Hair is not a good cutting test medium.

Fred.Rowe

Fred.Rowe

Joined
May 2, 2004
Messages
6,848
Using hair as a medium to test a knife's cutting ability is a poor choice because hair is not consistent from person to person. One person's hair might be very course, where as the next persons hair will be very fine or any where in between. One person posting will comment how well his knife shaves his arm hair; the next guy or gal, the knife might not shave their hair at all because of the hair's makeup.
Telephone book paper is a much better choice because most of it is very consistent in thickness and makeup.

Until we get a specific paper made for edge testing, phone book paper may be the best choice because its consistent no matter your location.

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^+ I agree :thumbup:

Adding complexity on newsprint & phonebook cutting test. Humidity; cut angle; cut speed; cut traversal; blade profile & geometry; finishing grit are many variables could affect this type of test from person to person to region to condition.
 
Also agree. I've found phone book paper to be a great 'qualifier' for deeming an edge ready for work. It's even easy to tell if the edge is shave-worthy by watching, feeling and listening to how it cuts phone book pages. That'll always be the 1st test done, for me; if it also happens to shave or tree-top hairs, that's gravy.

Didn't take long to realize that even a burr can shave like a demon, until one cuts something tougher and the burr folds over. Much more impressive if the edge will still shave, from both sides of the edge, after cutting something like cardboard for a while. At one time, I didn't think that was possible, and it really changed my perspective when I finally saw it for myself, in an edge I'd made myself.


David
 
Good point. Some blondes and some redheads have the fairest of hairs. Not all though. Not only differences in structure but big differences in diameters too. I also don't use my own hair because I don't like using my body parts as a test media and don't want to have to explain odd bald spots.

I use Staples copy paper. Some use phonebook paper, zig zags, etc. I think the important point is to use a consistent test for your needs to best detect more subtle differences. It is also important that your hands and the blade being tested be THOROUGHLY DRY and for this I use fibercolth for the final dry (the cloth people use for drying cars so you don't leave spots).

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Ken
 
ksskss said:
Good point. Some blondes and some redheads have the fairest of hairs. Not all though. Not only differences in structure but big differences in diameters too. I also don't use my own hair because I don't like using my body parts as a test media and don't want to have to explain odd bald spots.

I use Staples copy paper. Some use phonebook paper, zig zags, etc. I think the important point is to use a consistent test for your needs to best detect more subtle differences. It is also important that your hands and the blade being tested be THOROUGHLY DRY and for this I use fibercolth for the final dry (the cloth people use for drying cars so you don't leave spots).

---
Ken
Click to expand...

Yes indeed! The surface condition of a blade and how it effects cutting action is critical especially when it comes to knives that are extremely sharp. The drag produced by a dirty or oily knife can be felt when passing through thin material like phone book paper and the like. My wife wont let me have Zig-Zags :)

Fred
 
Fred.Rowe said:
Yes indeed! The surface condition of a blade and how it effects cutting action is critical especially when it comes to knives that are extremely sharp. The drag produced by a dirty or oily knife can be felt when passing through thin material like phone book paper and the like. My wife wont let me have Zig-Zags :)

Fred
Click to expand...

Would coating the knife in something help it have less drag/friction? I'm thinking car wax....
 
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