Of wood and phenolic

Dman3d

Dman3d

Joined
Jul 9, 2013
Messages
374
So looked around and checked out various threads.
Clearly phenolic is the way to go for super stability in a handle. It's super hard to resist some of those woods,just looked at a mind blowing redwood burl bushnub. Outside of desert ironwood are any other woods reasonably stable to edc in a more humid climate like Florida and US southeast in general? If stabilized I imagine any wood could be reliable. What other untreated woods, outside desert ironwood, that would be reasonably reliable? I would hate to pick on up then have to stress over it any blade i pickup will be carried not just on display.
 
Really liking pine cone. I have a leuku in curly mango but alway concerned about the wood. Obviously it's too big to edc so keep it for hikes and shtf bag.
 
I have the opposite problem, living in a very dry climate. Desert Ironwood and African Blackwood are a couple I have that hold up pretty good. All woods move some though.

Here's something from Andy on the subject:

Fiddleback said:
Micarta is more stable, tougher, and longer lasting than wood. Period. Not even close. In a thousand years an anthropologist will unearth my knife. The steel is dust, our civ is a memory in books, but the micarta is just a bit darker than it was when new.

Wood moves, checks, cracks and warps. Period. I guarantee this will happen to every piece of wood on this planet stabilized or unstabilized. In my guarantee, I specifically address this issue.

"Natural handle materials such as stag, bone, wood, pearl and ivory may shrink, crack, and/or discolor with change in temperature, or humidity or age. As this is normal, expected, and can normally be avoided with maintenance these issues would not be covered under this warranty."

I have only made myself one knife with stabilized wood handles. Stabilized wood will crack, warp, chip and check just like any other wood. It is more stable vs water, but IMO, less stable vs heat. I've heard lots of makers go on and on about how it makes the wood better. IMO, it turns the wood into a plastic that is not as good as phenolic plastics at being stable. There are plusses and minusses, but it is no cure all for wood behavior.

Now, I love wood handles. It is a suitable handle material. It has been proven for thousands of years. It is beautiful, and warm, and light, and I have made myself a LOT of wooden handled knives. I happen to love the woods that are naturally stable like Cocobolo, Rosewoods, Ironwood, and Osage Orange the best. They require care, and understanding of what they are. If you inundate them in water and don't dry them, put them in the dishwasher, leave them on the dash of your car, or travel to and from Las Vegas from GA, then you're going to see the effects of this natural material reacting to its environment. Then again, if you respect them and maintain them they can last for a long long time.

Stabilized wood is a suitable handle material also, and allows us to use woods that just aren't usable when unstable. Burls and Black Palm for example. Mostly though, I use them because of customer demand and not personal preference. There was a table at Blade Show selling stabilized Rosewoods, Cocobolo, Bocote, etc. Hey, if you just want the previously mentioned heavier and slippery when wet, go for it, but it doesn't make the wood any better IMO.

I use only quality materials on my knives. Maintenance is required for longevity.
Click to expand...
 
Perfect thanks thurin, for my edc philonics for sure. So my unicorn knife spec getting clearer.
 
I EDC a Bog Oak Toboggan in South Florida, haven't had any problems yet. Knock on wood! :thumbup:;)

 
gusbuster said:
I EDC a Bog Oak Toboggan in South Florida, haven't had any problems yet. Knock on wood! :thumbup:;)

Click to expand...

Bog oak falls somewhere on the timeline between wood and graphite, so I'm not surprised that it seems to be on the more resistant side.

Beautiful toboggan, btw!
 
So are Andy's woods not stabilized unless otherwise marked? Such as some of his pinecone and the sweet gum from a few Fridays back.
 
From reading Andy's statement Thurin posted above, I interpret it as cocobolo, rosewood, ironwood, and osage fiddlebacks aren't stabilized (because they don't need it), but most of the other wood offerings (including all burls) are, even if not specifically stated. Did I read that right?
 
That was what I got from it, but I didn't want to be interpreting that way if it wasn't intended. Andy does fantastic work and i would trust his judgment. I always read how stabilizing the wood helps the longevity of life of the wood its nice hearing the other side.
 
I suppose in the end as long as you care for it and don't use it for a pry bar and don't leave it baking on the dash of your car it will put last me which is all I need. Was just pondering which wood may perform better than another, if any.

Bog oak looks awesome and to be holding a piece of wood hundreds or thousands of years old is very cool.
 
"Beautiful toboggan, btw!"

"Bog oak looks awesome and to be holding a piece of wood hundreds or thousands of years old is very cool."

:thumbup: Thanks fellas!
 
I don't have an exact quote but yes, naturally stabile woods like ironwood, cocobolo, Blackwood, rosewood are used in their natural state.
 
thurin said:
I don't have an exact quote but yes, naturally stabile woods like ironwood, cocobolo, Blackwood, rosewood are used in their natural state.
Click to expand...

I remember asking Ken about a Bocote Monarch I sharked, he told me Bocote was not stabilized, and I believe he included Bloodwood also.
 
No quote for this. But I believe all these are used in natural state. Most I'm certain of. Others are based on general understanding and fuzzy recollections.

African Blackwood
Black Locust
Bloodwood
Bocote
Cocobolo
Desert Ironwood
Ebony
Goncalo Alves
Lignum Vitae
Osage Orange
Padauk
Rosewoods
Wenge

There are most likely others.
 
gusbuster said:
I remember asking Ken about a Bocote Monarch I sharked, he told me Bocote was not stabilized, and I believe he included Bloodwood also.
Click to expand...

Kirkwood said:
No quote for this. But I believe all these are used in natural state. Most I'm certain of. Others are based on general understanding and fuzzy recollections.

African Blackwood
Black Locust
Bloodwood
Bocote
Cocobolo
Desert Ironwood
Ebony
Goncalo Alves
Lignum Vitae
Osage Orange
Padauk
Rosewoods
Wenge

There are most likely others.
Click to expand...

Good updates guys! I'll agree that my bocote is not stabilized.
 
Sorry I can't find the quote, but I remember seeing a post by Andy stating that all burls are stabilized.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top