ivory paper micarta

[mcninch]

I made a knife with ivory paper micarta ,handle with nickel silver pins. how do you get black off the micarta , from buffing, whats the best compound to use , and best cleaning solution ?

[Ray Rogers]

You can try soap and water, that sometimes works. The best solution, of course, is not to get black stuff on there in the first place. To accomplish that, use a slow buffer because fast buffers can burn the compounds especially those containing aluminum. So, use compounds that don't contain aluminum. Finally, I like to wax the Micarta as heavily as I can before buffing. That way, if black stuff gets on there it's easier to wash it off ....

[mcninch]

thanks I will try that.

[AcridSaint]

If the black is rouge, you might try wd40. I've never buffed paper ivory, so I don't know if it will pick up some color from the oil, but the oil breaks down the rouge. You might want to try a scrap first, but it works for me on other micartas and handle materials that I've buffed.

[CWKnifeman]

Cap is right about the wd 40, it will take the black off of almost any material after buffing. Also, one of the best compounds to use for handles or almost anything else is Zam. I've been using it for over 14 years.
CUrtis Wilson