Wood Micarta / Stabilized Wood

[Burtess]

Hey there,

Is wood micarta the same as stabilized wood for a handle?
If different, is either better than the other?
Much thanks!!

Burt

 

[Danbo]

No, not the same at all. Wood micarta is generally the same thing as Pakkawood. Stabilized wood can be any kind of wood that has gone through stabilizing processes, like vacuum acrylic soaking, etc...

 

[zinn1348]

I may have a misunderstanding of this, however I was under the impression that wood micarta is wood that has been pressure impregnated with epoxy products, and then cured by heat.


Stabilized wood is pressure treated, or vacuum treated, (sometimes in home made devices) with a chemical such as PEG, to enhance the qualities of the wood....such as resist crackin, checking, warping etc. Also reduces or eliminates surface oxydation of the wood which would do away with color changes and dulling of the finish.

Just my limited perception, there are those with more info here.


Thomas Zinn

 

[Kohai999]

Wood micarta, also referred to as stamina wood is usually a laminate of birch which has been dyed for a specific color treatment, and is much stronger, the birch is combined with phenolic resin. This wood bears very little resemblance to natural wood, it is considerably more plastic than natural wood.

Stabilized wood is usually solid pieces of wood, many of which would not otherwise be appropriate for knife handles treated as was said above, with an acrylic resin to strengthen and render the wood less likely to shrink or crack.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Danbo]

Thank you, Steven. I couldn't find the words to explain it that well.

 

[Gossman Knives]

Never heard stamia wood or also called dymondwood called wood micarta. Micarta comes in three different variations, canvas, linen and paper. I don't know what kind of paper is used, but there are layers of paper that are epoxied togehter with a fiberglass resin. Linen is layers of cotton material epoxied with fiberglass resin and the canvas uses a canvas material done the same way.
Scott

 

[Burtess]

I guess some manufacturers use the term "stabilized" differently.
From the Benchmade site:
"STABILIZED WOOD- Select hardwood veneers are vacuum impregnated with special dyes and resins. Sheets are then layered and combined under tremendous heat and pressure to adhere the veneers as one for a durable and attractive real wood medium."

Leads more to the confusion.....

Burt

 

[Danbo]

I guess some manufacturers use the term "stabilized" differently.
From the Benchmade site:
"STABILIZED WOOD- Select hardwood veneers are vacuum impregnated with special dyes and resins. Sheets are then layered and combined under tremendous heat and pressure to adhere the veneers as one for a durable and attractive real wood medium."

Leads more to the confusion.....

Burt

That's because Benchmade is trying to sell people knives with Pakkawood handles on them.