Edge feathering

[C L Wilkins]

I don't know why this just came to mind but about a year ago I was sharpening a knife that I had just finished. It was made out of 440C and noticed that while sharpening, the edge started "feathering" for lack of a better word. Has anyone ever seen this before? This is the only time that I can recall this happening.

Any comments?

C Wilkins

 

[Jeff Clark]

I'm not sure that I understand what you mean by the edge "feathering", but it sounds like the formation of a "wire" edge. What I often call feathering is when the material at the edge doesn't get cleanly cut off during the honing process and starts to form a ductile burr that flops from side to side as I hone. On a microscopic level it is like foil at the edge. It is sort of ragged so I like to call it feathery. I have had the problem worst with soft stainless blades.

The problem is worse if you use an edge-trailing, back-and-forth, or circular honing stroke. The edge-first honing stroke tends to minimise the effect. I often super-elevate my honing angle for a few strokes on a fine hone to cut off the burr. Then I go back to my normal 19-degree finish angle and bring back my thin accute edge.

I think the problem is worse if your steel has a large grain structure and/or is soft. The cause is ductility, where the material can bend without breaking.

 

[C L Wilkins]

I don't the believe the problem is/was related to a wire edge which is normal under sharpening. That is easily remedied by stropping. As far as the steel being ductile and possibly too soft, you may have something there. I am more concerned with the possibility of an inferior heat treat than anything else. The problem I have is that this is the one and only time that this has ever occured.

C Wilkins

 

[clausDenmark]

I get a wire edge almost everytime i sharpen, both on ATS and AUS8A, and even kitchen knives.

It doesnt bother me, i just remove it on a felt wheel loaded with brasso ( a bit crude, but it works fairly well).

I used to strob on my hand or on my jeans, i wont go into detail, but i have stopped doing that :-(

The felt wheel polishes the edge, and my BM shaves at a 25 degree edge good enough for me.


Take care




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Claus Christensen

When you have playboy channel, why get married