How to Install Hardwood (Custom) Wa Handle to Japanese Kitchen Knife

[@bermuda1980]

Wanted to let you know you helped a novice do his first rehandle, and it was a piece of cake thanks to your video! It was scary putting the tang of my expensive knife to the grind wheel to get it to fit, but I did it, it worked, and the end result is fabulous! Thanks again!

[@NettiGaming]

Thank you for this informative video for years I've had a beautiful slicer that the handle broke off and I I've been frightened to attempt this myself. However your video has helped me give all of my knives a new lease of life ❤️ thank you

[@귀여]

Thank you so much for your video. It helps me to replace my wa-handle. Using hot glue would be great alternative way than epoxy. Very informative😊

[@AndyinMokum]

Greetings from The Netherlands. I've just received a custom made octagonal, red narra padauk handle with a black buffalo horn ferrule. It's going to be fitted to an iron clad 17cm Aogami #2 funayuki with a kurouchi finish. It's made by the rising star smith, Kyohei-San from Tosa It's a truly beautiful knife. To keep the cost down, it came fitted with a very generic keyaki wood, (Zelkova serrata) handle with a black plastic ferrule. The knife needs a much better handle. Your splendid video has been really helpful - thank you. I'm really looking forward to fitting the beautiful custom handle to my gorgeous Kyohei funayuki.

[@AndyinMokum]

The handle is now perfectly fitted to my funayuki. It was really easy to do. Using your technique, I was able to get the balance of the knife just the way I like it. I like my knives to be little blade heavy, opposed to handle heavy, or 50/50. Thanks for the splendid advice.

[@KnivesandStones]

that that it worked for you!

[@antonkudris]

Gonna try hot glue method on my next knife. Bye bye epoxy! Thanks, James!

[@bazlur-Vancouver]

Epoxy glue handle can be taken out by steaming the handle for about 20-30min or putting it in the boiling water(if it is wood or natural material, not the handle that will meltdown. I took out several times the shaving brush knot from the brush handle putting the brush inside a pot with water(not so deep) keeping on a small stone or metallic or heavy ceramic surface that the brush bottom do not touch the hot boiling water and cover it and then take out after 15 and try to pull it out with a hand, sometimes it comes out easily, sometimes need more streaming. I think the same method can be used on the handle if it is a natural material and needs some cosmetic finish if you need the same handle to install.

[@quandho5983]

nicely put it , somehow i get more confidence with epoxy materials. but is all depence on what u want ? thks for info ...

[@GrantHendrick]

Thank you for the very helpful video!

[@bazlur-Vancouver]

I just bought some amboyna blanks to replace my leathercraft tools handle for the beauty.

[@crazies2816]

Great job my friend!, l really like that hot glue method!

[@emperor91108]

beautiful handle

[@redangrybird7564]

Hey Alberto, you are a genious. Good job. Just some concerns about the silicon, it may get moldy after some time.

[@Nickporter17]

I enjoyed it!

[@brotharuss]

Why did the customer want a gap between the tang and handle? For looks? Or did he or she want the cutting edge to start further out just a bit? Thx

[@KnivesandStones]

that is a question that I never ask. It maybe following what the Japanese are doing but then I have no idea why they doing this in modern days though.

[@chrisolenick953]

another awesome video!

[@AndrewSmith-cd5zf]

Thanx for that - nice explanation

[@AC-wl7ve]

i recognize this knife from reddit

[@Joantesmolaba]

Very informative! Thank you very much! How about removing one though?

[@KnivesandStones]

There are two other videos that talk about this exact problem

[@ladallance12]

Hi, very interesting video and i like knives with the Wa handle, unfortunately in many knives you find a visible gap between the handle and the blade, and i don't understand why, like in your video we still see a gap but you say it is perfect. What needs to be done in this case please.

[@menchacasensei]

Can you show how to make a wa handle?

[@jeremycdurant]

Thanks, I bought a used sashimi knife and I need to replace the handle.

[@racheltyrellcorp9694]

Thanks a lot !

[@cjm321]

I have a shitan Otago handle on my yu kurosaki gyoto, the main handle wood is very dull, it looks dry, how do I make its shiny and look nice ?

[@mmadchef808]

Maybe use a cheese grater for the hot glue??

[@nurduwek7768]

Can I use beeswax instead of hot glue? Is there a difference in performance? I bought a knife that may have a bit of a gap where the knife exits the handle. I don't want water to get in there, so I want to seal it. Could I also use handle wax to seal the handle?

[@chrisolenick953]

beeswax melts under hot water so id avoid something with a low melt temperature

[@xzaviertorres5355]

I’ve seen beeswax used just fine.

[@feedoma4519]

Is it a good idea to use super glue or gorilla glue?

[@KnivesandStones]

no, it is a bad idea

[@feedoma4519]

@@KnivesandStones thank you

[@blufordbirdsong1834]

Great video. Just curious. If a lesser quality knife with hot glue handle made it into the dishwasher, would the heat be enough to loosen the tang form the handle? Just wondering how durable the bond is. Would love to get away from epoxy.

[@KnivesandStones]

probably not, but why bother using dishwasher when you can just simply boil the handle part in a pan (with the handle placed in a sandwich bag)

[@jasonmiddleton5491]

Where do you get handles from?

[@MrPhuongftu]

Let me know if you still need customized handle like that

[@natemccollum3731]

Wow, this works as a great advertisement on why I’ll be SENDING my knife in. I have a Yoshiaki Fujiwara purchase in the works and there is NO way I will grind the tang myself or file down the $200 handle I purchased for my $1200 knife lol.

[@chrisolenick953]

yeah most people dont change their own ferrari oil either. 99% of people dont buy 1200 dollar blades. sounds like your on the right track to having some smarts.

[@coecovideo]

you need to add [ 3) Silicon ] to you list ;-)

[@nowar-makelove]

rubbish. waste of time. Never put silcon in to a handle

[@meaninglessname123]

Silicone can mildew easily and will start to chip off. It's also very soft.

[@5tmvgy4k]

Great video - But a kept wishing he would get to the point! 23min video that could have been covered in 10min!

[@KnivesandStones]

Very true, I felt it was quite long as well. I do however had a hard time balace the duration of the video though. I deliberately kept a few of the clips not shortened / modified becuase I wanted to give the viewer a few about how long it should take for each step.

[@chrisolenick953]

i think he either did you a service or you could find a other channel to watch or learn how to forward through things if your impatient

[@peanutaxis]

Japanese knives. Assembled by kindergarteners with hot glue. No wonder I can feel my Japanese knife wobble inside if I wave it back and forth. Give me a descent european knife/handle, assembled by adults, anyday over that nonsense.