How do you test your newly sharpened knife edge?

W

WK ONE

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Apr 25, 2015
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Everyone has their own little after-sharpening test that lets them know they're finished and satisfied with the edge on their knife.

What's yours?

I usually shave a bit of hair off the back of my hand on both sides. If the blade shaves the hairs off with little to no pressure, I'm satisfied. Having said that, I may have to come up with a new test soon, I'm running out of hair! lol
 
Phone book paper. I listen and watch how effortlessly or not so much how it cuts through the paper. It allows me to get a better perspective on how much of a burr is left or not, and where the blade needs more attention.
 
I use it, if it performs well, it's sharp enough. If not, it needs more attention.
 
Paper, I watch for how cleanly it cuts through and how much noise it makes.
Past that it's the shave test but I rarely put that much effort with waterstones to get a shaving sharp edge.
 
Leg hair. I have a chronic case of Knife Fighter's Mange.
 
Charlie Mike said:
Leg hair. I have a chronic case of Knife Fighter's Mange.
Click to expand...

You sure it's chronic? Your neighbor lady tells me it's a-cute case. ;)

The Spyderco Sharpmaker has a way of telling you "it's done", so I stop there.

If I free hand it, I'll shave some arm hair.

If I use the coffee mug or the car window, I'll just stop when I'm bored.
 
I have no way of really measuring sharpness, but I'm satisfied when -
the edge instantly grabs and sticks to most everything it touches (fingernail/hair/soft metals), at angles just above what it was sharpened, from both sides, for the entire length of the edge.
 
EDC test is phone book paper (super fine edges disappear too fast for me to worry much about) kitchen is dicing tomatoes.
 
PB paper and my fingers....

If you've felt enough edges, you will have a good idea of what sharp feels like.
 
Leg/arm hair. Like JR, I can feel it with my fingers a bit but the hair is the confirmation.
 
Depends on the knife for me, if its meant to be a slicer, I will try cutting a tomato without touching it (slices on the horizontal). If it's a thicker blade, I will usually take it to hair shaving or whittling, honestly depending on the knife.
 
Shaving arm hair was my test for sharpness but now I have been using phone book paper which is very thin. My edges will shave before they cut the phone book paper cleanly. I don't obsess over too keen an edge cause I don't need that level of sharpness and I have no obsession in the quest for hair splitting edges. Great if you can get them and if you need that sharp an edge, though.
 
Hair of arm or leg or torso if any left
Paper (advertising)
Tomato
Roll of toilet paper (my wife absolutely love this one haha) for depth of cut
Paracord
Polystyrene
 
Post-it notes. No particular reason except I have a lot of them and they are usually within reach.
 
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