Warwood or "Fauxcarta" material. Experiences?

Z

zlorf

Joined
Apr 10, 2014
Messages
27
I'm really looking for photos of the material in its finished form.

I am thinking about Warwood for a bushcrafter handle, but as its quite a new material I would love to hear some feedback from users. It's made from processed natural (corn) materials, so am I right in saying although it's non-toxic, it's also less stable/durable than regular micarta?

I found these photos of the stuff in green. Seems to take a very nice shine when polished. I like the fibrous and organic patterns.

index.php


index.php


post-840-0-85885200-1398200299_thumb.jpg
 
the thought of a really cool custom slingshot had never crossed my mind. With 2 young boys and several young nephews I'm going to have to try to make a few of those.

As for warwood, I have a set of scales sitting on my bench that I want to try out pretty soon. I bought it at the Lone Star Knife show the other day and they had some pens made out of the stuff that looked good but they didn't have any knives there with warwood handles.
 
I uncovered a bit more info and it looks like great stuff for a handle. Equal to micarta - possibly tougher from anecdotal evidence.

Also I forget the name, but there's schooner, 200 years young and still on the water, which used the same resin as in Warwood.

I've decided I'm going with a "Milk Chocolate" brown Warwood/Fauxcarta handled Skookum Bush Tool.
 
I've made one knife with that same color green Warwood for the handle (though my photography showed it looking almost black). Not enough to know its ins and outs, but it seems to work like Micarta, with a texture similar to paper Micarta. Seemed to want to chip a bit more when drilling, so take that into account. I have some more that I'll be using, and am also about to try Tero Tuff as (among other reasons) it seems to be closer to canvas Micarta in texture to judge from the pics I've seen.

That's a nifty slingshot. Any idea who made it?

Edit: My own poor photography doesn't catch the color well, but here's what I did with it:

lars04_zps105b279d.jpg
 
Last edited:
You'll like Terro tuff James! It has a texture similar to heavily sandblasted canvas micarta when finished. It's not the prettiest material but for a user, it's hard to beat! I'd like to try some of this Warwood myself. If only for the color. That shade of green looks great!
 
Bill Siegle said:
You'll like Terro tuff James! It has a texture similar to heavily sandblasted canvas micarta when finished. It's not the prettiest material but for a user, it's hard to beat! I'd like to try some of this Warwood myself. If only for the color. That shade of green looks great!
Click to expand...

Mr. Siegle hit is spot on. I've seen comments about not liking the finish, but it's the best feeling synthetic out there as far as I'm concerned. Absolutely love it.
 
The slingshot is by Chris @ Yo Slingshots. Super nice guy and very helpful when I e-mailed about Warwood.

The terotuf looks great. I'm doing an escape axe project and I was going to go with the black horse stall matting for the handle material, but I might just have to try terotuf in orange.
 
I received another mail from Chris the slingshot maker. Pretty interesting info about WW's toughness:

"Hey again,

Yesterday while shooting one of my Warwood slingshots (wine color), I hit the fork tip real hard with a 3/8 BB. In times past this would dent wood and micartia pretty good. Instead it was a lot more like hitting g10 making a "glass" ping sound. I had to look real hard to find where I hit the fork. Just to say I was impressed. I thought it would be much worse.
The fork tips are one area I worry about due to the fact that they can de-laminate and hit the shooter in the face when the rubber bands pull back.
I am sure you as a knife builder are worried about dropping the knife or throwing it.
I plan to do some ballistic test on a glued and pinned fork soon, I just need to mess one up first so I wouldn't mind :)"
 
Hey friends, I was looking for some info on alternative knife handles (stall mat) and I found this thread. I am the builder of that Slingshot and I got a smile when I saw those pictures. Just a few more tips on Warwood. Use fresh and sharp belts to sand and shape. I use low speed on my router to shape and of course a new carbide blade. This material will "burn" if it gets hot while shapping. When pinning I also found that it cracks easier than many other similar materials, which is weird for such a tough product.

Yo
 
I saw a knife made with a handle from warwood at the Blade show it was in black. It has a great look and feel. There was also a picture of 4 knives that were made by C-M Forge they were in several colors all looked fantastic. Maybe C-M forge could comment on here about the warwood? The guy at the table (forget his name) gave me lots of info about Warwood and how to work it. Sharp tools are the key if you use dull tools you can get it to chip but a sharp tool and you will have no problem. I talked to Tom Snow yesterday and he just finished his first warwood handled knife. He loves the stuff and has all ready ordered more. I guess the supplier is now offering it in 1/8 inch for folders but only in a few colors and Bowie blocks in 2 or 3 colors. I am waiting for the "store" to open so I can call and see about the thin stuff for several folders I'm working on and the Bowie Blocks as they don't show it on their website. Tom said he ordered a set of Beretta grips made from Warwood can't wait to see those. Apparently we now have a good new handle material.
 
I am waiting on a knife to get back from heat treat and I'm going to be putting a warwood handle on it. Just from what I have seen so far it feels brittle, like I'm afraid to drop it on my shop floor brittle. I'm sure once it is epoxied and pinned to the tang it will be durable, it just feels brittle.

Steve.
 
Storm Crow said:
I've made one knife with that same color green Warwood for the handle (though my photography showed it looking almost black). Not enough to know its ins and outs, but it seems to work like Micarta, with a texture similar to paper Micarta. Seemed to want to chip a bit more when drilling, so take that into account. I have some more that I'll be using, and am also about to try Tero Tuff as (among other reasons) it seems to be closer to canvas Micarta in texture to judge from the pics I've seen.

That's a nifty slingshot. Any idea who made it?

Edit: My own poor photography doesn't catch the color well, but here's what I did with it:

lars04_zps105b279d.jpg
Click to expand...

where did you get your warwood? I have only been able to find it in 1.5X5 blocks.
 
image_zps4c20bb49.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]

Here is one I'm finishing up, CPM M4 and black war wood scales with red liners. I like the material and now that I actually put it on the steel it's not nearly as brittle as I thought it was. Sorry for the crappy cellphone pic.

Steve
 
Got my 1/8" warwood today black ,blue, wine and green now I have to get busy. Included in my package was a sample of .060 warwood liner in the wine color I think it's enough for 1 knife I may put it under some artificial ivory on my new drop point. I have tested warwood quite a bit now and I'm finding not to be brittle at all and I did like suggested and have been only using sharp tools and it works great. No more Micarta for me!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top