health effects of sharpening

[Xformer]

I'm not a doctor, but common sens would be to wear a mask I think. That's what I do when I work on a grinder of sort (I've been taught that way), even working with wood. It's a common practice in Europe.

I'd suggest to ignore snarky comments about "everything is killing you". That's what a lot of people thought about asbestos and it seems some people didn't learn their history lesson that well.

Better be safe than sorry.

[Woodpuppy]

^^ agreed. If you have concerns, mitigate your exposure. I use ear and eye pro as well as half-face respirators routinely for work and on my own time. You could also sharpen outside with a fan for cross breeze.

[Naperville]

I worked in construction for at least a decade between the ages of 16 and 26. For the first 5 years I worked in all areas of construction as my mother worked for a builder, and they would send me out to work with subcontractors when they needed people. The last 5 years I worked for the IBEW and in concrete.

I'm 60 now and I must have breathed enough wood chips and silica dust to fill a 12oz glass. Also, having lived in the Chicagoland area for at least 40 years, I must have breathed in another 12oz glass of plastic and rubber particulate from garbage and automobiles. Point of fact, I feel fine.

Unless you have a dedicated job in knife sharpening and spend 40 to 60 hours a week doing that one task, I doubt you will suffer. If you are worried put on a 3M elastomeric mask with P-100 filters.

[bearrowland]

I agree. I really don't see how a hobbyist could generate that many particles for it to be an issue. I'm from Steel country. As a boy and a young man, I was near enough to the Mills and Coke plants to have ingested more particles in one hour than thousands of dedicated enthusiasts generate in a lifetime. I've not had any issues, and am an avid runner and hiker.

[ZrowsN1s]

For light sharpening I'm usually more concerned about catching a stray piece of metal or dust in my eyes so I wear glasses or goggles.

I also don't worry as much when I'm wet sharpening. Lately I've been keeping a wet sponge with a bit of dish soap on it. I just dab the sharpening stones on the sponge often during the sharpening process. The soapy mixture tends to capture the metal dust.

On reprofiles, or if Im going to be sharpening for more than 15 minutes, I have a mold filtration mask and goggles I wear. I've seen a few knife makers wearing something similar for belt grinding.

[Blerv]

Inhaling anything your body can’t process is generally frowned upon.

I expect many have already mentioned but using water helps keep particulates from going airborne. Washing your hands well or even using gloves wouldn’t be a bad idea. Low speeds and low grit reduce the amount of material being shed. I certainly wouldn’t want to stand downwind of a grinder but if curious I’m sure professions of that nature already have extensive health tests. Welders, machinists, etc.

An occasional or even obsessive hand sharpener I expect has little to no concern of health issues. Not to the point it would have a major impact on illness over not performing those tasks. I have taken air quality much more serious as of lately with the wildfires and we are constantly running air purifiers with an air quality meter. My toaster oven cooking is probably doing more self-harm than my 701 profile stones. Plus you know...bacon :).

[standy99]

Best thing about everything being made in China is they are breathing in all the toxins our fore fathers breathed in.

Being a butcher for 20+ years.
Google the heavy metals found in meat and tolerances and it reads like the steel in the knives we use.

[Woodpuppy]

Best thing about everything being made in China is they are breathing in all the toxins our fore fathers breathed in.

Being a butcher for 20+ years.
Google the heavy metals found in meat and tolerances and it reads like the steel in the knives we use.

Wow! I bet you have a practical appreciation for sharp edges few here can share. Would love to hear what some of your favorite butcher knives are.

[Kevinim82]

I work as a nurse in Cardiology and Vascular Surgery. I work along side our heart and lung transplant surgeon who is also a pulmonologist. I asked him the question on sharpening knives/grinding. His answer was very simple.
When sharpening knives as a hobbiest, he see’s no/little risk of harm. Harm by inhaling metal particles would present as Asthma.

1.OHSA has helped prevent problems in industrial manufacturing with workers having the right equipment/respirators for the respective job.
2.Hobbiest should follow OHSA standards when doing high speed grinding.

[Mike Blue]

I'll add that industry has Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) available for every chemical that humans can find themselves exposed to. They are not hard to find. https://www.msdsonline.com

[Christian Noble]

The original "knife sharpening," flint knapping, there is a genuine concern for silicosis, ie, breathing in the silica put in the air from breaking rock which basically scars the lung tissue. While some knappers will wear a mask, most, including myself, simply knap in a cross-breeze. And unlike touching up a metal blade, knapping a point can take some time.

I can't imagine for the general knife-user (not maker) hand sharpening every now and again has an impact, stone or otherwise. Personally I usually sharpen my knives with sandpaper which also has to have more residue after using than a stone or surely ceramic. All that said, nothing wrong paying attention to the wind if sharpening outdoors and using to your advantage if concerned.

[standy99]

Best thing about everything being made in China is they are breathing in all the toxins our fore fathers breathed in.

Being a butcher for 20+ years.
Google the heavy metals found in meat and tolerances and it reads like the steel in the knives we use.

Wow! I bet you have a practical appreciation for sharp edges few here can share. Would love to hear what some of your favorite butcher knives are.

Best butcher knives are Dexter Russel. The best ability is the ease of being steeled back into shape
This below image is of the same knives ones just been sharpened a lot more.
(Neither look like the original knife purchased)


Would buy one of these as the white handled ones are not US made anymore
https://www.dexterrussellcutlery.com/de ... -12741-6f/

[Woodpuppy]

Best thing about everything being made in China is they are breathing in all the toxins our fore fathers breathed in.

Being a butcher for 20+ years.
Google the heavy metals found in meat and tolerances and it reads like the steel in the knives we use.

Wow! I bet you have a practical appreciation for sharp edges few here can share. Would love to hear what some of your favorite butcher knives are.

Best butcher knives are Dexter Russel. The best ability is the ease of being steeled back into shape
This below image is of the same knives ones just been sharpened a lot more.
(Neither look like the original knife purchased)


Would buy one of these as the white handled ones are not US made anymore
https://www.dexterrussellcutlery.com/de ... -12741-6f/

OK, so a boning form factor. And ease of steeling and presumably also sharpening. Would you see a benefit in a fancy tough steel for your use? Is stainless a priority or would something like the bushcrafters like work well for you? Cruwear, 4V, etc.

How would you spec out your own butcher knife?

[standy99]

► Show Spoiler

Best thing about everything being made in China is they are breathing in all the toxins our fore fathers breathed in.

Being a butcher for 20+ years.
Google the heavy metals found in meat and tolerances and it reads like the steel in the knives we use.

Wow! I bet you have a practical appreciation for sharp edges few here can share. Would love to hear what some of your favorite butcher knives are.

Best butcher knives are Dexter Russel. The best ability is the ease of being steeled back into shape
This below image is of the same knives ones just been sharpened a lot more.
(Neither look like the original knife purchased)


Would buy one of these as the white handled ones are not US made anymore
https://www.dexterrussellcutlery.com/de ... -12741-6f/

OK, so a boning form factor. And ease of steeling and presumably also sharpening. Would you see a benefit in a fancy tough steel for your use? Is stainless a priority or would something like the bushcrafters like work well for you? Cruwear, 4V, etc.

How would you spec out your own butcher knife?

I wouldn’t


The blade is constructed of Dexsteel, Dexter-Russell’s proprietary, high-carbon, high-alloy stainless steel – it’s been specially engineered for their professional knives to enhance sharpness, edge holding, corrosion resistance, and for ease of re-sharpening.

Above is why I wouldn’t but the main factor a high carbon steel is used is the ability to be “steeled” back into shape,

Do have a expensive Japanese and good to use sometimes but not as easy to sharpen and steel as a Dexter Russell and not as comfortable to hold as a D Russell as most time the grip of a boning knife is not your conventional grip like most knives are held






Watch this video to see the difference in holding a knife is compared to normal and the variable to how the blade is facing forward or backwards depending on cut.
https://www.thebutchersguild.org/blog/2 ... vin-mccann

[M Sea]

I don't know physically, but for my mental well being, it's a great way to relax!

I agree!!

[Snacktime]

Depends on the steel, chromium is known cancer causing agent. I prescribe a full face respirator with P100 cartridges. Make sure to get fit tested as your lungs do the filtering, also to determine the correct brand and size respirator for your face.

Sal here is a link to the laws that apply.
https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulati ... 0/1910.134

[Woodpuppy]

Watch this video to see the difference in holding a knife is compared to normal and the variable to how the blade is facing forward or backwards depending on cut.
https://www.thebutchersguild.org/blog/2 ... vin-mccann

Thanks for that, I’ve never watched a butcher that closely before.

[Deadboxhero]

Just imagine the dangers of making knives, I like to live dangerously though :cool:

[The Mastiff]

Depends on the steel, chromium is known cancer causing agent. I prescribe a full face respirator with P100 cartridges. Make sure to get fit tested as your lungs do the filtering, also to determine the correct brand and size respirator for your face.

I've wondered about chrome, cobalt, etc. I have seen dust build up on the blade and stone while sharpening when I let it go dry.

Just imagine the dangers of making knives, I like to live dangerously though

A knifemaker I knew almost died from inhaling beryllium copper dust from his grinder. He was sick for weeks and needed ch elation (?)therapy. He should have known better too. He had no grinder dust vacuum thing.

Metal and some wood dust isn't the only potential issue either. I had trouble from absorbing light oils and solvents through my skin over a period of time when working in an arsenal. Cleaning/repairing firearms 9 hours a day can do that even when wearing gloves but in the old days for decades gloves were not even available. I also had high lead levels from the range and gun cleaning afterward. I would certainly do things differently now knowing what I do. Back in the early to middle 80's things like lead poisoning from shooting or high levels of solvents building up in the body was not something we learned or thought about.

[Woodpuppy]

I know a lot of the bowyers out there working with exotic woods can have serious allergies to different species, and can develop allergies over time. I read about a guy who ate so much microwave popcorn he exposed himself to a higher concentration of harmful dust than the people working in the factory. So while it seems unlikely that AFI sharpening would represent harmful exposure (dose makes the poison), take steps to protect yourself if you’re concerned.