- Joined
- Aug 30, 2008
- Messages
- 3,214
So I took a few minutes to test the HEST a bit today. Nothing too strenuous, but it's a start.
The HEST's factory edge was sharp, but I touched it up a bit with a strop. Standard procedure for me with every knife I buy. I like 'em sharp.
The HEST cuts stuff like wood, rope and cable ties well. No surprises or revelations there, it works like a knife. Next I thought a couple tasks to try would be carving, batonning, and wire breaking.
I started with wire breaking. I used some fencing wire tied across the arms of a chair fairly tightly. I was skeptical about the wire breaker choil, but sure enough after wrenching the knife from side to side the wire broke. I didn't time it, but it couldn't have been more than 15-20 seconds of vigorous wrenching. Some of the protective coating was worn away, but otherwise the knife was fine.
Next came batonning. I used a fairly small piece of dry pine. The grain was not perfectly straight, but it was pretty simple stuff to baton. The bottle opener feature makes me nervous in re blade strength, but I gave it a shot. No problems with this relatively easy wood. I'll have to try some tougher mountain pine later.
Carving a figure 4 trap gives some idea of how the edge geometry works and the HEST did fine. I think I'll end up putting a more acute convex edge on this knife, but for a relatively thick blade, it cuts and carves well.
Edge retention was good. It wasn't saving sharp when I was done, but a few strokes on a strop brought it right back. So far I'm happy.
The HEST's factory edge was sharp, but I touched it up a bit with a strop. Standard procedure for me with every knife I buy. I like 'em sharp.
The HEST cuts stuff like wood, rope and cable ties well. No surprises or revelations there, it works like a knife. Next I thought a couple tasks to try would be carving, batonning, and wire breaking.
I started with wire breaking. I used some fencing wire tied across the arms of a chair fairly tightly. I was skeptical about the wire breaker choil, but sure enough after wrenching the knife from side to side the wire broke. I didn't time it, but it couldn't have been more than 15-20 seconds of vigorous wrenching. Some of the protective coating was worn away, but otherwise the knife was fine.
Next came batonning. I used a fairly small piece of dry pine. The grain was not perfectly straight, but it was pretty simple stuff to baton. The bottle opener feature makes me nervous in re blade strength, but I gave it a shot. No problems with this relatively easy wood. I'll have to try some tougher mountain pine later.
Carving a figure 4 trap gives some idea of how the edge geometry works and the HEST did fine. I think I'll end up putting a more acute convex edge on this knife, but for a relatively thick blade, it cuts and carves well.
Edge retention was good. It wasn't saving sharp when I was done, but a few strokes on a strop brought it right back. So far I'm happy.
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