G Carta

[bike4fun919 OpbunchKnives]

I just recently started using G Carta. Interesting and beautiful material IMHO.
Anyone else use it and if so how do you sand and finish it.

I’ve found that taking it to 220 grit with dry sanding and then switching to wet sanding produces the best results for me.

For those that have used it what’s your finish method.

 

[tim37a]

What is G Carta?

 

[bike4fun919 OpbunchKnives]

G-carta is a unique composite of natural fibers and fabrics mixed with epoxy under pressure and heat.
Check out David Mary post. He has pictures.

 

[MasonOstrom]

I just recently started using G Carta. Interesting and beautiful material IMHO.
Anyone else use it and if so how do you sand and finish it.

I’ve found that taking it to 220 grit with dry sanding and then switching to wet sanding produces the best results for me.

For those that have used it what’s your finish method.

I’ve only use it twice, but I have more of it waiting to be used. I had a hell of a time getting it to a smooth satin finish without dulling the colors. The whole in the pieces I used turned to a dull yellow/brown.

 

[Joshua Fisher]

I’ve used it once, the piece I had wasn’t fully saturated with resin, extremely fuzzy like I was just working with fabric and I could easily bend and snap the material by hand. In my opinion it doesn’t even come close to comparing to properly made industrial micarta.

 

[MasonOstrom]

My piece ground the same way. When it gets hot it becomes very soft and flexible and expands. I think the epoxy resin vs phenolic resin. The epoxy seems to be much less temp stable.

 

[Lorien]

I'm going to invent Magna CartaTM, and it will be available to everyone equally

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Congrats Lorien. I have waited for that pun for many years.

 

[Lorien]

Congrats Lorien. I have waited for that pun for many years.

first of all, I'd like to thank all the little people. If it wasn't for them and their guillotine, we'd all be shovelling coal

 

[Blankblank]

Similar experience to others here. I used some for a couple blades not long ago.

I think when polishing my course of action was taking it up to 220 on belts. Then switched to hand sanding. Once i was to 400, i wetsanded it. Just used water and wet or dry paper. Keeping it wet while doing that seemed go make the process a lot easier. I took it up to 3000. Just because with the particular stuff i was using it needed a high polish to show any kind of detail.

It definitely had more voids and stuff than i would expect from actual micarta. But it was the ragcarta if that makes any difference.

 

[A.McPherson]

I'm going to invent Magna CartaTM, and it will be available to everyone equally

Maybe it's made with grinding dust from MagnaCut?

 

[Robert Erickson]

I've used a fair amount of it and like it for its uniqueness. I think they've improved their process where I see fewer voids.

I find that I finish it similarly to other handle materials in that after I rough in the shape to around 120 grit with my contact wheel I then lightly grind the scratch marks holding the knife handle at a 90 degree using my rotary platen, I use flexible 120 and 220 belts. That has decreased the hand sanding time by a bit.

I then hand sand starting at 120 through 600 grit. At the 220 grit point I wet sand with Danish oil up to 600 grit. Then a few more coats of Danish oil and the finish is still grippy but smooth.

 

[bike4fun919 OpbunchKnives]

I’m getting better results using WD40 for wet sanding.

 

[ChristoDart]

I do the same as you. I wet sand with windex/water mix then rub on some carnauba car wax. I’ve had issues with it warping with compound handles though. I still use it though.
https://i.imgur.com/HFl5UdY.jpg