Dymondwood: Not loving it

Thanks for your replies, guys, much appreciated.

Hope y'all are warm, well and happy this holiday season.

Cheers,
Ed
 
Reading thru this thread no one has mentioned they went and searched the net for Dymondwood info. I figured Bert would. Back when Buck first started using Dymondwood and this same conversation was ongoing, I went and did the investigating. Unless the factory burning closed the website it was pretty interesting to read, got into a little "industrial" chemical talk but showed a lot of different colored 'Dymondwoods'.

I say all that influenced by the watching of two solid days of the 'MythBusters". A little science research and sharing would not hurt some of our recent conversations. How else are new folks gonna learn.

What movie was it where the guy under questioning said, " The Truth, The Truth, You can't handle the Truth." 300
 
It was Colonel Nathan R. Jessep, that said it while addressing the court, in the 1992 film, 'A Few Good Men'. DM
 
Am I missing part of "The Truth?"
I'm not concerned with "the truth" beyond the fact that the Dymondwood scales on my Buck knives are lumpy and badly finished.
Perfect brass, gorgeous blade. Scales that look like they were sanded by a fourth grade shop class.

Cheers, guys!
 
Dymondwood is a product of Rutland plywood co.
From what I gathers from there website its fancy hi Tec plywood.
Knife scales gun stocks and traditional bows are made from from it.
 
Luna56 said:
Am I missing part of "The Truth?"
I'm not concerned with "the truth" beyond the fact that the Dymondwood scales on my Buck knives are lumpy and badly finished.
Perfect brass, gorgeous blade. Scales that look like they were sanded by a fourth grade shop class.
Cheers, guys!
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He probably had to run do something. He'll return and finish his thoughts. DM
 
Well, 300, I guess I thought the initial post was about the finish on a Dymondwood knife and I didn't comment on that. Maybe Luna56 got a bad sample. Dymondwood is one of those subjects that gets beaten to death. It seems like it was just a month or so ago that there was a long thread about it. My response was to the comment that there is a wood laminate "Micarta." I don't think so if you use a strict definition of Micarta.

I guess one of the big questions is, "What will Buck do about Dymondwood if the factory doesn't get going right away after the fire?"

Bert
 
Looking at the 110's and the 112 I have, it looks like they are doing a final sand or polishing step with a belt after the knife is fully together. That works with the Dymondwood because it's impregnated with resin. It looks like the rivets stand off the belt from the Dymondwood a bit in the areas near them, making it look lumpy. I think it would be pretty hard to eliminate that effect on a product that retails for $45 or less. It's a lot different than a handmade guitar.
 
The discussion in this thread has caused me to pull out a couple of recent Buck's with (what I believe) are Dymondwood grips. The three 50th Anniversary Buck's I own do not have flat handles on them, they are raised from the center and run flat almost to the end, but taper down to the bolsters (I had not noticed this before). My oldest 110, a two-dot has flat handles all the way to the bolsters. I find the new ones to be evenly done (luckily none of my knives have any lumps) and I like them - makes the gripping portion of the knife the same thickness as the old two-dot (which has the blocky brass bolsters). I also pulled out a Buck 303, made in NOV 2013, it is has very well fitted grips, exactly like you would expect on a good quality slip-joint (you can see the fitting in this picture) ah, lucky again! OH

Buck_303_-_2013.JPG
 
David, thank you; I took that picture on some moss growing under an oak tree in my yard late last February. OH
 
ed_bltn said:
Looking at the 110's and the 112 I have, it looks like they are doing a final sand or polishing step with a belt after the knife is fully together. That works with the Dymondwood because it's impregnated with resin. It looks like the rivets stand off the belt from the Dymondwood a bit in the areas near them, making it look lumpy. I think it would be pretty hard to eliminate that effect on a product that retails for $45 or less. It's a lot different than a handmade guitar.
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Point taken, the handmade guitar analogy was probably a bit unfair. On the other hand, I've seen dirt cheap budget guitars from China and Korea whose fit and finish rivals the best American made instruments. For a tenth of the price. No way they're as good as the instruments they are "cloning," but fit and finish are world class.

I still don't see why scales, regardless of material, can't be made smooth and flush. I have a cheap Japanese folder from the late 70's with wood scales and the surface of the scales is perfect. Perfect!

What part of Buck's process allows for this level of imperfection to pass?

I know it sounds like I'm making a big deal out of this, but trust me, I'm not losing any sleep over it. I love my Bucks and will undoubtedly buy more in the future. But I'll make the time to "cherry-pick" through a bunch to find some that are finished how I like.

Thanks to all for your input.

Cheers,
Ed
 
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Haven't been back because computer was on fritz. Looks like everything was said so I have nothing to add.....except..ha

Wouldn't it be interesting if a dozen forum members could pull a spy type entry into a large knife store and put a couple hundred Buck knives out on a table; to take them out of the packages and handle them all and look them over for fit and finish. We would likely still be there debating, when the police showed up the next morning when the store was opening. In the end I have to agree with Luna and others that it really doesn't matter the material you get stuff sent out without quality control.

Luna, if you want to make a point that counts, contact and send in your knife or photos to a forum member and Buck quality control supervisor " J Hubbard". I will go find you a link. ...........300Bucks

As stated J Hubbard on the forum. Send a private message to get a start.

BKI
ATTN: Jeff Hubbard
660 S Loshsa ST
Post Falls, ID 83854
 
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I can understand why people complain about quality, performance wise. I don't understand why there's issues in looks or appeal. Its a knife, an inexpensive hunting knife...Go use it and enjoy it.
 
I agree with 300. If the knife is that "lumpy" send it in. Buck will make it right. I have yet to see this and none of my knives have had this issue with Dymondwood. I like this stuff okay and have loved it on my rifles. The fit and finish on my Bucks (knock on wood) so far has been better in important ways than the more expensive competition.

The only issue I have had until the new this iteration of "Rosewood" has been color. I would prefer a true ebony color (but that's me).
 
tiguy7 said:
Yes I was using the term in the generic sense. Some of the cold mold composites, like G-10, use a catalyzed resin like epoxy. It is possible that Dymondwood is cold molded, but the scales on my 110 Master Series folder surely look like they were molded in a die.
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When I started knife making and was naive enough to think Dynowood looked good I bought a lot of my Micarta and some Dynowood from Angus-Campbell one of the original suppers to the knife making trade and the dyne wood I got from there has copper wires running through it so some seems to have been cured by heat but I think there is more than one was to form it.

Tape off your bolsters and hand sand the scales to you're liking, About 600-1000 grit will make it shine but you will lose some of the grippyness that I think Buck knives intended to give purchase with your hand.
 
They use diamond wood because they provide a lifetime warranty and you would whine and complain that the real wood cracked and expect them to replace it. While not quite as nice as a natural piece of would it will be much more durable.

The old micarta they used isn't near as nice as diamondwood used now the old micarta looks like plastic faux wood.

I have however seen some of the handles that were a little large and polished down to fit as they do the stag scales. Which for wood is poor unless you want a thicker handle.

The green master series aren't molded and I doubt the cricketing is pressed but probably cut with a computer.

I just love how people complain because something hand made isn't perfect and then when it's made perfect with machines they complain cuz it ain't hand made.
 
I had a small Vantage Avid and it had Dymondwood scales. I never complained about it. Felt good to me.
 
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