Any tips for increasing the grippiness of FRN?

[boing]

The FRN on my Para 3 LW seems more slippery than my other FRN Spydercos, especially on the radii where it's not textured. It's not a problem when cutting, but all other handling tasks with this knife are more fumble-prone than any of my other knives. Before I start going at it with sandpaper I figured I'd see if there are any tried and true methods.

I don't want to use grip tape or similar, and for various reasons this probably won't be an EDC knife anyway, so replacement scales wouldn't be worth the cost.

Thanks.

 

[blame it on god]

Try giving it a good scrub with dawn? I dunno, I really REALLY like my para3 LW.

 

[Trvrdgr1234]

I believe Eric mentions that the FRN on the para was intended to be less grippy

 

[Lapedog]

Wear a rubber glove?

 

[WValtakis]

Stippling? Seems popular with the Glock guys...

 

[JD Spydo]

I've had some solvents like Acetone and Methylene Chloride along with MEK really give certain synthetic surfaces a more tacky feel to it. There are types of grip tape you can get at hardware stores that might help. Also as far as a really good chemical cleaning it's hard to beat "Bar Keeper's Friend" for a thorough cleaning that can give the surface a bit more of a tacky feel to it.

 

[uxo2]

Stippling

 

[fishface5]

Know anyone with a checkering file?

 

[John_0917]

You might have something on it, not really a need for more grip on FRN usually

 

[boing]

Thanks for the suggestions. I’ve cleaned the scales, it’s just the way the material is. MEK would probably get me closest to what I want as far as surface texture, but I doubt I could control the application and removal well enough to keep from buggering it up. My stippling efforts haven’t been too rewarding, either.

 

[Fonedork]

Put honey on them

 

[Darkpast]

buy micarta scales

 

[AF]

I think stippling is the way to go. If you didn't have much success maybe try a new technique. I used a pointy scribe to make a stippled texture on my Centofante 3. Worked pretty well.
Did the same on my Fox Vox Core.

 

[lovescamaros]

sandblasting gives a nice light texture and depending on grit and pressure with frn its a solid choice.

 

[archieblue]

You could scuff it up with some lower grit sandpaper

 

[Cscotttsss]

That is my only gripe with the Para 3 LW and never really noticed it until I sharpened it, a Delica and a Native 5. Unfortunately I don't think there is anything to be done and me personally wouldn't try to modify it in anyway. It's a great knife and it honestly doesn't bother me enough to worry.

 

[boing]

I tried sandpaper with so-so results. Then a Dremel with a wire wheel, which only polished it more smooth. I ended up using a 6” bench grinder with a wire wheel. The grippiness is fantastic, and it doesn’t look too hacked up, either. We’ll have to see how it wears over time.