BFK sharpening thoughts sought

In this case, I think it’s a case of using the term differently.

The image in this link, is what I think of, when the term ‘burr’ is used.

https://support.wickededgeusa.com/portal/en/kb/articles/drawing-a-burr

A steel is for realigning the edge, not the burr. The burr is weak and flimsy, and rolls easily. It’s pretty much a tiny piece of metal foil along the edge (and the image exaggerates the length). The thin edge of that ‘foil’ can cut (just as the edge of paper can cause paper cuts), but it will roll very easily, and once it does, it doesn’t cut well at all anymore.

Thanks for the link, that's probably the most efficient description I've ever read on the subject. I might start sending it to my friends who ask for sharpening advice.

I think you're right about understanding the term differently. I always understood that a "toothy" edge was achieved by raising a burr, then honing it until it is very fine and straight. Then the steel (or ceramic, etc) was used periodically to realign the fine burr as needed.

I was not aware that the steel was used to realign a deformed edge, although that conceptually makes sense to me. But, if the very apex of the edge is thin and flimsy enough to curl over and need to be realigned, then wouldn't it effectively become at least roughly equivalent to a burr?

This may not be the most definitive source of info, but it seems to echo what I've read elsewhere. Frankly, it may further confuse the issue as it sure seems to me that they're describing a burr.


I'm perfectly happy to have my understanding corrected; I want to be sure I'm using the proper nomenclature.
 
I was not aware that the steel was used to realign a deformed edge, although that conceptually makes sense to me. But, if the very apex of the edge is thin and flimsy enough to curl over and need to be realigned, then wouldn't it effectively become at least roughly equivalent to a burr?
While the very apex of a fine edge is thin, a burr, as the illustration in the link shows, is literally a bit of metal that’s like a bit of very thin foil extending past the actual edge.

Compared to the edge, a burr is much flimsier. On a microscopic scale, the illustration gives you a good idea of scale wrt the amount of metal supporting an actual edge, vs a burr.
 
Happy to report that the knife in question, that I was originally referring to when I started the thread, has been re-sharpened to 20 degrees per side, and is just fine. I think my buddy was looking for the exact stones/grits that Nate uses, but I failed to convey that and things went a little sideways. He sharpened it while we were on the phone last night and it didn’t take very long. Can’t wait until my BFK arrives. It will be my “Best Freaking Knife!”
 
SNIP - I think my buddy was looking for the exact stones/grits that Nate uses… SNIP




 
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