Thread: Dishwasher safe wood finish

I've been asked by one of the guys I work with to rescale one of his favorite kitchen knives. Now this is just an inexpensive knife, but he likes the shape of it and it works for what he needs it to do. He also throws it in the dishwasher to get it clean.

So, I'm trying to figure out the best way to rescale this? Do I use Micarta (I'd have to make a special order)? I don't really have much experience with wood finishes, but would be able to do a CA or wipe on poly finish without having to buy any new products.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to proceed?

If its going into the dishwasher avoid wood. The heat, the water and the chemicals in the detergent are all terrible no matter the wood or the finish. I would stick with some kind of plastic or acrylic, maybe metal or plexiglass.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

If its going into the dishwasher avoid wood. The heat, the water and the chemicals in the detergent are all terrible no matter the wood or the finish. I would stick with some kind of plastic or acrylic, maybe metal or plexiglass.

Oh so true! My wife goes thru more cutting boards, she just wont listen when I tell her to hand wash it.

one idea would be to leave it with only a oil finish, but as mentioned before the washer is really tuff on it, when my wife tosses them into the washer they get a light coat of cooking oil just so they dont dry out. but they still get pretty worn.

Call me strange but i would choose a hardwood that was pretty water resistant in the first place
Dont know how something like ebony would react to dishwasher detergent tho

coatings i dont know what to use but CA PU or epoxy should probably work
(would advise a test run)

now i see everyone advise against wood but tossing a sample inn for a few sycles can tell you more of what works
(atleast for a while)

Maybe lignum vitiae might be a wood to try i know it is really dense wood and will even sink in water. But not cheap.

I wouldn't put anything wooden into dishwasher.
I use oil finish for kitchen knives with wooden handles. I oil them more or less frequently and we wash them with hands.
Even if you used epoxy or CA finish, you can never be 100% sure that the water, heat and chemicals doesn't get between the blade and the handle. That doesn't do any good even if the knife was stainless.

Originally Posted by dnjrboy

I've been asked by one of the guys I work with to rescale one of his favorite kitchen knives. Now this is just an inexpensive knife, but he likes the shape of it and it works for what he needs it to do. He also throws it in the dishwasher to get it clean.

So, I'm trying to figure out the best way to rescale this? Do I use Micarta (I'd have to make a special order)? I don't really have much experience with wood finishes, but would be able to do a CA or wipe on poly finish without having to buy any new products.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to proceed?

You'll have to go the Micarta or maybe G-10 route. Or Carbon Fibre? Natural materials just aren't going to hold up.

Some stabilised woods might work since they have a hig percentage or plastic in them basically.

Personally....I'd just teach him to not put his kitchen knife in the dishwasher if you want to use wood. I don't really see another way.

I'm about to do the same for a friend of mine....but he already knows not to put his knife in the dishwasher.

There are some battles that you know you are going to lose before you start. Asking this guy to hand wash his knife after years of putting it in the dishwasher is one of those battles.

Micarta or G10 it is.

Does it have wood now? How long did they last? probably go just as long the second time or better if you choose the right wood.

We have knives that go in the dishwasher. The handles are not as nice as new but they are serviceable, and old. I have knives that do not go in the dishwasher as well