Is micarta impervious to engine oil?

[Easyrider]

It is a little late ask if micarta won't soak up engine oil but I still would like to know.
Anyone know if I get a significant amount of new engine oil on green micarta covers if they are damaged?

 

[J_Curd]

If they are "roughed up" they will take a surface stain.

 

[scruffuk]

I they are roughed up, they will also take a bit more roughing up if you need to clean em.

 

[Easyrider]

Thank you but the.micarta is polished smooth. I should be ok then?
I dropped my knife into a small tray and covered it with 0-20 weight oil for a thorough oiling after I had cleaned it. It should open nicely now.

 

[scruffuk]

I think it'll be okay. Give it a good couple of cleans with washing up liquid.
It'll likely be unharmed.

 

[MT Damascus]

I have a T. Bose Zulu that we use the heck out of, polished micarta. It has seen everything form blood, grease , fat and all kind of different oils, sometimes it looks like it stained, until I clean it with dish soap and it comes out looking clean and stain free.

 

[Rockon75]

I think GEC gives them a warm oil bath before final inspection and sharpening. I'm recalling this from a walk through from about 4 years ago, so I may be wrong. If I'm correct, they all get a bath......

 

[Easyrider]

Very cool gentlemen, thank you. I will wash the micarta with dish detergent when I get home

 

[NJBillK]

Take a look at this thread:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/407828-Micarta-damage

There was more done to Micarta there than I have seen anywhere else. That thread has single handedly sold me on the material for my personal needs and wants.
Add in my own personal experiences with it and I am absolutely content.

 

[Macchina]

Micarta is a porous material (cloth, linen, paper, etc.) that has resin forced in every last pore under pressure. The result it a material that is no longer porous and therefore can't soak up anything further aside from a bit of surface adhesion if you rough up the micarta and expose the very outer layer of the base material.

Micarta is awesome stuff. We use it a lot to make some heavy duty machine tables and fixtures. It is incredible how long that stuff lasts (I've NEVER seen micarta that has been "worn out").

 

[Easyrider]

It came out just fine!!! I am a micarta convert now. Between the oil soak and taking a file to the tang it opens nice and smooth!
There appeared to be a bit of galling so I took a jeweler's file and lightly knocked down the gall/highpoint on the tang. Worked out rather well.