Through thick and thin...which cuts better?

[Agent Starling]

All else being equal, which cuts better, a thick blade or a thin one? :confused:

Agent Starling

[J32A2]

Depends on what you are cutting I suppose!

[gldfshkpr]

All else being equal, which cuts better, a thick blade or a thin one? :confused:

Agent Starling

I would say thin. Having said that, I was at the ballpark yesterday ordering a corn beef sandwich. I watched the gal cut it with a long thin blade. The slices came out almost 1/2 inch thick! So maybe it all depends on the operator. :cool:

[Shenmue728]

If the grind, edge geometry, steel, and material being cut are all equal i dont think it much matters

[ozspyder]

I find my thinner blades slice better, but for heavy duty cutting tasks which involves rocking the blade or battonning will require a stouter spine.

I find my laser cutters are the Caly III, Kopa and Persians. The FFG blades seem to have the edge (pun most definitely intended) on the others, though the Persian is no slouch.

[Water Bug]

If both are equally sharpened, they both should cut quite well. The difference will be the resistance of a thinner blade versus a thicker blade cutting through a particular media.

A thinner blade should cut faster through a dense material when compared to a thicker blade as there's less metal to "get in the way," if you will, as it cuts.

On the other hand, a thicker blade gives more "backbone" and durability to its edge, thus it should be able to handle more demanding tasks.

[yablanowitz]

If the grind, edge geometry, steel, and material being cut are all equal i dont think it much matters

If all those things are equal, the blades are identical. :D

In soft or very thin material, it doesn't make a big difference. In thicker or stiff materal, the thin blade does not have to displace the material being cut as far, so it will require less effort to make the cut than a thick blade.

Think of the knife blade as a wedge. A blade which only has to move the material one millimeter to pass through it will require less effort than a blade which has to move the material four millimeters. Edge angle and grind angle will affect how fast the material has to be moved, with larger angles requiring the material to be displaced faster, therefore requiring more force. A thin blade with a sixty degree edge may require more force than a thick blade with a twenty degree edge. A thin blade with a twenty degree edge will require much less force than a thick blade with a sixty degree edge. It would take a lot of time and effort to quantify all the factors exactly, but in general, expect the thin blade to cut better.

[ozspyder]

It would take a lot of time and effort to quantify all the factors exactly, but in general, expect the thin blade to cut better.

Hence the reason why surgeons scalpels have evolved the way they are. And why the Yojimbo is feared by me every time I swing that blade open (and more importantly when I swing it SHUT !!!! :eek :) :D

[Agent Starling]

Knives should be basically simple...they cut, big deal... :eek:

But they're so darned complicated (and interesting) (and good for more than just cutting, like collecting! :spyder :)

Good responses, lot of food for thought so far...or, more things to think about and boggle the mind with... :rolleyes:

Agent Starling :D

[MANIXWORLD]

A thin blade made of premium steel cuts like a razor, ofcourse also when its razor sharp.the best IMO for slicing or deep cuts.
not realy fond of blades that are too thick,very limited as to what you can use thick blades for.
thick blades are probably stronger and heavier.
think Opinel vs.Zero Tolerance.

[SimpleIsGood229]

A thin blade made of premium steel cuts like a razor, ofcourse also when its razor sharp.

That's assuming, of course, the premium steel is taken advantage of (lower bevel angles, etc).

[yablanowitz]

Knives should be basically simple...they cut, big deal... :eek:

But they're so darned complicated (and interesting) (and good for more than just cutting, like collecting! :spyder :)

Good responses, lot of food for thought so far...or, more things to think about and boggle the mind with... :rolleyes:

Agent Starling :D

Don't forget, there is more than one kind of cutting. The mechanics of push-cutting and slicing are very different. (I didn't want you to run out of things to contemplate :D )

[Agent Starling]

Don't forget, there is more than one kind of cutting. The mechanics of push-cutting and slicing are very different. (I didn't want you to run out of things to contemplate :D )

yeah, that's true...another can of worms! :)

[Muxx]

Generally speaking, thin blades are the way to go. There are, however, times when a thicker blade (particularly on fixed blades) is the way to go. I use both.

[Axlis]

Thin is best for slicing, IMO.