Thread: Attempt at home made Micarta scales Flop

Well i tried to make my own micarta scales with colored construction paper and it didn't quite come out like the youtube videos i have watched so maybe you guys can help me out.

I used different colors and put them together using fiberglass resin and hardener.

When i clamped them together for a 24 hour time frame i took them off they seemed ok.

When i sawed them in half it seemed that the resin did not get in to all of the layers well so the paper came apart at the middle.

My guess is that i clamped them to tight and most of the resin seeped out.

Now i know i really clamped them tight on my vise grip(really tight)

Could that have been the problem or should i attempt some with fabric and see what happens?

Thank you for any advice you may have as i really want to get at least one straight with my own micarta scales done.

I have never made micarta ,but if it is only failing in a few places couldn't you re work it?

Good luck
Jonathan

the term you are looking for is called "wet out" and in paper it can be a reall problem in faster setting epoxy (it does not have time to soak inbefore it starts to set
fabric seems to work better but you need to be carful about the type of fabric vs resin (some kind of dont excepe the resin

I tried making some paper micarta once and it turned out exactly the same. It started peeling apart once I tried to cut it. Haven't tried it since, but been meaning to try fabric. Figured I would keep an eye on this post to learn something if I can.

This is going to be a learning thread for a few of us I guess. I too have watched the videos, however have not come to this on my project list yet. It makes perfect sense the if the resin set to quickly it wont have time to absorb, also there are different viscosity resins. I know it is possible to over clamp and starve out a glue joint as well. So what I'm trying to say is there could be multiple factors. It will be good when someone with experience comments.

Wet-out each sheet of paper before placing it down. Be VERY liberal with the resin. Pressure won't squeeze it away from the paper, in fact you likely had an air bubble that couldn't get squeezed out. I work in composites and we face this a lot. More pressure will actually help as long as it is evenly distributed! The key is to add more resin to each sheet and set a wet sheet on top of a wet sheet. Think about trying to squeeze out air-bubbles maybe we a squeegee (or credit card) before you move on to the next sheet! Fabric helps as the air cannot remain as trapped. it will force itself through the layers. Wet paper simply has to go out between the layers! I hope this helps!

Make sure that your paper is wet on both sides from the epoxy.

I make it like this way:
I use printing paper ,white& color paper
Make sure you have a flat onderground (wood or steel plate)
Then i lay a plastic garbage bag on that onderground than epoxy,a layerpaper,epoxy ect ect until you have the correct thickness. Make sure you spread the epoxy enough about your paper.
Then again some garbage bag plastic a upperlay of wood or steel plate or anything else you use.
Clamp for a day and you are ready to go. (sometimes is 24 u not not enough, epoxy dry the best whit 18 degree)
Good luck and have fun

This is all really great stuff, thanks for posting everyone!

So epoxy won't stick to the plastic bag or am I missing something?

I have used more than once those plastic bags. Epoxy dont stick on those bags.
Some people use backing paper but imo those bags are easier to remove from the material.

Note: make dure that the plastic lays flat otherwise you get not a flat surface and you must sand that out.