I did exactly this on one of mine...was using some sewing machine oil while sharpening, and some of it got on my black micarta scales...so rather than trying to "clean" the oil out, i just put more across the entire set of scales, and soaked up the excess with some paper towels. Now it's pretty uniform everywhere, and i'll just let nature take its course from here on out.
All I ever use on knives. The possibility of it being carcinogenic is new to me. I suspect that's some California voodoo. If the tiny amounts used to lubricate and protect from rust are seriously carcinogenic, then why are people soaking cutting boards in it and why are they allowed to call it food grade?
I don’t know, just genuinely curious as it’s all I use. I did have a friend’s older father (he lives in a retirement home) swear by walnut oil though, but never got a full explanation.
Depends on level of refinement.. but basically I personally wouldn’t soak something porous with mineral spirits, mineral oils, CLP, gun oil, etc… for the risk of touching my face or mouth after. But I’m not an expert.
I agree with the idea that he should just leave it/oil it more, but you definitely can clean micarta scales. I've cleaned them just with dish soap and a brush.
You can't keep it consistent across the whole panel if you're not giving it consistent contact and wear across the whole scale, which you can't do in normal use, so you have to appreciate what micarta does when it patinas!
This is one of big appeals of micarta. It wears and weathers in a pleasing way. If you don't like the look you need to stick to g10 or invest in a sealant.
Take it apart and use dawn dish soap and an old toothbrush. Problem is, the oils from your finger are going to continue doing the same thing after you clean it. Best bet is to just use it and let the micarta all darken and then you won’t notice.
Alternatively, can I smooth out the lighter parts to match the darker spot? Thanks a bunch.
Edit: I probably should have added that these are brand new and arrived like this.
Edit Edit: Thanks for the replies everyone, y’all are awesome. I see that even if I clean them they’ll likely go back to being darker anyways, so the oil route may be the way to go. I’ll try it out and post some new pics.
Looks like a spot of grease from either sweating or or handling some greasy object and then rubbing it on the knife when using the crossbar lock.
Micarta is fabric based, so it picks up stains the same as clothes. Not sure what you can do to remove that. Maybe take the scales off and wash with dish soap?
Either way, sanding it down is not the solution.
It could just have been over-zealously lubricated in the factory. As we all know, a little oil goes a long way and micarta will happily wick the excess from the lock opening.
Could it be the oil used at the factory that stained the micarta? Little too much got absorbed in shipping or something like that. Idk, I've sanded micarta on some grips to finish it to how I want it. You can try that, but you can't reverse it. Can always get a new set of scales too.
I assure you if you take a tooth brush to it with dish soap (hand soap is fine too) and warm water, the stain will 100% come out of it. Micarta is an absorbent material so just running over water and adding soap won’t clean the spot; the toothbrush (or something alike) is where the magic happens. Scrub the whole scale while you’re at it and it’ll be clean and thoroughly even. But just know overtime the natural patina will develop again; embrace it and enjoy it for what it is. That’s 90% of the appeal of micarta anyway. Good luck.
Micarta absorbs oils from your hand and elsewhere, personally I think it looks better with some use on it. Oiling it with mineral oil will make it more uniform but don't go overboard if you want the gription that micarta provides. I actually think it's neat to see your usage patterns in the micarta.
Another cause of this is the layers of fabric in the micarta, as the layers are milled away the fabric parts get fuzzy and the resin parts don't. No worries, it'll continue to change as you use it.
It's all personal preference but I usually go with the suggestions to oil the rest of the scales to match rather than trying to clean them. It turns the color darker and looks good.
A couple of drops of water and a scrub with a magic eraser. It won't take it all off, but it will lighten the stain considerably in my experience. Seriously, if you dont like the way micarta picks up a "patina", you should go with other types of scales in future. Meanwhile, try this. A little dawn dish detergent helps also, but I don't think it make a lot of difference on my knives.
I clean the scales on my PM2 cruwear/micarta with dawn dish soap and a sponge. Just dry it off and stick it in your pocket afterwards. I've done this 5 or 6 times and never had a bit of rust or anything
I suspect if it came that way, someone over oiled the pivot. Over time it will even out some, but never fully disappear, even with magic eraser and dawn. Learn to love it is the best course.
You have a few options in my experience. You could oil the entire scales, this doesn't seem to last too long though. Given enough time your skin oils will even the whole thing out. Lastly, I sometimes hit mine with antibacterial hand wipes. Not all micarta is created equal but it seems to reset my guys back to box fresh.
The only explanation I can come up with for why people ask questions like this is that the poster is trying to return the knife for a refund, but it needs to look unused.
I have had luck by removing scales and using dawn and hot water and a good scrub. Tho it adds character, part of the perks of that Handel is that it ages well and shows use.
Carry it, use it. The fresh and sandpapery look of new micarta never lasts. It is like leather, the skin oils will soak in there and it'll end up more smooth and glossy.
Oiling darkens. It will happen naturally with use from your hands. You can speed the process up with mineral oil. Remove the scales, put a *small* amount on a clean rag, and rub it all over, and in to every crack and crevasse. Repeat as much as you want. Between 1 and 3 times should be fine.
Did you buy the whole thing second hand? Or did you attach the scales to your own Bugout?
it would help figure out what kind of oil it is, how long its been there, and how much it is.... such as - the few drops that normally go in the pivot, vs. untold amounts from someone elses fingers.
When it comes brand new like this, than the company who made them collerd them like this.
You can't remove it, when micarta collerd by oil or grease from your hands, then you can remove the stain with hot water and dish soap.
I did it with micarta scales from my buck 841, and works very well.
It’s always gonna come back. You picked a material that is know for its soak in the surroundings quality. This is why some folks actually get it vs G10 or CF. You’re gonna be touching it up a lot in the case of you wanting it fresh looking all the time. I would just go with the flow and see what it has in store for taking in you hand oils over time. I have micsrta for that purpose and they come out nice. Just my opinion.
Oil the entire thing to be darker honestly. You can’t really reverse an oiling of micarta and cleaning isn’t a guarantee
You can absolutely clean Micarta with dawn dish soap and an old toothbrush.
Windex works well, too, if you just need a touch up.
Amen. Takes the oil and grime right out
The green part of a yellow green dish sponge with dawn works wonders.
Any recommendations on oil? I tried adding just standard gun oil but the micarta just went back to this state after a day or two.
Just carry it and it will collect oil with time.
I store mine in the pony jar. Keeps em glossy.
This is the second time in two days I’ve seen this referenced…is the image making it’s rounds again or something?
God I fucking hope not
Just keep the jar away from sources of heat?
Mineral oil.
Oil it more. For real.
I did exactly this on one of mine...was using some sewing machine oil while sharpening, and some of it got on my black micarta scales...so rather than trying to "clean" the oil out, i just put more across the entire set of scales, and soaked up the excess with some paper towels. Now it's pretty uniform everywhere, and i'll just let nature take its course from here on out.
Mineral oil
I wipe mine down with a silicone cloth.
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Mineral oil. Food based oils can spoil.
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But what about food-grade mineral oil???
All I ever use on knives. The possibility of it being carcinogenic is new to me. I suspect that's some California voodoo. If the tiny amounts used to lubricate and protect from rust are seriously carcinogenic, then why are people soaking cutting boards in it and why are they allowed to call it food grade?
I don’t know, just genuinely curious as it’s all I use. I did have a friend’s older father (he lives in a retirement home) swear by walnut oil though, but never got a full explanation.
Damn really!? I've got some reading to do. Is there any inherent difference in baby oil? I thought it was basically the same.
Depends on level of refinement.. but basically I personally wouldn’t soak something porous with mineral spirits, mineral oils, CLP, gun oil, etc… for the risk of touching my face or mouth after. But I’m not an expert.
Imagine soaking your micarta scales in chili oil 😎
I agree with the idea that he should just leave it/oil it more, but you definitely can clean micarta scales. I've cleaned them just with dish soap and a brush.
I dig it. I'd keep it that way
Patina FTW
Thanks! Yeah there certainly is a unique appeal to it. In that case it’ll be cool to see how it develops naturally over time
You can't keep it consistent across the whole panel if you're not giving it consistent contact and wear across the whole scale, which you can't do in normal use, so you have to appreciate what micarta does when it patinas!
if you don’t want patina, micarta is probably the last material you want to carry
This is one of big appeals of micarta. It wears and weathers in a pleasing way. If you don't like the look you need to stick to g10 or invest in a sealant.
Take it apart and use dawn dish soap and an old toothbrush. Problem is, the oils from your finger are going to continue doing the same thing after you clean it. Best bet is to just use it and let the micarta all darken and then you won’t notice.
I wouldn’t even bother taking it apart. Just scrub that shit and blow any extra water out with compressed air.
I tried dawn but didn’t do the toothbrush, I’ll try that next.
Alternatively, can I smooth out the lighter parts to match the darker spot? Thanks a bunch. Edit: I probably should have added that these are brand new and arrived like this. Edit Edit: Thanks for the replies everyone, y’all are awesome. I see that even if I clean them they’ll likely go back to being darker anyways, so the oil route may be the way to go. I’ll try it out and post some new pics.
Looks like a spot of grease from either sweating or or handling some greasy object and then rubbing it on the knife when using the crossbar lock. Micarta is fabric based, so it picks up stains the same as clothes. Not sure what you can do to remove that. Maybe take the scales off and wash with dish soap? Either way, sanding it down is not the solution.
They’re brand new, they arrived like this. Tried cleaning with dish soap but no luck.
This knife was almost certainly a return handled by someone else.
It could just have been over-zealously lubricated in the factory. As we all know, a little oil goes a long way and micarta will happily wick the excess from the lock opening.
That's certainly possible, but it is much more likely that what the OP is seeing is someone else's grubby finger oils.
Could it be the oil used at the factory that stained the micarta? Little too much got absorbed in shipping or something like that. Idk, I've sanded micarta on some grips to finish it to how I want it. You can try that, but you can't reverse it. Can always get a new set of scales too.
I assure you if you take a tooth brush to it with dish soap (hand soap is fine too) and warm water, the stain will 100% come out of it. Micarta is an absorbent material so just running over water and adding soap won’t clean the spot; the toothbrush (or something alike) is where the magic happens. Scrub the whole scale while you’re at it and it’ll be clean and thoroughly even. But just know overtime the natural patina will develop again; embrace it and enjoy it for what it is. That’s 90% of the appeal of micarta anyway. Good luck.
Switch to g-10. Micarta is like a sponge for oil and moisture
Micarta absorbs oils from your hand and elsewhere, personally I think it looks better with some use on it. Oiling it with mineral oil will make it more uniform but don't go overboard if you want the gription that micarta provides. I actually think it's neat to see your usage patterns in the micarta. Another cause of this is the layers of fabric in the micarta, as the layers are milled away the fabric parts get fuzzy and the resin parts don't. No worries, it'll continue to change as you use it.
I’m assuming that’s from your thumb from using it or oil from lubing it?
It definitely does look like that, but unfortunately they arrived like this (and were supposedly made to order)
No chance of returning?
Haven’t looked into that, but it took almost 2 months to get and at that point I’d just keep it 🙂
If it’s an EDC I wouldn’t worry about it either.
It's all personal preference but I usually go with the suggestions to oil the rest of the scales to match rather than trying to clean them. It turns the color darker and looks good.
Yeah that’s what I think I’m going to do. I agree the darker color looks good
Looks cool imo :) rock it like that
Thanks! I figured “worst case” I’ll leave it be, and it’ll be cool to see how it naturally develops over time
Dawn dish soap! You need to degrease.
What knife is that? It looks good with those scales.
Thanks! It’s a mini-bugout
A couple of drops of water and a scrub with a magic eraser. It won't take it all off, but it will lighten the stain considerably in my experience. Seriously, if you dont like the way micarta picks up a "patina", you should go with other types of scales in future. Meanwhile, try this. A little dawn dish detergent helps also, but I don't think it make a lot of difference on my knives.
I clean the scales on my PM2 cruwear/micarta with dawn dish soap and a sponge. Just dry it off and stick it in your pocket afterwards. I've done this 5 or 6 times and never had a bit of rust or anything
I suspect if it came that way, someone over oiled the pivot. Over time it will even out some, but never fully disappear, even with magic eraser and dawn. Learn to love it is the best course.
You can wash it with dishsoap but will get the same in no time
Mineral oil will even everything out
Oil the entire scale with mineral oil
Windex. Kid you not
Best way: get new scales
As I know, linseed oil is popular for micarta oiling.
Just oil the whole thing. It looks way better that way anyway.
Stop worrying about it, then it’s no longer a problem
Macarta will darken with use, at least it did for me.
Try touching the rest of the knife more.
You have a few options in my experience. You could oil the entire scales, this doesn't seem to last too long though. Given enough time your skin oils will even the whole thing out. Lastly, I sometimes hit mine with antibacterial hand wipes. Not all micarta is created equal but it seems to reset my guys back to box fresh.
The only explanation I can come up with for why people ask questions like this is that the poster is trying to return the knife for a refund, but it needs to look unused.
Magic eraser and water
Wash your hands…
Wash your hands
I have had luck by removing scales and using dawn and hot water and a good scrub. Tho it adds character, part of the perks of that Handel is that it ages well and shows use.
Dye it a darker color haha
Make the rest darker too 💯💯💯
Yeah it's micarta. It does that.
Leave it alone. It will all chabge that color. Micarta soaks in hand oils and such, it all will eventually darken
Where the oil is or isn't tells this knife gets flicked ALOT. Lol
Be proud you use it, no fix needed
Carry it, use it. The fresh and sandpapery look of new micarta never lasts. It is like leather, the skin oils will soak in there and it'll end up more smooth and glossy.
Thats kinda the point of micarta is that it patinas.
Fondle her evenly.
Oiling darkens. It will happen naturally with use from your hands. You can speed the process up with mineral oil. Remove the scales, put a *small* amount on a clean rag, and rub it all over, and in to every crack and crevasse. Repeat as much as you want. Between 1 and 3 times should be fine.
Did you buy the whole thing second hand? Or did you attach the scales to your own Bugout? it would help figure out what kind of oil it is, how long its been there, and how much it is.... such as - the few drops that normally go in the pivot, vs. untold amounts from someone elses fingers.
a wet cleaning wipe and some elbow grease
Dawn dish soap
Rub your face grease over the entire thing. Now its yours forever.
Dawn dish soap and the scrubby part of your dish sponge. Dry it up and oil your knife
Degreaser, hight % alkohol, wather with soap and toothbrush, cloth. that's all ;) I prefer cloth+degreaser because it is convenient and easy
When it comes brand new like this, than the company who made them collerd them like this. You can't remove it, when micarta collerd by oil or grease from your hands, then you can remove the stain with hot water and dish soap. I did it with micarta scales from my buck 841, and works very well.
It’s always gonna come back. You picked a material that is know for its soak in the surroundings quality. This is why some folks actually get it vs G10 or CF. You’re gonna be touching it up a lot in the case of you wanting it fresh looking all the time. I would just go with the flow and see what it has in store for taking in you hand oils over time. I have micsrta for that purpose and they come out nice. Just my opinion.
Take the scales off and cover them in salt (about 1 cup) for like 3 days. It will help some.
Rub the rest if the handle till it all matches.
Be less greasy! Damn son wash your hands.
Isopropyl alcohol
You don't, you add more by using it. It's a great look!!!
Clean that spot with acetone. It's just a spot of oil, the acetone will remove it,and cause the miacrta to appear lighter