Dymondwood - no good?

oupa

oupa

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I am new to "customizing".
I want to replace some scales on a few production knives and have a 605 kit on the way.

I quite like the colour and possibilities that Dymondwood represent.
I have however read a few negative comments about this material in some threads.

However, nobody has been specific as regards exactly why they do not like it.

Is it difficult to work with?
Does it give an inferior finish?
Is it soft or brittle?
Just why is it frowned upon?
 
The bright colours are considered loud and garish, reminiscent of low quality knives from south Asia, otherwise it is a good product to work with and is very durable.
 
Everybody has, among other things, an opinion, but I think Dymondwood and Pakkawood are viewed by some as inferior because of their garrish colors and association with less-quality knives, not their physical properties. In fact, they make great handle materials, particularly for knives working in hostile environments like kitchens and oceans. Also, you can get colors that show your good taste! :) They work great, take a fantastic polish, are stable and tough.

Just my opinion, and you know what they say about those...

Dave
 
I like the stuff, but only in the solid brown "wood" colors. There are several...walnut, cocobolo and oak. They make great, very durable handles. Won't shrink, dry out or warp. The multi-colored stuff makes me sick.
 
guess the best way to explain it is "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"--I've used them and they are as stabile as it gets--Dan
 
I love pakka/dymond wood, especially the emerald green. It's super tough, easy to work, and takes a real nice polish. For the first 2-3 years of making knives, I used it or stag almost exclusively. I don't care for the multi colored varieties, partially because I think they're gaudy looking and alot of the Pakistan/Taiwan junk comes with it. I still have some emerald green rat holed some where in the shop. Might thin it down someday and make myself a folder with it.
Go with what you like Oupa, don't worry about other folk's opinions.
 
There's not anything really wrong with it. Its biggest problem is that it seems to hold a kinship with frostwood (ever seen a frost- tombraider supertac dragon skewer bowie? ;) :D) They're the epitome of cheap crap, and their most common handle material looks a lot like diamond wood.

That said, if you pick the right color choice and do the finish right, it can turn out fine. For most of the guys that are making high end stuff, its better to use real cocobola than to use birch thats dyed to look like cocabola. And then just finish to make it last. Dymondwood, is really durable and can look nice though. I wasn't very happy with how it was to work with when I tried it, and ended up using rosewood instead though.
 
Thanks for all the comments.
I am going to try some.

I see this material as a stepping stone to "the real thing".
If I have the talent - I can then invest in some stabilized Birdseye maple and other beauties.

I agree that some colour combinations are slightly sickening, but I suppose there must be a market for it somewhere, or it would not be produced.

At this stage ease of use and low cost is what counts - as I journey along my path of learning!
 
Just in my personal opinion, I think it's cheap looking. I used to use it and thought it was great, but I also found it to be very brittle. Hopefully a custom or customized knife doesn't ever get dropped, but if it does, dymondwood is almost sure to chip off. I dropped a knife once with it and a big chunk cracked right off.

Most guys get into the area where things like Dymondwood are frowned on...but some of these same circles would tell you to never use wood...and I love some woods as handle material. So I use it anyway.

I think you could follow that same route if dymondwood is what you like :)

Nick
 
I agree with Nick, I don't much care for it.
I suppose I don't much care for using stabilized plywood on a knife.

Different strokes, I suppose.

C Wilkins
 
I've gotten the feeling that it's kind of like the old pure bred/mongrel debate. Some folks insist that the mongrel makes the best pet and others prefer the more rarified and elitist pure bred. I have never tried working it, but it sounds like it's not the best and toughest stuff after all. As an aside, I don't care for colored wood rifle stocks either. That said, I'll probably eventually get around to trying one of the more subdued colors on a kitchen knife just for the hell of it. :)
 
I just wanted to follow up and say that other than what I had being brittle, there's not anything wrong with it. It's just not something I like personally.

I will add though that the first knife I made when I got my Burr King had red/black dymondwood and I still have people tell me it was the prettiest knife I've made.:p My grandma is one of those people :)

I should also add that I lean heavily toward natural materials anyway.

Best of luck!
Nick
 
yep i used the pakkawood a few times in different colors, and a few customers bought. and my thoughts were. well its time to move on to clazzier exotic hard woods. and i have'nt lookled back! :D each to his own.
 
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