What is Pakkawood? What’s the deal with using it for making knife handles?

Fact Checked By:Aithley Balder

Post Updated On:

w3onlineshopping.com

w3onlineshopping.com

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

what is pakkawood?

Amazing skill and only the most skilled individuals should attempt to make knives. It doesn’t matter how skilled a manufacturer is if they don’t have access to the right components. The knife grip is as important as the blade itself. Because of this, the handle cannot be made of the improper materials.

No products found.

As a result, several of the leading knife manufacturers have begun using pakkawood in their products. Therefore, what is Pakkawood? This post will address that very issue. Moreover, we would investigate the rationale for its use as a knife handle material.

How long does pakkawood last?

However, while having the look and feel of wood, this substance is impervious to water. When natural wood is exposed to moisture, it may crack and distort, which is a major drawback of using this material. Pakkawood does not have difficulties like real wood. Because dyes are mixed in, it has a high strength and may last for a long time. It also comes in a wide variety of colors.

What is pakkawood?

When most people think of the phrase “Pakkawood,” they picture the wood of a certain tree. But because pakka wood is not harvested from any one tree, this is not the case here. In contrast, it is a result of human ingenuity.

It describes items made of wood that have a low-priced wood core covered with higher-quality wood veneers (wood veneers). The whole procedure guarantees that the finished product will be of higher quality and hence more expensive. Peeling, cutting, or slicing a piece of timber yields these wood layers. You may acquire a sliced veneer, sawn veneer, or peel veneer from these processes. These veneers are produced using a multi-step process that starts with pressing the layers and continues with impregnation, sanding, and finishing with a polish.

Therefore, Pakkawood, also known as colorwood, staminawood, dymonwood, etc., comes in a wide range of hues and may be easily mistaken for genuine wood. Primarily, they are utilized to create knife scales for the handles. As a result of its superior density and durability compared to real wood, it provides higher resistance throughout usage.

Features of Pakkawood

what is pakkawood handle

The Composition

Pakkawood, as was already said, is not entirely natural since it is manufactured. Rather, it is constructed with hardwood veneer. Resin (phenolic thermoset resin) is injected into the material using a high-pressure technique, and the material is then colored in vivid hues (this is done via vacuuming). After these steps are completed, the wood is piled and compacted to produce a thick and stable product that gives the impression of being made of genuine wood.

The Appearance

Dyes are used throughout the manufacturing process to make the final product seem like more conventional hardwoods like walnut, oak, etc. Careful application may make the wood seem to be of a whole other species, complete with stunning new hues and grain patterns. Some of these patterns resemble the camouflage used by exotic woods. The final result, then, is usually quite similar in appearance to real wood. The wide range of hues it’s available in is what sets it apart from real wood and makes it easy to spot.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Pakkawood is prized by knifemakers in part because of its resilience. Pakkawood, on the other hand, has been specially treated to endure the pressure and weather forces throughout the years, a quality that is unusual in natural woods. You may be certain that your preferred kitchen knife, if equipped with such a handle, will last for many years and look as good as new.

In addition, pakkawood is watertight, so it may be used as a kitchen utensil regardless of how wet your hands are when you’re cooking. It won’t get any worse by soaking in water, so you may relax. Because of its high density, this wood has also won the favor of blade manufacturers. Unlike genuine wood, yours won’t warp or split as it ages thanks to this feature.

Uses Of Pakkawood

Pakkawood is best suited to the demands of regular usage because of the way it is constructed. Therefore, they are optimal for items that will see consistent usage and where some degree of pressure will be applied (in difficult situations). Therefore, they serve the following purposes:

This material is ideal for making the handles of kitchen knives. Tactical knives, including those used by the military, are known for their robustness and lengthy service life.

Handles of knitting needles and brushes. Because of its watertightness and resistance to warping and splitting over time, this material may also be used to make cooking spoons and spatulas.

To wit: musical instruments, picture frames, and the like are all included. Since they exhibit the aforementioned qualities, they may be used in the production of these goods and many more.

FAQ‘s

Is pakkawood water resistant?

A. Pakkawood is a very durable material; nevertheless, it cannot be cleaned in the dishwasher. This is due to the fact that pakkawood, despite the fact that it is water resistant, is not waterproof. It is also best practice to refrain from soaking or totally immersing your pakkawood-handled utensils in water in order to maintain the structural integrity of the wood.

Is pakkawood Food Safe?

Following the application of a colored resin that is acceptable for food, the thin veneers of birch wood are subsequently crushed. The end result is a high-quality hardwood product that is strong, long-lasting, and resistant to temperatures of up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Utensils made from pakka wood do not fade with time or take on the flavors of the dishes they are used with.

What is blue pakkawood?

An engineered wood-plastic composite material known as Pakkawood, also known as Staminawood, Colorwood, Dymondwood, and compreg, Pakkawood is often used in the manufacture of knife handles and other products that are subjected to rigorous use. It may be made to seem very much like regular wood, or it can be made in a variety of vivid hues.

Why is pakkawood used to make the knife handle?

A. There are a number of reasons why knife makers love Pakkawood so much. Their primary advantage is in their resistance to water infiltration. They will not get drenched in the wash because of its waterproofing feature. Because of this, they do not gradually lose strength, and even after a lengthy period of time, they are still functioning at near-maximum levels.

Because of this, they are not only long-lasting but also very adaptable, allowing for simple modifications throughout production. With this option, customers may source the wood and make the knives themselves, giving them the freedom to customize their design.

In addition, the high quality of construction ensures that your knives will serve you well for many years. Therefore, pakkawood is used to make steak knives and other types of kitchen cutlery. They do not tarnish, break or split easily after numerous years of service. Therefore, they provide you high-quality knives so you may prepare meals without any stress.

How to Keep Pakkawood in Good Condition?

Having looked at the numerous applications of pakkawood, it is crucial we also look at best practices when it comes to care and maintenance of your Pakkawood. What should you do, and what should you avoid doing to guarantee your knives stay useful for a long time?

Keep your pakkawood knives dry and avoid letting them sit in water for extended periods of time. Since real wood is still a part of its component, even if the wood is safe and resistant to water penetration, it may still be destroyed by extended contact to water.

Now and again, you should strive to sandpaper your blades to give them a good and shiny shine. Sandpaper with a granularity of 120 is suitable for this task.

Use Tru-oil, tung oil, or mineral oil to polish (same with those for natural wood). After that, rub it with a soft cloth.

You shouldn’t put it in the dishwasher since it will ruin the wooden veneer that holds everything together. Therefore, we suggest hand cleaning to maintain your knife safe for a long time to come.

Conclusion

It is common knowledge that knives lose their allure after their handles are broken off. This is because a knife is fundamentally missing an integral part of itself without its handle. This is why it’s important to use high-quality materials when making handles, so they can survive for a long period. What could be more appropriate than a pakkawood?

This page has, we believe, satisfactorily answered the question, What is Pakkawood? Its applications and upkeep are discussed. While pakkawood may have a similar appearance to genuine wood, it is distinct from natural wood in terms of color and characteristics. Because of these characteristics, it is safe to say that pakkawood-handled knives are the greatest option for anybody interested in purchasing a high-quality wooden-handled knife.

Photo of author

Aithley Balder

Hello there, my name is Aithley Balder from Texas. I am a cookware, sewing, toilet, technology enthusiast and I have been sharing my passion with my friends and likeminded folks for close to 4 years now. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me via the contact page.

Leave a Comment

For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.