Product knowledge – Care and sharpening


Windmühlenmesser – Care and sharpening

Windmühlenmesser – Care and sharpening


Care of carbon steel blades

Over time, carbon steel blades gradually discolour from use and a dark patina forms. It is completely harmless and has no effect on how the knife functions.

However if you wish, the blade can be brightened with “Vienna chalk” or a scouring agent and a coarse sponge. This returns the blade nearly to its first shine.

The same effect is also very successfully achieved with our “rust eraser” which removes rust or discolouration from the blade. The eraser can be used dry or even more effectively with a little water.

Windmühlenmesser rust eraser

Windmühlenmesser rust eraser


Oiling the wooden handles with wood care oil

Oiling the wooden handles with wood care oil

Care of wooden handles and chopping boards

Do not clean your cherry wood chopping boards and Windmühle knives with wood handles in washing-up water. They are also not suitable for dishwashers. This would bleach and dry out the wood. The best cleaning method is under a running tap, holding the point of the blade downwards.

The types of wood we use do need a certain amount of care. They come from Germany and Europe and given the climate here do not grow as densely as e.g. wood from tropical forests. This also means that they are not completely water-resistant but they do have a very beautiful, unique grain.

This grain and the different shades of colour are accentuated even more if you apply our natural wood care oil made from macadamia nut oil and lemon from time to time. The macada- mia nut oil is absorbed quickly, providing optimum protection and care.


Easy to sharpen

A further advantage of this material: it is very easy to resharpen. With regards to to the aforementioned properties this is only rarely necessary.

To recover the first-cut-sharpness the blade only needs 2 or 3 strokes on a ceramic sharpening stick or a whetstone. In contradiction to our complicated high-tech world this is a simple and easy procedure ...

Sharpening using a sharpening rod

Sharpening using a sharpening rod


Cleaning of the blades: rinsing and dry wiping

Cleaning of the blades: rinsing and dry wiping

Cleaning of the blades

For cleaning the blades, fine calcium carbon-ate powder, cigar ash, soap detergent or just a scrub sponge is recommended. These remove the dark oxidation surface from the blade, but note: it naturally will darken again.

It is better to leave the dark colour, as this is its ”working-colour“. The dark colour is comparable to the calluses on the hands of someone who has worked their whole life. The easiest thing is to rinse it under running water after use and to dry it carefully. This will reduce discolouration.