oldmanwilly
Gold Member
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2014
- Messages
- 3,283
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.

How to Use a Sharpening Steel
Learn how to properly use a sharpening steel to maintain your kitchen knife's edge between sharpenings. Follow these steps for effective steeling and prolong the sharpness of your knives!

I'm perfectly happy to have my understanding corrected; I want to be sure I'm using the proper nomenclature.