How big is the burr?

M

monk3yfist

Joined
Mar 24, 2009
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When sharpening on benchstones do u switch sides as soon as there is a noticable burr or do u adjust the size of the burr based on what you're trying to accomplish? For example would u raise a larger burr when changing from a 40deg inclusive to a 30deg inclusive ("thining down" the edge)? If you're taking off more steel does that mean you raise a larger burr?
 
A burr means you've reached the edge... as soon as you get one you can switch sides.

cbw
 
How much of a burr that forms is greatly related to pressure, the more pressure the larger the burr. There will also be a constant burr while sharpening unless you reduce pressure and use finishing techniques with each stone.

Try to not think of it as grind one side until you form a burr then flip to the other, if you don't know what to look for you could really mess up your bevel. Think of it as grinding each side until they meet, when you grind each side a little at a time the bevel will stay more even, it will go faster, and you can work up to the edge creating a smaller burr. So instead of grinding away at each side until a big honkin burr forms you work each side evenly until you meet in the center.

Check the link in my sig, pictures and a bit of a explanation.
 
You don't want a big burr. If you've got a burr and you're making it bigger and bigger, you're just wasting metal.

The point of the burr is to indicate when you have an edge. When you have a burr is when you have passed forming an edge. At that point, you should begin to refine it; don't continue pushing up a burr. I don't move onto a finer stone until I have removed the burr as much as possible with the stone I was using to form it in the first place, and this is done by doing one pass per side with light pressure.
 
I agree with THG . I've noticed a big burr means more work to remove it . Small burr smaller work . As said approach it slowly and once you see it using magnification starting to appear switch sides . You'll normally get it to appear quicker on the second side . Then (yes) a few very lite strokes before moving to a finer stone . DM
 
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