What is Pakkawood?
Pakkawood is not a naturally occurring wood, but rather a composite material made from wood and resin, which creates a new material with special characteristics, properties, and uses.
According to Oxford Dictionaries, Pakkawood is a hardwood laminate that is heat resistant, making it ideal for use in military equipment, kitchen utensils, and most commonly, kitchen knives.
The wood veneer of pakkawood is soaked in resin and subjected to high temperatures to bond the ingredients together and fuse the multiple layers; the industrial process is often referred to as thermosetting because heat is used during the curing process to harden or sets (fixes) the material.
In 1969, Toshiaki Oishi invented pakkawood and first patented the industrial process for pakkawood in Japan.
Natural wood is prone to problems such as splitting, splintering, and warping, and time-consuming maintenance is often required to increase the life of the wood. Since pakkawood is a pressure-treated composite, it is largely resistant to heat, water, warping, and other common disadvantages that you would find with natural hardwoods.
To create such a resilient and long-lasting material, pakkawood goes through a specific manufacturing process that minimizes the drawbacks of natural hardwoods while gaining the advantages of composite materials.
How to Care for a Pakkawood Handle
The key to properly caring for a pakka knife handle is the same as that needed for the blade and it’s to wash and dry the knife by hand after use.
The pakka wood handles can last a long time if cared for properly, even in high-pressure environments such as professional kitchens.
While pakkawood is largely waterproof due to the wood/resin bond, it should still be cared for like a hardwood handle.
Soaking in water for extended periods of time or placing it in a dishwasher can cause damage to the wood and should be avoided entirely.
