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Cleaning Micarta Blades


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Posted

I picked up this Westinghouse Style 1232999 because it was cheap.   Didn't run but suspected it needed oil which was correct.   

Just getting around to messing with it and I used 0000 steel wool to get alot of the bumps, paint spots etc. Off the front of one blade but was wondering how to bring back the initial finish or at least some of it.

Also, is this Pre or Post 1950?

The base and motor is unpainted aluminum.  I polished the knob and it came out pretty good so I might polish this fan up.   That wasn't the plan initially but now I think I will. 

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Posted

If micarta is like bakelite, then really nothing will bring back an original finish that has been shaved off.  I know bakelite has its finish in the thin outer layer, underneath is the forming material like asbestos and other fillers added.  The lustre comes after baking when the finishing crust is formed.  This is why nobody should ever attempt to polish a bakelite radio to make it look nicer, it will only look worse and the only remedy would be to paint it.

Posted

Micarta is not like Bakelite.   I've seen Micarta blades that were cleaned and polished some.   

 

Posted
1 hour ago, Steve Stephens said:

Micarta is not like Bakelite.   I've seen Micarta blades that were cleaned and polished some.   

 

Then micarta is a solid consistent material all the way through?  I heard it was molded around some webbing like fiberglass?

Posted

I use clay bar and detail spray it does not abrade finish.Believe it or not the paint specks will come right off and all other crude.Then clean off with wax grease remover to get off detail spray.Then I go over it with Minwax Poly ,wipe on with a rag.Go pretty quick before it gets tacky .This looked like yours to begin with.

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  • Like 1
Posted

If it is a solid material throughout, I usually will use Brasso (old original stuff if better) for fine polishing plastics like CDs, DVDs and plastic car radio dials.  Also great for lapping valves to a mirror finish.  Just be sure there is nothing formed inside "micarta" like bakelite or the finish is gone forever.  I read in a forum of someone railing that bakelite is actually micarta with the name changed to "bakelite".  No idea of the legitimacy though and I have no micarta blades.  I did have a hunter at one time with probably bakelite blades. I attempted polishing and the result I met was similar to that of bakelite (because I thought it to be plastic).

Posted (edited)

The outer black finish will sand off and leave it dark brown with fiber showing.It is primarily fiberglass with who knows what and smells terrible when sanded.Heres a pic of one with the finish coming off.

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Edited by Paul Carmody
Posted
2 minutes ago, Paul Carmody said:

The outer black finish will sand off and leave it dark brown with fiber showing.It is primarily fiberglass with who knows what and smells terrible when sanded.Here a pic off one with the finish coming off.

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Yea that is what I have been told of micarta sanding and experienced on that Hunter fan.  Also use of too harsh cleaners can dissolve the coating.  At that point black gloss car paint is probably the only way to get a nice finish.  Not sure of micarta has it but bakelite typically also has asbestos fibers in it for strength.  

Posted (edited)

I used JB weld on a chip at the edge like yours.It is possible to have asbestos ,I can’t say.I do wear a mask if sanding.

Edited by Paul Carmody
Posted
5 hours ago, Steve Stephens said:

Micarta is not like Bakelite.   I've seen Micarta blades that were cleaned and polished some.

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  • Like 1
Posted (edited)

Quote 

Micarta is a brand name for composites of linen, canvas, paper, fiberglass, carbon fiber, or other thermoplastic fibers compressed and set in resin.23 It was developed by George Westinghouse in 1910 using phenolic resins invented by Leo Baekeland.3 Micarta is an inorganic, microporous material made of linen cloth chemically treated to be waterproof.2 It is ideal for knives used outdoors as it’s an inorganic microporous material, making it waterproof.1 Micarta is a durable type of composite made of a base material suspended in epoxy resin. Norplex Inc. owns the trademark on the term.0 Micarta has grown in popularity over the last few years as it is durable and lightweight, making it the perfect fabric for knife handles.1

Edited by Paul Carmody
Posted

Yea basically "micarta" is formed of "bakelite".  Didnt really think it was originally intended to be an insulator, bakelite certainly was used as insulators in many radio applications.  Also sometimes used in car parts.  I do know that aside from asbestos, some bakelite tended to use all sorts of misc crap (even sawdust) as filler.  Surprisingly I have heard that catalin is polishable, as it ages it changes color but the discolored catalin can be removed to show the original colors at the consequence of great thinning.

Posted

Currently finishing up a restoration of a Westy Debonaire with Micarta blades. They were pretty beat up on the tips so the repair material I used was auto plastic filler, (aka, bondo). Easy to sand and feather out. Then on to  balance and a coat of satin black.

Terry

 

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  • Like 3
Posted
12 hours ago, Terry Plata said:

Currently finishing up a restoration of a Westy Debonaire with Micarta blades. They were pretty beat up on the tips so the repair material I used was auto plastic filler, (aka, bondo). Easy to sand and feather out. Then on to  balance and a coat of satin black.

Terry

 

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