Knife Care Information For All Types of Knives
Whether you have a brand new purchase or a cherished heirloom, all knives need occasional care to help ensure years of trouble free and safe service. Below you will find instructions and tips on how to maintain and care for all the knives you own.
Keep Your Knife Clean And Dry
After using your knife, it is a good practice to clean and dry the entire knife (handle, blade, etc.). Most modern blades are made from corrosion-resistant stainless steel, but prolonged exposure to the elements can cause the surface of the steel to oxidize (rust). Contact with or immersion in liquids (water, solvents, etc.) for any amount of time can have a detrimental effect on metal parts and handles made of wood or other porous materials.
To clean your knife blades, you can use a special purpose cleaner designed for cleaning knife blades or use a chemical solvent such as Acetone, paint thinner, nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol. Note that Acetone based solvents can melt some plastics, so exercise care during cleaning if the knife handle is made from plastic. Do not use detergents that contain Chlorine as they can accelerate corrosion of the blade steel.
Carbon and tool steel blades, and most Damascus steel, may stain when cutting meat or other organic materials. This is due to the acidic nature of what is being cut and will not damage the blade. Stains and light rust can be removed by polishing with a fine abrasive paper, or fine steel wool.
Lubricate Your Knife Blade Occasionally
Immediately after cleaning, apply a thin film of lubricant to the surface of the blade. This can be accomplished by rubbing the blade with an oil-moistened cloth. This will help prevent surface corrosion and oxidation.
Periodically, and always after cleaning, apply a small amount of lubricant to the working parts of the knife (pivot points, springs, etc.). Excessive use of oil on moving parts is neither necessary nor recommended. Some friction is desirable especially with non-locking blades to help keep the blade open or closed (whichever is desirable at the moment). Be sure to wipe away excess oil before using the knife. A handle or blade slippery with oil can be dangerous.
Keep The Blade Sharp
A dull blade can be more dangerous to use than a blade that is properly maintained. The reason for this is simple; more pressure is needed to make a cut with a dull blade giving more opportunity for the blade to slip and cut something it wasn't intended to cut. See below for how to sharpen your knives.
Don't Forget The Handle
The wood portion of handles can be occasionally rubbed with furniture polish or Danish Oil. Wipe away excess polish or oil. Use household brass polish on any parts made of brass. Use soapy water and a brush to clean plastic handles.
Check our Knife Accessories section for lubricants, cleaners and sharpeners to keep all your knives in great shape.
Knife Care Recommendations Specific To The Type Of Knife.
Folding Knives
Folding knives have moving parts that need to be kept clean in order for the knife to operate reliably and safely.
If your folding knife has a locking blade, check the locking notch regularly to ensure that it is clear of debris and fully operational. Clean all sand and grit from all surfaces (inside and out) of the knife. Keep the mechanisms clear of any type of debris that may hinder operation of the knife. Note that you should never rely on a folding knife to be permanently locked in position. Locking mechanisms have been known to fail under high stress use. If strength and durability are an issue, look at buying a fixed blade knife for the job.
Fixed Blade Knives And Kitchen Cutlery
Fixed blade knives and kitchen cutlery generally do not have moving parts, so their maintenance is simpler than the folding blades discussed above. Cleaning and occasional sharpening, as needed, should be enough to keep your fixed blade knife ready to use.
If your knife has one, be sure not to neglect the sheath. Keep it clean, dry and properly maintained. Inspect sheaths regularly for weak areas, or highly abraded areas that may allow the sharp point or blade of the knife to poke through. Leather should be cleaned with leather soap. Use of oils on leather is not recommended, as this can soften the molded shape of the sheath.
Care Recommendation For Multipurpose Tools
Multipurpose tools have many moving parts that must be taken care of to ensure safe and efficient use of the tool. Multitools can be dangerous and/or difficult to use if the tools they contain are not maintained. Below is a list of the typical tools found on a multitool and the care needed:
| Tool | Care and Maintenance |
| Knife blade(s) | See General Care and Folding Knives sections above for care. |
| Pliers | Keep gripping surface of jaws clean. Clean with water or solvent and a brush if excessively dirty. Lightly oil pivot pin and other metal-on-metal areas occasionally to allow easy use of pliers. |
| Screwdriver(s), nail file, ruler, can opener, other tools | Clean pivot areas to make sure tools are accessible without undue effort. Place a small drop of oil on moving parts of pivots, open and close tool 5-10 times to help oil penetrate, then wipe away excess oil with tissue. |
| Scissors | Keep fold-out pivot and scissors pivot points moving freely by cleaning and occasional application of a small drop of light oil. Scissors generally should not be sharpened since blades may not mesh properly after sharpening. |
To store your knife or multitool for any length of time, remove it from it's sheath if it has one, then wrap the knife or multitool in a soft cloth or place it in a display case. Do not store in a leather sheath as acidic moisture from the leather can cause staining of metal parts.
Warranty Repairs At The Factory
If any part of your knife or multitool ceases to operate as designed you may need to send it back to the manufacturer for repair. Please note that self-repair of most knives and multitools will void your warranty. Check your paperwork to see that your knife is still under warranty and then proceed with the following steps:
- Contact the manufacturer to check their procedure for warranty repair work. See our Resources page for addresses, phone numbers and websites for most knife manufacturers.
- Write a note that clearly describes the problem with the knife. Be sure to include your contact information in the package. Include your name, address, phone number and e-mail address (if applicable). If you were given a return authorization number, write it on your note as well as on the outside of the package.
- Properly protect the blade during shipping. For safety and protection of your knife, put it in a sheath, if you have one. If not, wrap your knife securely with cardboard or some other rigid material so it is protected during shipping and the point cannot cut through the packaging.
- Packaging your knife in a box is usually preferred, but a padded envelope may suffice for smaller knives. Put packing material such as wadded newspaper or Styrofoam "peanuts" around the knife so it cannot move around inside the package.
- We recommend you insure your package and send it via a trackable parcel carrier (UPS, USPS or FedEx). This will help protect you against the possibility of loss or damage to your knife. Send the package to the address indicated by the manufacturer after contacting them.
How To Sharpen Various Types Of Knife Blades
All knife blades need occasional sharpening. When cutting becomes difficult or an excessive amount of pressure is necessary to make a cut, it is probably time to sharpen the blade. Many manufacturers will sharpen knives made by them for a nominal fee. You may choose to contact the manufacturer of your knife as recommended above for repair work and inquire about their sharpening service. Sending the knife away for sharpening will obviously require time and money (shipping and possibly a fee for sharpening). The alternative is to sharpen your knives yourself.
The following instructions outline the safest and most effective method of sharpening your knives.
How Not To Sharpen Your Blade
First of all, here's how not to sharpen your knife. Never use a motor-driven grinding wheel to sharpen a knife blade! This can heat the blade to the point that it removes the temper from the blade, which may make the edge brittle and possibly chip or break during use. Also, sharpening your knife in this manner will generally void the warranty.
Go to the Knife Accessories section to browse our wide selection of sharpeners.
How To Sharpen A Straight (Non-Serrated) Knife Blade
For best results, use a sharpening stone. For quick touch-ups on a blade that is not too dull, use a fine grit diamond sharpening stone or an Arkansas honing stone. For a more thorough sharpening on a blade that is dull, use a coarse grit stone first, then go to a fine grit stone or series of stones. Sharpening stones may be used dry or wet with water (do not use oil).
- Select a sharpening stone (see our selection in the Knife Accessories Section) with the correct grit based upon the amount of sharpening needed as described above.
- The blade edge should be ground to an angle of 13 to 16 degrees, which is often approximately the thickness of the top of the blade.
With the blade on the surface of the stone or diamond sharpener held at the angle suggested above, begin to grind in a slow, clockwise motion. Do not remove the blade from contact with the sharpener throughout the circular motion. Make the circular motion large enough to cover the whole length of the blade during each circle. Use care to maintain the same angle throughout the range of motion.- After some time, turn the blade over and move in a counter-clockwise motion in the same way described above. Spend the same amount of time sharpening both sides of the blade.
- Repeat the previous two steps until the knife achieves the desired sharpness. Finish with the finest grit sharpener you have.
Clean your sharpening stones with soapy water and a brush as needed. Always thoroughly dry your stones after each use and before storage.
How To Sharpen A Serrated Knife Blade
Sharpening a serrated blade requires a sharpener specially designed for the purpose. It is not possible to use a flat sharpening stone to sharpen a serrated blade. Use a tapered diamond sharpener that is designed specifically for sharpening serrations (see our Accessories Section).
- Place the sharpener on the side of the blade that was ground to make the serrations and find the spot along the length of the taper that best matches the size of the serration.
- Push the sharpener against the blade, using care to maintain the same angle as the factory edge. Rotate the sharpener as you push.
- Repeat the above steps for all serrations.
How To Sharpen A Ceramic Knife Blade
Ceramic blades offer amazing edge retention and may never need to be sharpened under normal use situations. However, if you do find your ceramic blade knife becoming dull, the only way to sharpen it is to send it back to the manufacturer or find a qualified knife shop locally that is equipped with a powered diamond-sharpening wheel. Use of standard sharpening tools on a ceramic blade will have little to no effect and may cause damage to the blade edge.
Additional Helpful Information
Go to our Blade and Handle Materials page to learn about how to select the right materials for your application. Check out our Knife Basics page to find out what features you should look for in a knife and what kitchen cutlery you should have in your kitchen.
