Keeping knives sharp and how to clean and store them properly.
Blade Grinds: Different types of blade grinds, such as hollow, flat, and convex, and their characteristics and maintenance requirements.
Blade Steel: The various types of steel used in knife blades, their properties, and how to maintain them.
Blade Thickness: The importance of blade thickness, how to measure it, and how to maintain it.
Blade Geometry: The importance of blade geometry, such as the tip and edge angles, and how they affect cutting performance and maintenance.
Blade Coatings: The benefits and maintenance requirements of blade coatings, such as DLC or TiN.
Sharpening: Techniques, tools, and methods for sharpening knives, including honing, stropping, and sharpening stones.
Honing: The benefits and techniques of honing a blade, including steel rods and diamond paste.
Stropping: The benefits and techniques of stropping a blade, including leather and other materials.
Maintenance Tools: Which tools are needed for proper knife maintenance, such as lubricants, microfiber cloths, and rust erasers.
Cleaning: Proper techniques for cleaning and maintaining knives, including how to remove dirt, grime, and rust.
Storage: How to properly store your knives, including tips for preventing rust and protecting the blade edge.
Handling: How to properly hold and use a knife, including safety precautions, grip techniques, and finger placement.
Edge Retention: Techniques for maximizing edge retention, such as proper sharpening, honing, stropping, and maintenance.
Rust Prevention: How to prevent rust from forming on your knife, including techniques for cleaning and storage.
Knife Terminology: Understanding common knife terminology, such as blade shapes, grinds, tangs, and handles, and what they mean for knife maintenance.
Sharpening: This is the process of removing metal from the edge of a knife in order to create a sharper, more defined edge.
Honing: This is the process of realigning the edge of a knife, without removing any metal, using a honing steel.
Stropping: This is the process of polishing and refining the edge of a knife using a leather strop and polishing compound.
Cleaning: This involves cleaning the blade and handle of a knife to remove any dirt, debris, or oils that may accumulate over time.
Lubrication: This involves applying a thin layer of oil to the blade of a knife to help protect it from rust and corrosion.
Storage: Proper knife storage is important to prevent damage to the blade, such as scratches or chips, and to ensure that the blade remains sharp for as long as possible.
Handle maintenance: This involves maintaining the handle of a knife, which may include tightening screws or replacing worn out handles.
Blade straightening: For knives with bent blades, blade straightening involves gently bending the blade back into its original shape.
Rust removal: If a knife begins to rust, it must be removed before it causes more damage to the blade. Rust removal involves removing the rust while minimizing damage to the blade.
Repair: In cases where a knife is damaged, repair may be necessary. This can involve replacing a broken blade or handle, or repairing chips or other damage to the blade.