I followed what I saw others doing with the stripper and believed what I had heard about the micarta and what I saw others do.

I was a little nervous about doing it - it isn't something I really would always do but it was an inspired and directed project.

It came out great. Once I began to wash the stripper off the blade and it was purely wet, everything dried quickly and as usual.

The handle had absolutely no oils from your hands in it at all. It still felt normal.

It was in the stripper for less than 10 minutes. I left it in just a little longer than I probably needed to but I wanted to make sure and I repositioned the pan once to cover the pommel completely with the stripper.

Make sure: WEAR rubber gloves. One I had on "broke" on my index finger and I could feel it. I had to rinse it for awhile in cold water. I could feel the start of the chemical burn.

The best thing was when my wife got home that she wasn't mad I had been playing with a stripper! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

She really likes the look of it. I imagine when we get to camping phases I know what knives she will select to go with her. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

No problem brother!

It was fun to do.

I have a little 2000 grit left to do, but I really like the finish right now. It's a little darker than the CE Sarsquatch but then look great together.

I did loose the Busse Combat logo - you can still see where it is in certain angles. It was there before the 1000 grit started. The logo side has more INFI dimples than the right side - further down. You can also see little differences - like the swedge grind lines - the right side starts a little further back. Just little differences that are cool that I can't see on the finished blade.

I LOVE your Comp5. It would be perfect with a convex edge because it has a great convex bevel.

The logo is the only sad thing about the stripping.

Great job on the stripped SAR5!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

That's inspiring, I may have to do that to mine eventually. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

NIce work! I didn't realize how tough micarta was!

Very cool, cmdr249. All my blades are satin finish with micarta handles, but if I ever get one with the coating, it's good to know that I can strip it this way! Thanks for the tip!

Don't you have an SS4 Tyger? I have mine stripped and convexed.

Thanks everyone.

I've got to get some time to get it out and USE it now.

I do like the SAR5s.

Yeah Unsub, I have an SS4, but it's the one blade I actually like with the coating; just something about it, I don't know. I'm still debating whether I want to convex it or not; first, though, I've got to pick up some cheap blades I don't care about, and start practicing a convex edge.

If my Dogfather or Dumpster Mutt had been coated, I would've stripped them, but lucked out and got the LEs of them. Come to think of it, the SS4 is the only coated blade I own; everything else I own is satin finish. Call it good luck, I guess. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Hey, just sent you an email.

Make sure you bring that down to the gathering! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />

Cobalt has a SAR5 for sale on the Exchange right now. I might have to pull the trigger on it after reading through this thread...