Caring For Custom Knives
Custom Heirloom Knives Deserve A Little Extra Love!
High-quality knives deserve high-quality knife care, a little better care than the $10 "Chefs Knife" you pick up at the big box store. In particular, the finely finished wood handle won't survive even one trip through the dishwasher. A customer has asked me to offer some pointers to get the most out of their new custom knife. This list may be amended, but it's a good starting point!
And PLEASE practice knife safety! Get Safety Tips HERE.
1- Use an Appropriate Cutting Board
I can't stress enough the importance of THIS statement. Don't use glass, stone, or ceramic cutting boards. Don't use your granite countertop. Appropriate cutting boards are made from wood, bamboo, silicone, or plastic. These materials will provide a solid surface to do your cutting without damaging the fine slicing-edge of your knife.
I've seen many glass or stone cutting boards, and even ceramic tiles used as cutting boards in the past few years. Even granite counter tops! While they might make handsome additions to the kitchen counter, but they're deadly to a keen edge. Just don't, please.
One last point here. When I sharpen your knife, the cutting edge of your knife is far less than one micron wide. Scraping that ultra-fine edge sideways across the cutting board will ROLL the edge, dulling your knife. Please don't use your knife for a scraper, or at least use the spine!! Your fine knives are not pry bars, screwdrivers, box cutters, or can openers.
Read about cutting boards HERE!
Don't go near the dishwasher!
2- Keep Your Knife Sharp
Here's a sticky point. If you know how to sharpen, do it regularly. If you don't, have your sharpening done professionally. Please don't take a custom knife to one of those $3.00 drag through "miracle sharpeners" as seen on TV. and double PLEASE, don't use the electric device on the back of a can opener to sharpen your knives. The best of them grind too much steel too fast and overheat your edge. The worst take big, faceted gouges out of your knife edge. Both are bad juju.
If your custom blade is a Keith Nix Knife, I'll sharpen it free, forever! Even if you sharpen your own knives, a professional tune up from time to time is recommended. I can restore your blades to their proper geometry for maximum keenness and edge retention.
Don't go near the dishwasher!
3- Wash Right After Use, By Hand
Sometimes a quick rinse and dry after dicing vegetables is enough. After working with meat, a bit of soap or detergent and hot water is better, and dry with a kitchen towel. This is all the daily Care necessary if your knife is made of stainless steel. If your blade is carbon steel(ask your maker) a light coating of vegetable oil will help prevent corrosion.
Please don't use an abrasive sponge on your knife. Most of them will leave micro scratches on the surface of your blade, and prematurely erode the finish on your handle.
Don't go near the dishwasher!
4- Dry With an Absorbent Towel
Even stainless steel will rust eventually. Water and chlorine help speed that process along, as will the acids from the foods you cut. A quick wipe with a kitchen towel or a paper towel will eliminate the potential for nasty red spots on your blade.
Don't go near the dishwasher!
5- Store in a Knife Block or Magnetic Strip
When knives are stored, so they don't bump and vibrate into each other, they stay sharper, longer. The handle finish lasts longer, and the blades pick up fewer incidental scratches and chips. Store knives properly, please.
Don't go near the dishwasher!
6- Handle Care
If your custom knife has a wood handle, it becomes more important to hand wash and dry and avoid the dishwasher. There is to my knowledge, no finish I can put on a handle that will withstand the dishwasher. Please, please, Hand wash and dry your custom knives.
Once a month or so, use a little paste wax or furniture polish to restore the finish of your wood. NEVER USE CUTTING BOARD OIL, please. That stuff is mineral oil and perfect for protecting a cutting board, but it will destroy the finish on your custom knife! And that isn't covered under warranty. Learn how handles are made, attached, and finished HERE!
Don't go near the dishwasher!
7- Special Note for Sheath Knives
Please, NEVER store your sheath knife in its sheath for prolonged periods. Leather is tanned using various chemicals, acids, tannins, and other compounds that can negatively react with your knife's steel or handle finish. Sheaths from thermoplastics such as Kydex form a very effective moisture barrier, preventing water from evaporating. Store your knife unsheathed, but keep knife and sheath close to each other.
Don't go near the dishwasher!
8- Special Notes For Carbon Steel Kitchen Knives
Carbon steel knives deserve a special mention here because of their susceptibility to corrosion. Many chefs prefer carbon blades for their exceptional hardness and ultra fine grain. In a nutshell, they take a slightly keener edge and may keep it a little longer in a kitchen setting. And cared for properly without fail, a carbon steel blade will develop a somewhat protective patina that many find beautiful over time.
So, ALWAYS dry your carbon steel knife. If you've been cutting acidic foods (citrus, tomatoes, onions, garlic, to name a few), immediately wash and dry your knife. Before storing, a thin coating of food safe oil can help protect the steel.
Don't go near the dishwasher!
Learn About Knife Design HERE!
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PLEASE DO NOT
1- Leave Your Knife in the Sink- ever
2- Put Your Knife in the Dishwasher
3- Store Loose in the Utensil Drawer
4- Cut on your Countertop, stone or glass
5- Don't go near the dishwasher!
I believe all these points are self explanatory after the suggestions above. Be SAFE, have fun, cook healthy, and keep your fingers curled!
In case you weren't counting, I said "Don't go near the dishwasher!" nine times, this makes ten. Yes, it IS that important!
As always, feel free to email me at keithnix@bellsouth.net, or call/text 828.337.7836.
I'm also available on Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger.