Wacky idea: construction paper Micarta

I saw a tutorial online about making denim Micarta. Basically, wet strips of different shade denim with fiberglass resin, sandwitch in wax paper, clamp between two boards, let dry.

That gave me an idea. Buy one of those multicolored construction paper books that kids use for grade school projects. Leaving the binding intact, cut a 1.5" strip of the entire book. Separate the strip at the desired thickness. Wet each page with fiberglass resin, wrap in wax paper & clamp, just like with the denim Micarta.

What this should give you is a slab of laminated paper Micarta. As you sand it to different depths, different colors will show through. If you make scales that are smoothly radiused, this should produce a pleasing tie dye effect, much like Vernon Reid's guitar. (The effect was produced by painting the guitar in different colored layers, then sanding to different depths).

Worth trying? Anyone else ever try anything similar?

I read online about someone using cloth and they said you could use anything that would soak up the resin. I understand its a messy job.
If you give it a shot, let us know how it works.

Bob

I'd like to see pictures of scales made from that. Dymondwood or Diamond wood is multi layer plywood in which each thin layer is dyed a different color. It's been around for quite a long time. Maybe that's what the guitar you speak of is made from?

Chris L

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Originally Posted by Johnny J

I saw a tutorial online about making denim Micarta. Basically, wet strips of different shade denim with fiberglass resin, sandwitch in wax paper, clamp between two boards, let dry.

That gave me an idea. Buy one of those multicolored construction paper books that kids use for grade school projects. Leaving the binding intact, cut a 1.5" strip of the entire book. Separate the strip at the desired thickness. Wet each page with fiberglass resin, wrap in wax paper & clamp, just like with the denim Micarta.

What this should give you is a slab of laminated paper Micarta. As you sand it to different depths, different colors will show through. If you make scales that are smoothly radiused, this should produce a pleasing tie dye effect, much like Vernon Reid's guitar. (The effect was produced by painting the guitar in different colored layers, then sanding to different depths).

Worth trying? Anyone else ever try anything similar?

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My grandfather is a rockhound. One of the best pieces he's done was a section of ceiling from an ice cream parlor. He cut it, sanded it down, then laquored it. It showed over 20 different layers/colors of paint. It was magnificent.

I'm still cutting out some of Butch's mycarta for scales... got side tracked... I've got them rough shaped and ready for final shaping, just need some time alone to get it going again :p

I was thinking of doing the same type of thing with wood veneers.
Go for it! Fiberglass resin is cheap.

you could most likely make that work after a few mess ups :) i would be looking for a epoxy thats not bondo fiberglass for this tho as you get just 12 min to work with it (might suprize you how fast that goes when doing layers.

you ll also need at the least some plastic wrap and 2 good thick boards and a few C clamps

this is fun stuff to play with

I've thoguht for some time that silk would make an excellent very fine-grained micarta with good color, texture and gloss. And if a fellow wants colors, I think the local thrift shop would be full of silk neckties with all sorts of gaudy colors for about a quarter a piece.

I made liners for a pair of MOP scales on a small knife recently, black construction paper and epoxy, twerked like a charm. Good bonding, waterproof, and was a nice set-off for the white MOP. Was just a little hard to sand - kept leaving the fibers from the paper hanging out. Finally did a quick "singe" with a small butane torch, problem solved. Go for it!

try wetting or sealing with CA between handsanding grits that helps cut down fuzz

I would love to see pictures if someone tries this.

Years ago, I made a white linen micarta pipe tip (to match the fired kaolinite bowl) by wrapping 2-ton epoxy soaked linen tightly around the brass stem. It was very messy, but the results were good. The recipient liked the look, durability and feel when he smoked it. The tip was still going strong five years later, when I lost track of him. Just use a good epoxy (I prefer the slower curing varieties), eliminate any bubbles, and you're good to go. Mix the slow cure epoxies extremely well, and buy fresh stock to avoid excessive cure times.

Wayne