Being an aichmomaniac, I love trying various knives whenever possible. My fascination for knives started with my father. Being a skilled bladesmith, he was always keen to train me about knife materials, handle types, blade designs, etc. Among all of these, Pakkawood/ Pak-wood is his favorite. He is always ready to craft knife handles from this popular wood. This Pak-wood forms when you press, sand, and polish a high-quality wood. This wood is impregnated with high-epoxy resin to make it strong, durable, and waterproof.

If you are also an aichmomaniac who wants to know more about Pakkawood, especially in knife handles, this article will give you fruitful insights. Let us move ahead in the article to learn more about it! 

What Is Pakkawood?

This wood is created from engineered wood and resin. It is a type of hardwood laminate. 

This non-porous wood is resistant to extreme weather conditions, water penetration, heat, chipping, warping, cracking, etc. Many people call it Colorwood, Dymondwood, Staminawood, Compreg, etc. A normal Pakkawood knife or spoon consists of 70% wood and 30% epoxy resin.

This wood is mostly used in military accessories, garden tools, culinary equipment, etc. Many low-budget Japanese kitchen knives are mostly made from this variety of wood. It is more durable than natural wood.  

Well, is it really a wood? According to my research, it is a composite substance having a natural wood effect. Let us move to the next section to learn about the manufacturing process of Pakkawood.

How is Pakkawood Made?

Making this wood is not rocket science. It is a simple method of creating a tough substance from wood. I tried to look into the in-depths of Pakkawood making and found this step-by-step process for it:

1. Multiple layers of high-quality wood are kept together to impregnate. They are also called Pakkawood Veeners. 

2. Good quality epoxy resin is addressed on these layers. 
3. They undergo heat and pressure treatment to fuse and bond together.  
4. Industrially, a thermosetting process is utilized to harden and set the Pakkawood material using heat energy.

Fact to note: In 1969, Toshiaki Oishi patented the process of making Pakkawood by industrial method in Japan.

5. These processed wood composites are cut into the desired shapes. 
6. They are then sanded and polished to achieve a silky smooth lustrous look! 

Due to this multi-step process, this wood becomes strong enough to combat wear and tear, humidity, chapping, etc. 

Me and my aichmomaniac buddy Mike, a carpenter by profession, decided to create Pakkawood by ourselves using this method at home! After 4 attempts, we got an outstanding Pakkawood composite which we later inserted as a knife handle. Here are the images for that:

What Are the Properties Of Pakkawood?

As studies say, the properties of this wood are incredible in terms of durability, sustainability, quality, cost, etc. I am sharing a quick insight into the most essential properties of Pakkawood below: 

1. Durable:

This material is stronger than natural wood as it is resistant to heat, humidity, abrasion, water, humidity, etc. Due to the non-porous internal structure and resinous layer, this material stays as it is for years without getting chapped or warped. 

Natural wood is porous and can adhere to bacterial or fungal invasion on long use. On the other hand, Pakkawood handles are resistant to all external damages and flaws. 

Kindly watch this video to learn about Pakkawood’s properties over natural wood:

2. Easy-to-make:

The raw material is easily available at hardware stores. Its making process is also simple. This bio-degradable material does not melt or burn like plastic under heat. 

Natural wood may chip or crack when you cut and polish it into the desired handle shape. Such handles get degraded over time. But, Pakkawood never gets degraded on long use.

3. Adaptable:

You get diverse colors and shapes of Pakkawood to choose from. It gets easily cut into any shape without any strain. This material looks like a natural wood. Every Pakkawood piece has unique color designs and patterns. This wood has color variants such as:

• Premium Grey
• Premium Walnut
• Classic Blonde 
• Premium Blonde
• Classic black 
• Dual-core black
• Glossy rainbow 

4. Easy-to-handle:

It is easy to maintain. This material stays new for years due to its colorfast properties on proper maintenance. The resin or steel handle may have improper weight. But, Pakkawood handles feel ideal to lift while cutting veggies. 

They also have excellent grip and control due to their woody-grained and desired-shaped handle.

5. Budget-friendly:

Even though this material takes many steps to form and sustain, it is quite affordable. It ranges from $5 – $500 per price or kg depending on quality and quantity. 

How To Maintain Pakkawood Handles?

I feel if you are a true Aichmomaniac, you will passionately clean your knives regularly with care and love! Cleaning knives and blades is a part of my weekly routine where I feel peace and happiness. 

I have observed that many newbies are unaware of exact maintenance tips. They end up damaging their knife collection while following incorrect cleaning practices.  If you are also one of them, I am sharing some important tips on how to clean Pakkawood handles, as follows:

1. Take warm and soapy water in a bowl and jar. Use this water to wash the Pakkawood handle knife gently with your hands.

2. Always pat dry the handles with a soft microfibre cloth or napkin.

3. I add a layer of olive oil or mineral oil to the Pakkawood handle and leave it there for 10-15 minutes. Later, I wipe that oily layer with a tissue paper or soft cloth. Doing this once a week retains the polish and shine of the handle.

4. Use baking soda when the Pakkawood handle or spatula has a stain of spices or gravies. 

I mix baking soda in lukewarm or hot water to form a smooth paste. Then I apply this paste to the stained area.

 I rub the Pakkawood’s stained part with a soft sponge until the mark gets removed.

Dont’s of cleaning these handles:

Although cleaning Pakkawood is easy, you must obey some rules to save it from unnecessary damage. I have tested these ‘Don’ts’ before making any final judgment about Pakkawood cleaning methods.

I am sharing them below for your reference:

1. Do not put the Pakkawood handle knife in the dishwasher.
2. Do not soak it in hot water for a longer time.
3. Do not use harsh abrasive that can cause damage to the polish of this wood.
4. Do not make a pile of used Pakkawood handle knives in the kitchen. Immediately clean them with running tap water after use and dry them with a soft napkin.

Apart from this, if you are facing knife blade issues, kindly check my article on removing rust on a knife!

Applications Of Pakkawood?

As we all know Pakkawood is the most prominent option to create knife handles. But, I have come across some other uses of this wood too. I am sharing them with you below:

1. Pakkawood is used to make culinary spatulas and spoons. 
2. They are used to make food containers to keep the food away from rotting.
3. They are used to craft decorative art pieces and home-need items like tea coasters, glass holders, knife holders, blade cases, etc.
4. They are used to make shavettes that hold the shaving blade. Such shavettes are resistant to bacteria and humidity when kept in the bathroom after shaving.

Final Thoughts:

Pakkawood has brought a revolution in the wood and culinary industry. It has replaced traditional wood tools due to its extraordinary strength to sustain pressure, water, heat, humidity, etc.

 In my two cents, I say that, select the right Pakkawood variant, clean it regularly after use, and enjoy the finesse of its handle or spoon in culinary arts! I love it because of its affordability and longer shelf life than normal wood. What kind of Pakkawood equipment/tools do you use? Do let me know in the comments!