Rucarta?

David Stifle

David Stifle

Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
10,188
Hi Guys,

I saw a pic of AG Russell's new chute knife in the last issue of Blade. It was handled in ebony recarta. Never heard of it before. What is it, is it a good material to work? Is it available on the market? Appreciate any info.

Thanks,

Dave
 
I believe it's propietary, and have never seen it for sale as a raw material.
 
I've always assumed that it's his name for a variant of Micarta. Note that most "Micarta" isn't because that name is a trademark (Westinghouse I believe).
 
Rucarta is just like Micarta has the same toxic issues. The new warwood comes in similar colors without the toxic issues when working with it.
 
I prefer the Coral Rucarta.
A.G.Russell started using Rucarta in the 1970s.
Contact A.G. He'd love to chat with you.
rolf
 
I think the Coral Rucarta is a awesome color, but wasn't available to the general knife making public. I found Warwood to be a fantastic product and gives the same great color when finished. It's reasonably priced, non-toxic and easy to work with.
 
WTH is warwood? Obviously some type of phenolic but google search returns zero relevant links..
 
Good question. Never heard of it before this thread and all I found (assuming it's correct) is that it was designed for use as military balistic shielding. My real question is if someone has a pic of Warwood on a finished knife.
 
Yeah I'd like to know more also. I recently saw a piece of aircraft armor plate material, that looked like a kevlar or spectra composite layup with all kinds of other weird crap in it.. I can only *imagine* how impossible to work with that stuff must be. Looked cool, but I wouldn't want to know much it mangles a saw blade.
 
If I could figure out how to attach a picture I have one of several warwood handled knives in the works by C-M Forge. The stuff works easy, cuts just like wood or micarta, it is not a phenolic product. It is a all natural, green product. this is amazing stuff.
 
Last edited:
I'm interested in this. I'm trying to get away from using toxic stuff as much as possible.
 
After working with micarta and phenolics for a lot of years, I finally asked my Father-in-Law, a PhD chemist with almost 40 years of experience, about its toxicity. He took a look at the MDS sheets and technical material from the manufacturers. He said that the MDS sheets apply ONLY to the uncured resin - but not to the cured final product. He wouldn't recommend eating large quantities of cured micarta or inhaling a large quantity of any dust. But as long as you work with normal shop safety precautions, you won't be poisoning yourself by working with micarta or other phenolics.

That doesn't change the fact that micarta is still stinky when you work it, however!

TedP
 
Been laminating for a long time, I guess I should have named my stuff sweetcarta...?
 
Surely there is online information about this "Warwood."
Or, is it a big secret?
 
It's not a secret, we just haven't advertised it to knife makers till the AG Russell Show. It was developed for and is used by manufacturers of military equipment just like some of the other stuff on the market. It's made from proprietary processing of corn scrap that's right corn! it's food safe, non-toxic even the color dye and resins are from a natural source. We are looking for new uses and have produced gun stocks, pistol grips and now knife handles. It's less expensive than like products. The secret is how the raw material is processed everything else is standard manufacturing for this kind of product.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top