warwood is it actuily safer?

bronyblacksmith · Jan 10, 2015

Is warwood/ fauxcarta any safer than micarta?

i4Marc · Jan 10, 2015

Yes. Warwood is made from corn fiber and corn based resins. I wouldn't eat it but it appears to be safer than phenolic laminates.

Rhinoknives1 · Jan 10, 2015

I've used Micarta extensive to the point of I can't use it anymore because I get bad headaches from any of the dust. That's just a wiff, I mean with a respirator on while working it. It releases Formaldehyde and I have become very sensitive to it.

I've used Jeff's Warwood and its benign. Like Mark said, I wouldn't eat it and you still want to wear PPE.

bronyblacksmith · Jan 10, 2015

thanks guys I think I will give it a try.

ggoose · Jan 10, 2015

For those who use warwood, do you texture the scales at all to increase gripability? I've used it on several knives and they feel a bit slick in the hand.

12345678910 · Jan 11, 2015

Rhinoknives1 said:
I've used Micarta extensive to the point of I can't use it anymore because I get bad headaches from any of the dust. That's just a wiff, I mean with a respirator on while working it. It releases Formaldehyde and I have become very sensitive to it.

I've used Jeff's Warwood and its benign. Like Mark said, I wouldn't eat it and you still want to wear PPE.

Have you tried the dual purpose p100 and acid gas or formaldehyde cartridges ?

Rhinoknives1 · Jan 11, 2015

12345678910 said:
Have you tried the dual purpose p100 and acid gas or formaldehyde cartridges ?

Count,

I tried it ALL! The small residual dust or fumes even the next day or two after grinding it are enough to set off a headache cycle. My father was a biology Professor and he was allergic to the Formaldehyde that the dissection frogs and the like came in for classes. He would get these bad rashes on his hands and finally told the company to only send animals in alcohol.

So there may be some family sensitively to it? It got so bad that I paid two workers to clean my shop with a Vacuum from top to bottom because I was still getting headaches after I hadn't used in for months.

That finally did it! I haven't ground any Micarta in 10 years and won't have it in my shop. No more headaches. At least from the Micarta.

Rhinoknives1 · Jan 11, 2015

ggoose said:
For those who use warwood, do you texture the scales at all to increase gripability? I've used it on several knives and they feel a bit slick in the hand.

I left the finish at 220 grit on the war wood and that gave it a better grip. Light texturing it wouldn't hurt.

Don't go to crazy or it can give hot spots with heavy use.

i4Marc · Jan 11, 2015

Rhinoknives1 said:
I left the finish at 220 grit on the war wood and that gave it a better grip. Light texturing it wouldn't hurt.

Don't go to crazy or it can give hot spots with heavy use.

Can you post a pic of a Warwood handle at 220X? I'm working on some Warwood handles now for the first time. I haven't gotten to the finishing stages yet and still trying to decide how far to take them.