Micarta: Paper vs. Linen

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ucfgrad93

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Dec 13, 2017
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Can someone explain the difference between paper and linen micarta? Do you have a preference? Are they equally durable?
 
As long as the resins used are the same, Linen will be tougher. Paper micarta can chip in thinner cross sections (like on earlier milled Busse handles). Canvas may be slightly tougher still, but I can't see it being all that noticeable, unless you start getting into Kevlars and such.

They should be comparably resistant to chemicals, acids/bases, and other materials.

Traction when wet ranked from highest to lowest at 400 grit should be canvas, Kevlar, then burlap and linen tied, then paper.

The difference is the media impregnated with resin
Linen is linen, paper is paper.

Linen is a cloth layer then soaked in resin, add linen layer, resin soak, Linen layer, over and over, then compress til cured.

Paper micarta is the same practice, but using paper instead of linen. Due to the paper not having the tensile strength of linen, the threshold of fatigue is noticeably lower, and the micarta will chip. This is due to the resin not spreading the load over as large of an area due to not having the fibers to do so.
 
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NJBillK said:
As long as the resins used are the same, Linen will be tougher. Paper micarta can chip in thinner cross sections (like on earlier milled Busse handles). Canvas may be slightly tougher still, but I can't see it being all that noticeable, unless you start getting into Kevlars and such.

They should be comparably resistant to chemicals, acids/bases, and other materials.

Traction when wet ranked from highest to lowest at 400 grit should be canvas, Kevlar, then burlap and linen tied, then paper.

The difference is the media impregnated with resin
Linen is linen, paper is paper.

Linen is a cloth layer then soaked in resin, add linen layer, resin soak, Linen layer, over and over, then compress til cured.

Paper micarta is the same practice, but using paper instead of linen. Due to the paper not having the tensile strength of linen, the threshold of fatigue is noticeably lower, and the micarta will chip. This is due to the resin not spreading the load over as large of an area due to not having the fibers to do so.
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Thanks for the info. The reason I'm asking is that Knife Works has their exclusive Griptilian on sale for $170. I like it better than the gray g10/20CV griptilian from Benchmade. I was just wondering about the paper micarta scales and how they would hold up.
 
Under normal usage, they will be fine. If your knife sees hard usage and abuse, like one member that stopped a 20 yard dumpster from rolling away by stuffing his knife under the caster, then go with the tougher stuff.

You should be fine if you drop it onto a concrete floor, in the road, or on gravel, especially since the scales don't have too high of ridges. But if you have the potential to drop it off of a 20' ladder to a sidewalk, steer away from Paper.

I will update this with pics of my paper micarta.
 
NJBillK said:
Under normal usage, they will be fine. If your knife sees hard usage and abuse, like one member that stopped a 20 yard dumpster from rolling away by stuffing his knife under the caster, then go with the tougher stuff.

You should be fine if you drop it onto a concrete floor, in the road, or on gravel, especially since the scales don't have too high of ridges. But if you have the potential to drop it off of a 20' ladder to a sidewalk, steer away from Paper.

I will update this with pics of my paper micarta.
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What?!? Link to dumpster guy?!?
 
shinyedges said:
What?!? Link to dumpster guy?!?
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scottyj said:
I didn't drop my brand new ZT0909 by accident.........I threw it under a dumpster wheel to stop the dumpster from rolling away. It bent the liner, and chewed up the G10. It looks like ass now, but it is still serviceable, and I carry it daily. To fix the problem I went out, and bought a brand new 0909 to keep as a spare. OP...maybe pick up a duplicate, and use the dropped knife as a user? That's what I'd do. :thumbsup:
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Ok, so maybe I incorrectly recalled him saying it was a 20 yd. but as this was happening, I don't think it really mattered.
 
NJBillK said:
Ok, so maybe I incorrectly recalled him saying it was a 20 yd. but as this was happening, I don't think it really mattered.
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You are not incorrect sir. It was a brand new 20 yard box with greased rollers. I dropped it on a VERY slight decline. When I went to pick it up I bumped the rollers with the hoist, and it started to roll away. Not fast, but it was gaining momentum. Anything small enough to jam the roller will stop it. The 0909 was the perfect size. It actually slowed it down, and then rolled over the knife. I was able to find a rock to jam the wheel, and stop the box. Like I mentioned....the G-10 got chewed up, and a liner bent. Other than that the knife functions fine. Not one of my finer moments, but no one got hurt, and no property damage. Trust me......I learned from that experience.
Edit - For Bill. I too am in NJ. This dumpster incident happened in Teaneck.
 
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I have used paper micarta to make handles on a couple knives now and it seems to be pretty tough stuff. I have dropped a 3/16" foot long sheet of it from around chest hight, ran it over with my wheelchair, clamped it very hard in a vice with stantard metal jaws etc and have had no cracks or chips. The layers dont show on it as much as the linen micarta I bought and it also takes a very high polish. No traction what so ever though.
 
scottyj said:
You are not incorrect sir. It was a brand new 20 yard box with greased rollers. I dropped it on a VERY slight decline. When I went to pick it up I bumped the rollers with the hoist, and it started to roll away. Not fast, but it was gaining momentum. Anything small enough to jam the roller will stop it. The 0909 was the perfect size. It actually slowed it down, and then rolled over the knife. I was able to find a rock to jam the wheel, and stop the box. Like I mentioned....the G-10 got chewed up, and a liner bent. Other than that the knife functions fine. Not one of my finer moments, but no one got hurt, and no property damage. Trust me......I learned from that experience.
Edit - For Bill. I too am in NJ. This dumpster incident happened in Teaneck.
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True Hard Use! Ran over the knife, just chewed g10 and bent liner. How much does 20 yard box weigh? Some knives would a mangled mess! Reaffirms my trust in my ZTs.
 
NJBillK said:
As long as the resins used are the same, Linen will be tougher. Paper micarta can chip in thinner cross sections (like on earlier milled Busse handles). Canvas may be slightly tougher still, but I can't see it being all that noticeable, unless you start getting into Kevlars and such.

They should be comparably resistant to chemicals, acids/bases, and other materials.

Traction when wet ranked from highest to lowest at 400 grit should be canvas, Kevlar, then burlap and linen tied, then paper.

The difference is the media impregnated with resin
Linen is linen, paper is paper.

Linen is a cloth layer then soaked in resin, add linen layer, resin soak, Linen layer, over and over, then compress til cured.

Paper micarta is the same practice, but using paper instead of linen. Due to the paper not having the tensile strength of linen, the threshold of fatigue is noticeably lower, and the micarta will chip. This is due to the resin not spreading the load over as large of an area due to not having the fibers to do so.
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I find that paper micarta also seems to more readily take on a smoother texture with a higher “polish”

Linen and other cloth micartas seem to take a more textures surface generally.
 
I have paper micarta that will outlast me. I have no qualms with it's durability.

But I have no dumpsters that happen to reside on inclines anywhere near my residence. ;)

You go get yourself that exclusive micarta Grip... My guess is that you'll enjoy it for decades.
 
I'm going to be that guy...

I don't what you paid for your griptilian but looking at the big sites a grip plus 170 in scales bring you to used Sebenza on the low end and BNIB Sebenza on the high end. There is no way I'd spend Sebenza money on any non-automatic Benchmade.
 
ucfgrad93 said:
Thanks for the info. The reason I'm asking is that Knife Works has their exclusive Griptilian on sale for $170. I like it better than the gray g10/20CV griptilian from Benchmade. I was just wondering about the paper micarta scales and how they would hold up.
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...I bought one during KWs Thanksgiving sale; although I haven't used it to corral a runaway dumpster, I've dropped it a few times on hard surfaces without damage. It's a nice piece, and if you decide to get it I think you will be impressed with what you get for the price...micarta handles and M390...along with the Axis lock and Benchmade quality.
 
GermanyChris said:
I'm going to be that guy...

I don't what you paid for your griptilian but looking at the big sites a grip plus 170 in scales bring you to used Sebenza on the low end and BNIB Sebenza on the high end. There is no way I'd spend Sebenza money on any non-automatic Benchmade.
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He is speaking about the KnifeWorks exclusive M390 Grip that costs $170 with scales included, not a standard griptillian plus $170 scales.

S scottyj do you live in NJ, or just were you here for work?
 
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