Micarta vs. gun oil

[ErnieStu]

These VZ grips were a nice subdued gray...until I used them. Did you know that micarta really likes to absorb things like Hoppes #9 and gun oil? Me neither.

Before:
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c254/erniestu/Nighthawk/T2left_redu.jpg

After:
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c254/erniestu/Nighthawk/OiledVZs.jpg

[Ericthenorse]

Try cleaning them with automotive brake cleaner and a toothbrush... Unless you prefer the darker color... :) You could also just try some tide...

[Mr. Westfield]

I would not use brake cleaner on anything plastic. It usually dulls out the finish. I have been washing my VZ 320's with just 409 cleaner and water. Works fine and does not damage the finish.

[DuckRyder]

I too would be extremely cautious of brake cleaner... it also sometimes turns plastics white...

Plain old Dawn Dishwashing detergent might be effective...

[Ericthenorse]

Micarta is made with epoxy.... If you get a nice "non-chlorinated" brake cleaner, it will have no effect on the epoxy....

[Baldy]

I kind of like the all blackout look you have now too. Good luck.

[mr45]

These VZ grips were a nice subdued gray...
My VZ-Grips were nearly the same, a bit lighter than yours, maybe. "Blasted Black Canvas Micarta" is their name and they looked nearly the same as the very left ones at this picture from the VZ site:

http://www.vzgrips.com/Images/group_BIG.jpg

Now they are as black as yours... :o
They got their first black marks when I touched them with some Break-Free on my hands, then I decided to turn them to black and put some more Break-Free on them... :)
No problems in usage, they seem to like Break-Free...
... and now they are really Blasted Black Canvas Micarta... :D

[yellowv]

First off awesome Nighthawk. Secondly I also would be wary of using brake cleaner on the grips. I have the exact same grips (minus the bobtail) and every time I clean the gun they get cleaned with dish soap and water and a small nylon brush or toothbrush. They come out looking exactly as they did staight out of the bag brand new. Just scrub em a little with the soap and water and dry them with a towel and they are as good as new.

[Ping Ping]

You use any excuse to show off that NHC! Have you no shame?

GOsh! You mean to tell me that paper, linen and canvas will actually absorb oils and solvents???? Who knew?

Seriously though, what you have there, my friend, is not discoloration... it's CHARACTER! They look a little like the ebony on my Baer now.

Are those the original NHC hex heads? They look to be Diamond coated. Are they? Mine are Wilson, who has the dubious distinction of holding the record for worst bluing in the industry... nearly all gone after 2 mos.

[ErnieStu]

Have you no shame?

Who knew?

not discoloration... it's CHARACTER!
Ping:
Thanks for the insight.
1. To the first...absolutely. No wait, I mean, not much. None at all, really.
2. Hey, what do I know? It's not a rock and I can't trim it with a Sawzall, so as it turns out, I had no idea it was more sponge than plastic. I thought micarta was a miracle spaceage polymer, you know, like a an unbreakable comb or a recycled Glock or something.
3. Yes, character. Agreed. I won't be cleaning those grips unless they start reverse osmosis and are found to stain my finest vintage t-shirts (Elvis Costello '77 and Piggly Wiggly -- both in an elegant ivory patina -- come to mind). I actually like the charcoal gray staining very much. Voila, another ES lemon to lemonade alchemy story.
By the way, the Diamond Black really is pretty bomber. It's a bit matte for my taste but is a very durable finish if you go for ninja.

[Ping Ping]

Actually, my dear old dad taught me the ancient and revered secrets of canvas. As it turns out, its been used by mechanics for time in memorium to remove grease and oil. Nothing works better. Since the gun goop youre using wont harm it, or the epoxy, I wouldn't worry about it. Having used the same patch of burlap for several years, I'd wager it wont effect grippiness either.

I just looked at the NHC site and the screws on there look pretty shiney, not Diamond coated. I'm wondering if you only get coated screws on a coated (pimped out) pistol. Guess that's why they invented email...

How's that thing shoot compared to your Baer, anyway?

[ErnieStu]

I just looked at the NHC site and the screws on there look pretty shiney, not Diamond coated. I'm wondering if you only get coated screws on a coated (pimped out) pistol. Guess that's why they invented email...

How's that thing shoot compared to your Baer, anyway?
The grip screws on my T2 gun look to be a similar matte black compared the the rest of the diamond black finish and I suspect they are the real deal. The NHC permacote has a fair bit more satiny texture and no other components jump out at me as having a different finish, although it's very possible.

I think if Baer's commanches were available in a bobtail I'd have had a much more difficult decision to go with NHC for this round. I have to say that I love my supertac (sold the SRPcommanche to make room for the T2) and its Baercoat finish is growing on me...very satiny and quite durable though not nearly as durable as the diamond black.

The NHC guns and Baers are both are extremely accurrate and I am not qualified to say anything more on this because I will never be able to test their limits. All of my 1911s have had hiccups of some sort during break-in at <1k rounds, including the supertac. The NHC seems to have settled in and is no longer finicky since I resolved my mag spring issues (not really the pistol's fault, but the supertac never stuttered with the same weak-springed Wilsons) and is only just at that 1k round count now. I'm sticking with the ST for IPSC and will rely on the T2 for carry. That supertac though, it's a thing of function and beauty. It is really smooth as glass. I believe the NHC to be reliable and wonderfully crafted, but the Baer to me is just sort of on another sensual level. Is that too mushy?

[Joni Lynn]

........another sensual level........hmmm........that's a good thing right?

[dogdollar]

They look a little like the ebony on my Baer now.



Yeah, some people are just shameless braggarts, Ping. Go figure.
:lh:

[DuckRyder]

Just bought some Green/Black Linen VZ's today...

Now to find the Hoppe's... :D

[texbaz]

I wondered about Micarta absorbing oil myself, even started a thread about the VZ grips. Sorry to see the results of exposure to petroleum based products. Have you tried taking them off and just spraying them with say a "gun Cleaner" type spray. I realize the absorption adds character but if ,I bought grey, well I'd like them to stay grey. That was my main concern.

[DuckRyder]

Tex,

"YellowV" stated back about post number 8 that soap and water returns his to new condition.

Have not tried mine yet, but that is what I would try first.

[texbaz]

Tex,

"YellowV" stated back about post number 8 that soap and water returns his to new condition.

Have not tried mine yet, but that is what I would try first.


OOOOPs sure did, Thanks :D

[Ping Ping]

Yeah, some people are just shameless braggarts, Ping. Go figure.
:lh:

Yo! Knucklehead!

Remember the good ole days? I learned from you and ErnieStu.... Never miss a chance for shameless, self promotion!


We all wallow in that same, warm, piggish bath, of owning, and seeking to wear out, some FINE 1911's. It's our cross... we bear it well.

Just wait. When I get that SRP... I will make both of you pay! I will gloat, gloat, gloat.

"I **** in your general direction. English swine!" -John Cleese, Monty Python's Holy Grail

[bp78]

A quick rinse of warm water and liquid dish soap cleaned up my VZ blasted black canvas grips ok. They're still fairly new but it is kind of disappointing how readily they absorb any oil. Even so much as a little residue on your finger.

Anyone come up with a cleaning time wrap for the grip to avoid this? :)

[texbaz]

A quick rinse of warm water and liquid dish soap cleaned up my VZ blasted black canvas grips ok. They're still fairly new but it is kind of disappointing how readily they absorb any oil. Even so much as a little residue on your finger.

Anyone come up with a cleaning time wrap for the grip to avoid this? :)


I went to the VZgrips page looking for some Green paper Gators because I had seen that Wilson Combat had some on their page but had the Wilson Combat Logo in the middle of the Grip, which I don't really mind. But I didn't see the paper version on VZ's page, so I ended up ordering from Wilson since they had them in stock. Can't wait. I also, read on another forum that the canvas are not sealed and all the others are, I can't confirm but tomorrow I should have the Green Gator Paper version.

[TonyW]

I have some VZ 320 black paper micarta grips and they have stayed black.

:lm:

[texbaz]

I went to the VZgrips page looking for some Green paper Gators because I had seen that Wilson Combat had some on their page but had the Wilson Combat Logo in the middle of the Grip, which I don't really mind. But I didn't see the paper version on VZ's page, so I ended up ordering from Wilson since they had them in stock. Can't wait. I also, read on another forum that the canvas are not sealed and all the others are, I can't confirm but tomorrow I should have the Green Gator Paper version.

Well, I wish I had good news to report as far as finish but, Wilson sent a pair of Green Canvas Gator backs and not Paper. I decided to call John at VZ grips and he informed me that Heh heh heh, he don't make Gators in Green paper Darn.
I'll just send them back, Inform Wilson their Web page is wrong and hope they get my refund correct.

Maybe the Black finished ones would be Paper! ah! who knows :butthead: