Sharp test?

[harronek]

A fun test I do is to push cut the corner of a book .
No slicing , sawing , rocking - just a single motion downward push .
This will soon tell you how good your edge geometry is .



Ken

[Skaaphaas]

A fun test I do is to push cut the corner of a book .
No slicing , sawing , rocking - just a single motion downward push .
This will soon tell you how good your edge geometry is .



Ken

Not really sustainable but very impressive.

[Brock O Lee]

Once I am certain there is no burr, I'm happy to stop if I can pop arm hair off the Spyderco brown stones.

[freebird610]

I test paper during the sharpening process they check arm hair. I haven't gotten to hair whittling techniques yet on my various sharpening devices. I also run my fingernail along the blade to make sure it doesn't catch.

[kwakster]

For kitchen knives i like testing on tomato's:

https://youtu.be/q4YGGHltloU

[ThePeacent]

Strongly grab the blade and squeeze it in your hand. That is a test you won't forget, I promise :D

[cabfrank]

Pics from the bad idea thread...

[cabfrank]

Cool knife though. I hope those are old pics and you're all healed up.

[Surfingringo]

For kitchen knives i like testing on tomato's:

https://youtu.be/q4YGGHltloU

Nice edge kwakster!

[Bloke]

Strongly grab the blade and squeeze it in your hand. That is a test you won't forget, I promise :D

Good test TP, I do similar but tend to use my fingers rather than my palm. Ah, hahaha! :rolleyes:

You may be onto something here. Lance's way has left me bald. :)

But, looking at that little cut I'm tipping you could probably get that edge a little sharper. :eek:

[Surfingringo]

But, looking at that little cut I'm tipping you could probably get that edge a little sharper. :eek:

Don't encourage him. :rolleyes: :)

[Bloke]

But, looking at that little cut I'm tipping you could probably get that edge a little sharper. :eek:

Don't encourage him. :rolleyes: :)

This topic should come with a warning! :eek:

I'm still recovering from the initial suggestions!

My hair dresser hates you! :p

[DougC-3]

I usually just shave arm hair and sometimes cut phonebook paper. That way I can check the entire length of the blade. One drawback is that my wife says it looks strange to have one hairy arm and one bare arm :p I hope to spend more time learning better sharpening techniques soon. Right now I'm pretty much doing the minimal amount with the sharpmaker and a sometimes a strop block and some Congress Moldmaster stones. Keep the threads coming :)

[Bloke]

One drawback is that my wife says it looks strange to have one hairy arm and one bare arm :p

Ah, hahaha! You're well and truly on your way to becoming a master knife sharpen! The fact you have denuded your arm of hair proves it. I shave mine in the shower when I shave my dial, if it looks like growing back. :eek:

I'd strongly recommend you only wear short sleeved shirts so that fellow edge junkies and master knife sharpeners will recognise you at a glance! :cool:

Unless your wife can sharpen better than you, I wouldn't pay too much attention to what she says about your bald patches. :)

[bearfacedkiller]

[clovisc]

I will touch with my thumb to feel the edge, shave paper, shave wrist/arm hair, and if I am finishing it to an extremely fine edge, will see how it does slicing paper towels.

[Evil D]

A fun test I do is to push cut the corner of a book .
No slicing , sawing , rocking - just a single motion downward push .
This will soon tell you how good your edge geometry is .



Ken

I got into a huge argument on FB about this. Someone was making a big deal about it and saying only a blade sharpened by some master Japanese blade smith could do it. It just takes a clean edge and the right pressure. It really isn't any more difficult than carving a branch. It's all wood.

[bearfacedkiller]

I think that push cutting a book like that is as much about thickness behind the edge as it is about sharpness. I think that you are really testing both together.

[kwakster]

Home made M2 steel knife (former machine hacksaw blade @ 65-66 HRC):

[Evil D]

I think that push cutting a book like that is as much about thickness behind the edge as it is about sharpness. I think that you are really testing both together.

Pretty much, but it also has a lot to do with pressure. You can sheer paper with a 90 degree edge with enough force. I was always told the best way to test the sharpness of a knife is to grab a hardwood broom handle and start carving the end off. You'll know immediately if the edge/grind geometry and sharpness are good or not. You couldn't find a broom at my grandfather's house that wasn't carved on.