PROCESSKITCHEN KNIVES

Thermal process

The laser cut knife blade is heated at 1,000℃ in an electric furnace and then it is cooled off at water temperature. With this process, the structure of the stainless steel material changes and the blade becomes hard. After being cooled, the blade is heated again at 180℃. In this way, a blade that is not only hard and tough but also elastic, is obtained.

Periphery polishing / Surface grinding

After the thermal process, the periphery of the blade is polished with polishing belt. A computer-controlled machine adjusts the shape of the knife with whetstone. Subsequently, the surface of the blade tip is thinly grinded in the surface grinding process. This surface grinding process and the following polishing process are important processes that allow to obtain the beautiful pattern on the blade that characterizes Damascus kitchen knives.

Blade leveling / grazing

The blade leveling process consists in polishing the blade tip with a particular polishing material, making it take the shape of a smooth hard clam. Then, the entire blade is more finely polished in the grazing process and a blade entirely polished and with a perfect surface is obtained.

Bolster welding

Bolster is welded to the blade. The bolster is a part of the handle that reinforces the junction between the blade and the handle. By welding and fixing the bolster to the handle, it becomes difficult for water to penetrate into the handle and the handle's durability increases.

Mirror polishing / Abrasive blasting

In order to obtain a finish finer than that obtained by the grazing process, the blade is inserted between two rolls and is polished until it reflects images like a mirror. Then, the blade is submitted to the abrasive blasting process, that consists in spraying glass beads (fine glass particles) on it. Thanks to this process, the difference of surface's roughness of soft parts and hard parts of the stainless steel material is evidenced and unique stratiform patterns appear on the blade. These patterns are the designs that characterize Damascus kitchen knives.

structure

In the assembling process handle and rear bolster are fitted to the blade. Excellently water-resistant reinforced laminated wood is used as material for the handles. When fitting the handle, measures to enhance waterproofing property, such as using sealing material to prevent the penetration of water, are taken. Parts produced with MIM technology are used as bolster and rear bolster of some high-class kitchen knives.

Wood handle polishing / bolster polishing

This process consists in polishing the handle of assembled knives, the bolsters and the rear bolsters. By polishing the level differences of the small parts and their surface, it is possible to obtain a beautiful, smooth handle. Utilized polishing agents vary according to the part and each part is polished by expert craftsmen.

Printing / marking

Each kitchen knife has a mark printed on it. The mark indicates the brand name and the lot number that enables to identify its manufacturing date. This system allows the achievement of traceability, making it possible to identify the history of utilized materials, the date and time when each process was carried out and the workmen that carried out the processes.

Wet type blade edging

This method of blade edging is utilized for the high class lineup. By doing the grinding pouring water on the whetstone, it is possible to avoid the production of friction heat and to increase greatly the smoothness and the cutting quality of blade tips. The workmen that are able to carry out the wet type blade edging are very few. Only workmen with many years of experience are allowed to carry out this important process.

Inspection / Packaging

Last of all, burrs (ragged edges formed during grinding) are removed using tanned leather and after this process, the kitchen knife can be considered completely completed. Then, cutting quality of knives' blade is checked one by one. In order to make sharpness in cutting and durability compatible, blades should have a specific blade angle. The blade angles of knives are strictly inspected and controlled with measuring instruments. Then, completed knives are carefully packed in boxes.

Completion