Coconut Micarta

[Mike H]

Coco Trough Liner is a coconut fiber matting sold at most home improvement and garden shops. It is about 1/2 inch thick, and can be stretched if needed.

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I mixed the Fiberglass epoxy according to the directions in a shallow pan and placed a 3" X 7" piece of the matting into the resin mix, making sure the mat was fully saturated. Then I placed the saturated mat into a plastic bag and put it under a weight (10 lb metal block) to cure.

After 24 hours I removed the weight, and the matting from the plastic. The mat compressed to about 1/4 inch thick. I used a scroll saw to cut out the scales, and a belt sander to smooth them out. Handed sanded the rest 400 then 600 grit, then polished them up.

Micarta is pretty easy to work with and was surprised how easy the overall project was. Make sure to have adequate ventilation when mixing epoxy, and wear safety glasses and rubber gloves. When sawing or sanding cured micarta, make sure to wear glasses and a respirator.

View attachment 315675

 

[Seraphim]

I love that!



Reminds me of a set of Fern scales by encasing actual ferns in acrylic:

 

[Mike H]

I had not seen those before, very cool!

I have not worked with fiberglass resin much before this project. I wonder how the exposed coconut fibers will do when exposed to water. I did notice that some fibers, once flush with the epoxy, now some extend a bit, (you can feel them) I assume do to expansion from water.

 

[global_dev]

pretty interesting.. i don't know that i would have ever walked through a store and saw something like that and thought let me make that into scales. good ingenuity. perhaps all the stuff thaey make pen blanks of are next... coffee beans, wood shaving curls, dollar bills, seeds, maybe hair?

 

[Doc226]

Pretty cool, I do like micarta scales, very easy stuff to work with

 

[oakeshott]

Some of the most awesomest scales I've seen. Must do it!

 

[Gamma]

can you feel the coconut fibers in the scales?

 

[daflorc]

I had not seen those before, very cool!

I have not worked with fiberglass resin much before this project. I wonder how the exposed coconut fibers will do when exposed to water. I did notice that some fibers, once flush with the epoxy, now some extend a bit, (you can feel them) I assume do to expansion from water.

While I have not used fiberglass resin, I imagine that if you were concerned about the exposed coconut fibers, you could paint on a coat of that resin (or high gloss epoxy resin) to seal the fibers within the scales. Very cool scales btw.

 

[Mike H]

can you feel the coconut fibers in the scales?

Some that are on the surface can be felt, but not every one.

After several uses, I will probably re-sand, polish and try to seal the scales.

 

[novitiate]

OP, that is just terrific!

I'd like to try that, what brand of epoxy did you use and from where?

 

[skipnord]

How about vacuum bagging instead of using a weight? That would insure that you would get full saturation. I may have to try that when I get my vacuum system finished.

 

[mdunn]

good grief.

is there anything you cant micata-ise?

im looking around at everything on my desk now.....

 

[cb91710]

good grief.

is there anything you cant micata-ise?

Bacon didn't work out too well.

 

[mdunn]

Bacon didn't work out too well.

i think it needed maple syrup to help the acrylic harden

 

[Firewalker]

OP, that is just terrific!

I'd like to try that, what brand of epoxy did you use and from where?

I don't know where he got his epoxy but I have used a variety of products from aeromarineproducts.com with terrific results.

 

[Mike H]

I used 3M fiberglass resin from Lowes. I think it was 14 dollars for a quart, and included the hardener.