Cliff Stamp
BANNED
- Joined
- Oct 5, 1998
- Messages
- 17,562
It was discussed awhile ago about the possibility of a blade to cut a piece of dropped silk. I have done some work with this in the past few weeks with some success. It is not that difficult to cut the silk if you can move the knife. The edge has to be sharp, but it is not as difficult as some other cutting tests I have seen.
However if the knife has to remain still it is a different matter. Even with some very sharp blades ground at really acute angles (9-10 degrees per side), I had no success. These blades can cut freestanding hair above the skin, but can't do the job on the silk.
But, I am confident that you can, with the right steel (fine grain), and careful technique, get an edge about 4-5 times sharper than the above. You can also of course lower the edge angle, about 2-3 degrees per side is the limit on a knife and you need really thin steel to do that (1/16").
I will try again in a few weeks with a 52100 blade with the steel forged and heat treated by Ed Caffery. I be specific is the silk allowed to travel along the blade and be sliced in two pieces -or- is it supposed to be a clean push cut right at the point that the silk makes contact with the blade?
-Cliff
However if the knife has to remain still it is a different matter. Even with some very sharp blades ground at really acute angles (9-10 degrees per side), I had no success. These blades can cut freestanding hair above the skin, but can't do the job on the silk.
But, I am confident that you can, with the right steel (fine grain), and careful technique, get an edge about 4-5 times sharper than the above. You can also of course lower the edge angle, about 2-3 degrees per side is the limit on a knife and you need really thin steel to do that (1/16").
I will try again in a few weeks with a 52100 blade with the steel forged and heat treated by Ed Caffery. I be specific is the silk allowed to travel along the blade and be sliced in two pieces -or- is it supposed to be a clean push cut right at the point that the silk makes contact with the blade?
-Cliff