how do you check your blades sharpness?

[paulwesley]

how many different ways are there to check to see how sharp your blade is, either during the sharpening process or just anytime.....kinda like i'm always shaving my hairs on my left arm...every now and then I might barely run the edge along the back side where my thumb meets my hand. Once i start to get that little sting I know I'm there but if you do it too much it looks kinda like a kitty got a hold of you.

 

[made2cut]

I most often use my thumb nail to see how the edge grabs.

 

[Blammo]

I just use them
When I sharpen, I use an optivisor.
I can then " see" sharp..

 

[Cougar Allen]

 

[Nosmo]

I just use them
When I sharpen, I use an optivisor.
I can then " see" sharp..

I am also relying on looking.
Under an optivisor, with good light, you can always see the burr and also any edge rounding jumps out at you.

Also I am trying to teach myself the Murray Carter 3 finger test.
Those who have mastered it say it's one of the best.

 

[HoB]

I use the Murray Carter finger test, I cut styrofoam, paper towls, thread cutting with a fixed weight (its a threshold test, if the thread isn't cut at that weight, I have some more work to do), cut paper from illustrated magazins, fold them in half and stand it on edge and try to cut it free standing, shave arm hair, try to see if it catches hair on the back of my head. Pretty much what ever I can think of. During sharpening, I use only the finger test. Good is also try if it starts catching the skin of a wetted thumb.

 

[matthew krissak]

I just do what made2cut said. I use my thumb nail to see how the edge grabs.

 

[buckg]

I first check with the pads of my fingers. If it slices my caluses easily enough, I dry shave my neck a little. If I can shave with it, it's sharp enough.

 

[bbcmat]

I hold photocopy paper by the corner and slice cut it into narrow strips - feeling for the consistancy along the blade as well as the effort to press through the material.

It's great for rolling a burr out of alinement during sharpening, esp the ones that are too small to feel and line straight up with the edge. First 2-3 cuts are outstanding, then areas of the blade stop gliding and start tearing at the fibers.

I've found any blade that is cutting paper smoothly and consistantly along its entire edge - and does so for a quick 8-10 full sheet cuts - will do whatever I ask of it. It's a good final "quality control" check when all the visuals and finger-poke'n are complete.


MAT