Knives

What is the difference between stainless and carbon steel?

Fundamentally, stainless steel has a minimum percentage of added chromium content which provides a high resistance to rust and corrosion while high carbon steel does not. I use high carbon steel for all my knives. High carbon steels will form a patina on the blade after use which provides protection against further oxidation and is completely normal and expected. Colors of the patina can vary from iridescent/blues to browns. While the patina provides some protection for the knife, the knife should still not remain wet or stored in damp areas as it will still corrode. The trade-off of excellent corrosion resistance in stainless steels is met with higher hardness values, great edge retention, and good sharpen-ability with high carbon steels.

How do I care for my Oak and Lily (or any high carbon steel) knife?

Be sure to hand wash and immediately dry the knife after use (do not put in the dishwasher). The knife should be stored in a dry environment and should not be put into its protective sleeve or sheath while wet. Optimally, the knife should be wiped dry if it is going to be put down for a while before cutting the next piece of food to prevent it from developing rust/corrosion due to any liquids or juices from the food being cut. If it will be stored for a long time, it is recommended to wipe on a thin coat of oil such as mineral oil. I recommend using the knife on some scrap vegetables first to form the initial patina however this is not required. The finish on the handle will wear over time with use. Conditioning wax can be used to offer protection to the handle if/when the finish wears down (applied the same way as for the cutting boards).

General

What is your shipping time?

Knives posted for sale on the website typically ship out 2 weeks after the order is received. Timing for custom work is dependent on current availability/back log of work.

Where can I see your past work?

Previous items can be found on the Oak and Lily Instagram page, https://www.instagram.com/oakandlilynj/ and show up as “SOLD OUT” in the shop.

Do you take custom requests?

I do take custom requests, please contact me at support@oakandlilynj.com or via my Instagram and we can go over the scope to see if it is something I can provide.