Knife and Tool Maintenance
Care and maintenance of knives and tools:
Rust is inevitable, and is a part of life on Earth. It can be beautiful and bring character to steel; it can also be destructive. The goal with maintaining high carbon steel knives and other tools is to control the rust and use it to our advantage.
"Patina" is a superficial layer of oxides that forms on some steel and other metal surfaces due to the interaction of air, moisture, and other influencing factors, such as acidity. Often, a patina is desirable due to it's attractive appearance and protective qualities. When a patina forms in the correct way, it can help slow or stop destructive oxidation. Patina will develop during regular use of tools and knives. For example, when using a carbon steel chef knife, regular use in the kitchen cutting different types of fruits, vegetables, and proteins will cause a patina to develop on the steel surface. The patina can vary in color from shades of brown to shades of blue, green, or red, depending on the types of food that interact with the blade.
I use carbon steel to make all my knives and tools. Some carbon steel will develop rust quicker or easier than others. Some will develop patina differently than others. This should not be considered a flaw of the steel, just the nature of the steel. Carbon steel knife blades are often prized over their stainless steel counterparts, due to their ability to quickly and easily take a long lasting, very sharp edge. I believe carbon steel knives to hold a certain beauty; they have something of a "spirit" that I often times do not see present in stainless steel knives.
What is the easiest way to care for carbon steel knives and tools? Simple. Use the knife or tool as intended. Regular use will help develop a nice patina and prevent destructive rust formation. Neglect is the downfall of a tool. Keep the knife or tool clean, dry, and oiled when not in use. Make it a point, a "ritual", to routinely rinse your chef knife in warm, clean water while in use, and immediately dry with a clean, soft cloth. After a few weeks of using a carbon steel knife in this way, it will become second nature. For kitchen and field knives, I recommend storing your knives in a dry place away from steam or direct heat and sunlight, and routinely applying a thin coat of camellia oil to the surface of the steel and handle to help prevent rust and to keep wood or synthetic handle material oiled. For hammers and other hand tools, I recommend keeping them stored in a dry environment if possible, and regularly applying a thin coat of boiled linseed oil to the surface of the steel and wood handles.
Knife sharpening:
I recommend using high-quality water stones for sharpening all my knives. If a set-angle type sharpener is desired, I recommend the Spyderco Sharpmaker, it is a very effective and easy to use sharpening system. I do not recommend using carbide fixed angle type sharpeners or any "automatic" type sharpeners. Take extreme care when using any type of motorized or moving sharpening system. I offer a knife sharpening and rehab service for all my knives; contact me for details.
Hammer faces:
Hammer faces will dent and ding over time. My hammers are made of mid to high carbon steel and are heat treated and tempered to have a long lasting, durable face surface. When the hammer face eventually develops enough dents and dings to be detrimental to your work, the face can be dressed using sandpaper by hand or machine. Take care when using machines, they can remove a lot of metal in a short time. I do not recommend using a grinding wheel or an angle grinder. I offer a face dressing and handle rehab/replacement service; contact me for details.
Lifetime Guarantee
My guarantee on all my products is simple - if ever for any reason you have any issues, contact me directly and I will make things right. It is the nature of tools to break when in use. I make my tools with the highest quality materials and finish them to the highest standards. This does not mean that they can and will break if given enough time in use. Hammer handles are designed to eventually need to be replaced. Knives will need to be sharpened, and will ultimately be sharpened to the point where they have outlived their usefulness. Hammer faces can dent. Knife blades might chip. I will be happy to address any issues resulting from proper, regular use for the life of the tool. My knives and tools are meant to be heirloom quality tools, to be used by generations.
Purchasing Details
I have two basic types of products available in the online store - in-stock "available now" items, and "custom order" items.
In-stock "available now" items are available to ship right away, and the photos and description you see are the product you are purchasing. "Custom order" items are products that are made to order, and the photos and description show the general characteristics of the item you are purchasing. All custom order items are made to order, one at a time, by hand, by me. Custom orders currently have a lead time of at least 12 weeks.
Shipping and handling charges are included in the purchase price. All orders are shipped USPS Priority Mail or UPS. Currently, I am only selling and shipping to the USA. If you are outside the USA but would still like to make a purchase, please contact me directly before purchasing to discuss details.
Payments can be made securely through the online store. The online stores accepts PayPal and all major credit cards using Stripe payment services. An email confirmation will be sent for all orders after the order is accepted, and again when your order has shipped.