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How to Polish Micarta

Micarta is a thermoset composite laminate made from fabric, paper or fiberglass and set in plastic. Micarta composites come from Norplex-Micarta, an industrial company headquartered in Iowa. One common use for Micarta is knife handles. The hard structure of this high-grade plastic makes maintenance carefree. For most Micarta pieces, all you need to do is clean the surface to keep the shine. Proper maintenance is essential to keeping Micarta bright and scratch-free.

Things You'll Need

Soft cleaning cloths
Dish soap
Lint-free cloth
Paste wax
Light oil
Nail polish remover
Wood toothpick

Instructions

- 1
  Wipe down the Micarta with a damp, soft cloth. This will remove any surface debris from the plastic.
- 2
  Clean the area well with soapy water. Use a mild soap, such as dish soap. Avoid placing the piece, such as a knife, into the water. Instead, dip a clean cloth into the cleaning solution and rub the surface.
- 3
  Rinse off any soap residue with a damp cloth and then dry the area with a lint-free fabric.
- 4
  Dip a dry, lint-free cloth into paste wax. Buff the Micarta surface with the paste to polish and enhance shine. You may also use a light oil to polish to Micarta. Add a drop or two of oil to a soft cloth and buff the resin surface. Keep wiping the Micarta, whether using paste or oil, until the surface shines.

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