the hardware and then patiently waiting for some custom paper micarta scales to come along.
But as it's sat in my knife roll starring at me I've had a change of heart, I don't at all see the knife as something to idolize anymore but to USE. Which is the direction most of my collection has gone. I plan to swap the blade for an lc200n one, but those scales are still inbound. Should I be worried about that paper micarta snapping without any liners to support it? I mean if I crash on bike my bike or something and my 6'8 240 pound body slams into it, is there a chance my handles will fail? Should I just stick to g10 and sell off those scales when they get to me?
tl;dr, I started a native 5 build that started fancy but now I want to actually use it and I'm concerned about paper micarta breaking.
also this IS my first post, I could've sworn I had an account since I've been lurking for a year or so but apparently not.
But as it's sat in my knife roll starring at me I've had a change of heart, I don't at all see the knife as something to idolize anymore but to USE. Which is the direction most of my collection has gone. I plan to swap the blade for an lc200n one, but those scales are still inbound. Should I be worried about that paper micarta snapping without any liners to support it? I mean if I crash on bike my bike or something and my 6'8 240 pound body slams into it, is there a chance my handles will fail? Should I just stick to g10 and sell off those scales when they get to me?
tl;dr, I started a native 5 build that started fancy but now I want to actually use it and I'm concerned about paper micarta breaking.
also this IS my first post, I could've sworn I had an account since I've been lurking for a year or so but apparently not.
Lightly insane.
Current spydie collection: Watu, Rhino, UKPK Salt G10 bladeswap, Yojimbo 2 Smooth G10 Cru-Wear, Manix lw “mystic” 20cv, SmallFly 2, Waterway, Ladybug k390, Caribbean
Current favorite steels: sg2/R2, lc200n/Z-FiNit, 3v
Current spydie collection: Watu, Rhino, UKPK Salt G10 bladeswap, Yojimbo 2 Smooth G10 Cru-Wear, Manix lw “mystic” 20cv, SmallFly 2, Waterway, Ladybug k390, Caribbean
Current favorite steels: sg2/R2, lc200n/Z-FiNit, 3v
Re: ok but how brittle is Micarta REALLY
There is nothing to worry about.
Even paper micarta is very strong, and I think it will be as thick as standard G10 scales. And the handle itself is not that long, it is supported with steel backspacer.
I made knife scales from micarta, and it very hard to cut and shape. I even hit some scrap pieces with hammer and it can withstand some force.
Even paper micarta is very strong, and I think it will be as thick as standard G10 scales. And the handle itself is not that long, it is supported with steel backspacer.
I made knife scales from micarta, and it very hard to cut and shape. I even hit some scrap pieces with hammer and it can withstand some force.
In the pocket: Chaparral FRN, Native Chief, Police 4 K390, Pacific Salt SE, Manix 2 G10 REX45
- bearfacedkiller
- Member
- Posts: 11412
- Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2014 1:22 pm
- Location: hiding in the woods...
Re: ok but how brittle is Micarta REALLY
I am not too familiar with paper micarta but canvas micarta is quite tough. It is tougher than g10 which is tougher than CF.
Honestly, I think you would have to be really abusing your knife to have an issue.
Honestly, I think you would have to be really abusing your knife to have an issue.
-Darby
sal wrote:Knife afi's are pretty far out, steel junky's more so, but "edge junky's" are just nuts. :p
SpyderEdgeForever wrote: Also, do you think a kangaroo would eat a bowl of spagetti with sauce if someone offered it to them?
Re: ok but how brittle is Micarta REALLY
Hi Abyss_Fish,
Welcome to our forum.
sal
Welcome to our forum.
sal
-
- Member
- Posts: 174
- Joined: Sat Mar 09, 2019 10:26 am
Re: ok but how brittle is Micarta REALLY
The only paper micarta I own is on a Maserin E.D.C (Yes, that's what they called it.)
It seems pretty darn tough to me. I wouldn't worry about it at all. Good material!
It seems pretty darn tough to me. I wouldn't worry about it at all. Good material!
- kennethsime
- Member
- Posts: 4786
- Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2011 8:28 pm
- Location: California
Re: ok but how brittle is Micarta REALLY
One thing I've found is that canvas micarta tends to absorb moisture more than G10. You can pretty much wipe off G10, but Micarta soaks up the water as soon as it's wet. Not to yuck your yum, but I think I might pair the micarta handles with Maxamet as planned, and keep the LC200N in FRN. Micarta seems to go hand-in-hand with tool steels that you're not going to use around water anyway.
I've found my canvas micarta para 3 scales to be pretty durable, and very comfortable in hand.
I've found my canvas micarta para 3 scales to be pretty durable, and very comfortable in hand.
I'm happiest with Micarta and Tool Steel.
Top four in rotation: K390 + GCM PM2, ZCarta Shaman, Crucarta PM2, K390 + GCM Straight Spine Stretch.
Top four in rotation: K390 + GCM PM2, ZCarta Shaman, Crucarta PM2, K390 + GCM Straight Spine Stretch.
Re: ok but how brittle is Micarta REALLY
Hi Abyss_Fish,Abyss_Fish wrote: ↑Tue Apr 21, 2020 3:38 pmHia, I ordered some paper micarta scales for my native 5 a while back.....
I've done quite a lot of micarta testing over the past year or so. Hopefully I can offer you some helpful insights.
There's a lot of anecdotal information about micarta available on forums but I was finding differences between types of micarta so I decided I needed to run some tests in order to really understand the limits and difference of the various types available.
To first address your specific question about the paper micarta breaking, I would suggest it is not at all likely to break. Toughness comes in a lot of forms and the resistance to breaking should be a non issue for your Native. Wear resistance and chipping could be a little more of a concern, so I would prefer to use paper micarta on a knife with metal liners but I still think it will do just fine for you.
Here's some additional micarta info for you...
Paper micarta is somewhat flexible. That's one of the reasons I don't expect it to break on your Native. Here's some 1/8" paper micarta flexing more than the distance between Native scales.
In terms of impact resistance, paper micarta is better than cross-cut phenolic products and can take a lot of abuse. I pounded this sample 3 times on a concrete floor with a 32oz hammer and it did not fracture, split, crack and didn't really even dent much for that matter.
However, if I turned it on it's side and whacked the edge it wouldn't have done so well.
Water resistance...I've been testing all sorts of micarta (or phenolic products) in a variety of ways. For water resistance tests each sample was weighed and then soaked in water for 24 hours. Weights were checked at 30 minutes, 1 hr, 3 hrs, 12 hours and 24 hours. Some gained weight and some didn't. Specifically you can see the bone paper micarta sample in the center of the picture started at .30 oz and gained .02 oz in 24 hours. That's about a 6.6% increase in weight, indicating a fair amount of absorption. As a side note, the G-carta samples had zero weight gain.
So, I would suggest your paper micarta scales will not break, will absorb some water if soaked, and will likely show some wear at the edges over time. My biggest concern would be the pivot area. Will the washers be riding directly on the micarta? If so, I would suggest that could be the area of most concern as it will wear and it will also absorb oil from lubricating the pivot.
Best regards,
Chad
:spyder: Spyderco fan and collector since 1991. :spyder:
Father of 2, nature explorer, custom knife maker.
@ckc_knifemaker on Instagram.
Father of 2, nature explorer, custom knife maker.
@ckc_knifemaker on Instagram.
-
- Member
- Posts: 174
- Joined: Sat Mar 09, 2019 10:26 am
Re: ok but how brittle is Micarta REALLY
Awesome and authoritative info Chad! I for one would love to see more micarta on Spydercos!
- Abyss_Fish
- Member
- Posts: 811
- Joined: Tue Apr 21, 2020 3:23 pm
- Location: Minnesota, USA.
Re: ok but how brittle is Micarta REALLY
Wonderful information here. Thank you all.
Lightly insane.
Current spydie collection: Watu, Rhino, UKPK Salt G10 bladeswap, Yojimbo 2 Smooth G10 Cru-Wear, Manix lw “mystic” 20cv, SmallFly 2, Waterway, Ladybug k390, Caribbean
Current favorite steels: sg2/R2, lc200n/Z-FiNit, 3v
Current spydie collection: Watu, Rhino, UKPK Salt G10 bladeswap, Yojimbo 2 Smooth G10 Cru-Wear, Manix lw “mystic” 20cv, SmallFly 2, Waterway, Ladybug k390, Caribbean
Current favorite steels: sg2/R2, lc200n/Z-FiNit, 3v
-
- Member
- Posts: 639
- Joined: Tue May 08, 2018 10:04 pm
Re: ok but how brittle is Micarta REALLY
Since those spacers are further apart than it would be on a native, the angle of bending on a native would be more severe given its shorter distance. It's a good test, just not quite apples to apples. I think touching micarta scales on a linerless native would take more force than he needs to worry about.
-
- Member
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2011 12:20 pm
Re: ok but how brittle is Micarta REALLY
Agree here. Have always thought micarta was a superior material.Thunderpants wrote: ↑Wed Apr 22, 2020 1:34 pmI for one would love to see more micarta on Spydercos!
Re: ok but how brittle is Micarta REALLY
I agree. To clarify, I wasn't saying the scales will be flexible enough to touch one another by any means. I didn't think anyone was worried about that. In that picture I wasn't doing a test so much as I was taking a quick picture for the OP that would demonstrate the inherent flexibility that decreases the likelihood of the breakage he was concerned about. In an actual Native not only would the end points be closer together, but the entire spine side would not be allowed to flex and so the overall flex realized in the knife itself will be far less than what I demonstrated. The point was this material isn't too brittle or particularly prone to fracture in the context of a knife handle.BornIn1500 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 23, 2020 10:18 am
Since those spacers are further apart than it would be on a native, the angle of bending on a native would be more severe given its shorter distance. It's a good test, just not quite apples to apples. I think touching micarta scales on a linerless native would take more force than he needs to worry about.
:spyder: Spyderco fan and collector since 1991. :spyder:
Father of 2, nature explorer, custom knife maker.
@ckc_knifemaker on Instagram.
Father of 2, nature explorer, custom knife maker.
@ckc_knifemaker on Instagram.
Re: ok but how brittle is Micarta REALLY
I tend to agree with BFK about micarta. The few Micarta Spyders I still have are made of extremely tough material. Oh I'm sure there is cheap imitation micarta along with other handle materials.bearfacedkiller wrote: ↑Wed Apr 22, 2020 10:15 amI am not too familiar with paper micarta but canvas micarta is quite tough. It is tougher than g10 which is tougher than CF.
Honestly, I think you would have to be really abusing your knife to have an issue.
When I used to carry my older Micarta, VG-10 JD Smith model for about two years I put that knife through some really hard work and I never had the micarta handle material ever fail on me. I wish Spyderco would do some more Micarta models. But I can settle for their high quality G-10. G-10 has become about my favorite handle material in the past 5 years.
- dj moonbat
- Member
- Posts: 1488
- Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2010 11:58 am
- Location: Sunny SoCal
Re: ok but how brittle is Micarta REALLY
I think if you land hard enough on a knife to break its micarta scales, your real problem is going to be hospitalization.