FAQs
Will my board look identical to your photos?
The beauty of products made from wood is that they come from Mother Nature (rather than a mould). Every board has its own unique grain and colour. It will not be identical, but it will be similar - your board is one of a kind!
How big and how heavy?
Our boards are satisfyingly chunky but still easy enough to manoeuvre around the kitchen if you have to.
Boards: 17 inches (L) x 12 inches (W) x 1.5 inches (D)
Packaged: 18 inches (L) x 12.5 inches (W) x 2 inches (D)
Weigh just under 6 lbs gross
Does Papa Oki offer custom designs or sizes?
Not right now.
My board is showing knife marks – is this normal?
Absolutely! Knife marks are a good sign because it means that your cutting board is is taking the hit rather than your knife blade. Many people forget about the protection of their knives when purchasing a cutting board, and instead focus on keeping their countertop or table safe. Wood cutting boards are the only durable material that will protect both the knife and countertop as you prepare meals.
While all wood cutting boards will show marks overtime, treating it with food-grade mineral oil every 3 weeks will help blend them into the natural grain and colour of the wood.
Can I use a bread knife on wood cutting boards?
Not a good idea! Serrated knives are designed like saws to tear through the crust of bread. They will seriously scar any wood cutting board and, if cut deep enough, can cause the board to splinter. Stick to a straight edge blade and you’ll enjoy many years of use with your cutting board.
Can I add feet to my board?
Some people have added rubber feet to the underside of the board (the bowl side) to keep the board off the worksurface or add a little height. The board will work perfectly well without them but if you do want a set, please let us know and we’ll pop them in the post. It’s on you though to make sure they go on correctly!
Can I sharpen the mezzaluna knife?
To keep the mezzaluna sharp, use a sharpening steel – a long thin rod of steel that you'd use to sharpen a regular chef's knife. Be sure to keep the blade cover on when not in use.
How will the mezzaluna knife compare to my other kitchen knives?
It depends on what you have of course, but we wanted our mezzaluna knife to hold its own compared to good Japanese and German blades.
Like them, our knives are made from a high-carbon steel (2CR14) with a hardness of 54±2 HRC. There are no seams or rivets in our chopper knife - just a single, solid-state piece of steel with an ergonomic handle design. It comes with a custom sheath for safe storage.
Is Papa Oki mineral oil safe to use?
It’s important to know that not all mineral oils are food safe, but our Chopping Board Oil is. It is a non-drying oil that has no colour or taste. It also meets all safety standards making it perfect for use on items used for food preparation.
Can’t I just use another kind of oil?
You could but in our experience it’s a really bad idea.
Danish Oil, along with all other drying wood oils are prone to rancidification. This is a common problem caused with organic oils,
where autoxidation of the fats causes an unpleasant odour or taste on the
chopping board.
We also don’t recommend using linseed oil because it has a very strong odour and can take up to three days to dry. It’s also prone
to rancidification. Keep the linseed oil for the cricket bat.
Vegetable oils such as olive oil, and nut oils such as peanut or walnut oil are non-drying and contain fats that oxidise and also go rancid. It's also important to consider nut allergies.
Can I use this oil on other wood products?
We’ve sold tens of thousands of bottles of our oil and most people use it, at least initially on chopping boards. It’s often so effective they start using it on all their wooden products like salad bowls and countertops.
It’s also really good at restoring slate, marble and stainless steel. Some adventurous types have used the oil on garden furniture and even wooden fences and swear by the results.
Are your aprons eco-friendly?
The short answer is yes, linen is eco-friendly! It is a natural fibre derived from the flax plant, which doesn't need pesticides to grow and requires 60% less water than cotton. Every part of the flax plant is used to produce various products, from linen fabrics to linenseed oil. Besides, linen can be recycled and is naturally biodegradable, which puts it high on the eco-friendliness chart.
Do you offer custom sizes?
Not at this time, but we’ve designed the apron to fit all body shapes from the generous, wrap-around round swathe of linen to the extended and adjustable straps.
Is linen more durable than cotton?
Yes, linen is thicker and about 30% stronger than cotton. The reason is because the flax plant, from which linen is derived, produces much longer fibres than the cotton plant. Fibre length contributes directly to yarn strength, which influences the strength and durability of the fabric.
Can you send me a fabric sample?
Sure. Just drop us a line and we’ll send you a sample.
How do I care for the apron?
Caring for linen is simple: you can both hand wash and machine wash linen items at low temperatures. Linen can be tumble dried on low heat. We don’t recommend using bleach or detergent with optical brighteners as they tend to weaken the fibres.
When it comes to reducing wrinkles, ironing is one way to go. However, it will hardly give you the smooth result you are looking for and it may weaken the fibre over time. If you do decide to iron your apron, do it while it is a little damp and use a quality steamer.
Where can I read your policies?
Do your products come with a warranty?
YES! Purchase with peace-of-mind knowing that we stand behind our products, and in the unlikely event of a manufacturing defect, we will replace your board or apron free of charge within 1-year of your purchase. Please keep in mind our products do require care and our warranty doesn’t cover improper care and improper use.
Can I get my products gift wrapped?
The board comes in a great custom box and is highly giftable. The other items come nicely presented too. Repurposing the gift box is highly encouraged! A little bird told us our flat boxes are perfect for storing things underneath beds.
Can I leave a gift message?
Yes! Just leave the message in the cart and we'll add it to your parcel.
