How important is it really to sharpen the same number of strokes on each side?

K

KHarper

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Jan 4, 2019
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I keep seeing people in sharpening videos stressing that you need to take the exact same number of strokes on each side of the blade to keep it even, but I can't see why this is really that important. I can see not wanting to take way more off one side than the other, but I sharpened for years without just giving more than generally the same treatment to each side. I never bothered counting the number of strokes I made on the stone, and it always worked fine for me. I can't even see why it would matter anyway, as long as you are creating a sharp edge. Maybe it would detract very slightly from the absolute cutting efficiency of the knife, but I have had name brand knives from the factory that have unevenly ground bevels, and they worked just fine. So does it really matter, or are people just being overly particular?
 
I think you answered your own question.

There are times it may pay to follow that advice, and times when it wouldn't necessarily apply.

In the end, I think it's a function of how OCD you may be, how far off the knife may be, and how the knife performs the intended task.

I don't worry about perfection...I'm more of a "good enough" sort. But everyone's "good enough" may vary considerably.
 
Probably better off asking in the Maintenance and tinkering section but essentially its just a rule of thumb to start with that is useful to tell newer sharpeners.

Very often blades are not going to be ground perfectly even and thus grinding more on one side than another is going to be necessary especially if you are using a guided rod system like a Wicked edge, KME, edge pro, etc. Really when you get right down to it sharpening any edge is a simple affair. You must fully apex your edge and then you can hone to your desired edge performance. Maintain the same angle, go slow, and make sure you are checking for a full apex of the edge before moving onto the next stone.
 
Would you ever tell a hair stylist or barber to only cut half your hair?

I don’t think coming up a few strokes short matters... but if you did 100 licks one side and 10 on the other, I think you’d notice an issue.
 
KHarper said:
So does it really matter, or are people just being overly particular?
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If you're happy with a working / functional edge , then your technique is not that critical .

Just whatever works for you , is fine .

For some , it's almost a work of art . Perfection is required . ;) Picture perfect , mirror edges .

When you're first learning to sharpen , it helps to count to avoid overdoing the easier side .
 
It depends on if you're sharpening, or reprofiling. When I bought my Wicked Edge 130, I found that my hand sharpening was about 17dps on one side of my blades, and about 13dps on the other side. I thought that I was closer to 20dps in my sharpening. Now with my WE130, I have perfect bevels and all I have to do is sharpen the blades since they are already profiled. When reprofiling edge bevels I don't count the stroke numbers, but when I'm just sharpening, I do count them.
 
This is an easy one to answer, quit watching YouTube video's. Most of the time they're useless. If I need to count the number of strokes on each side of the blade, then it's time to pick another hobby.
 
The point is generally to achieve an equal bevel width on both sides, while also raising a burr on both sides. Sometimes that means roughly equal sharpening on both sides, but if the existing bevels are uneven it could mean that you need many more strokes on the narrow side to bring the apex into alignment.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
An equal number of strokes per side presumes that each of those strokes are completely identical and equal in their material removal rate. Better to worry about the actual evenness rather than the number.
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This.^

The only time I count strokes per side, and I don't always do it, is when I'm applying the very last finishing touches with an almost-nothing microbevel. In doing those, I try to keep it as minimal as possible - ideally, maybe one or two passes per side at the lightest-possible touch. Too many passes there, and I believe the returns start to diminish.

Outside of that, it's basically pointless to count strokes in doing anything heavier. In reprofiling or resetting bevels, it's more important to just observe the symmetry as you work and give the most attention to whichever side needs it the most to even things up. Doesn't matter what you count to. It's impossible to duplicate each and every stroke exactly for use of pressure and uniformity of metal removal. Consistency gets even sloppier with fatigue setting in after a lot of grinding. So counting passes is meaningless for such work, when the amount of metal removed per pass gets so inconsistent.
 
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I count the number of strokes on each side when I sharpen my knives. With that said I don't think it matters whole lot but I am a little OCD so I do it.
The bottom line is a sharp knife is a sharp knife regardless of the system used or the number of strokes on each side.
 
It's cumulative.

If I sharpen a knife once or twice with a few more strokes on one side, it's not really going to make any noticeable difference. But if I do it 20, 30, 40 times... yeah. You'll notice. Realistically, nobody would ever do that. They'd correct for the problem almost subconsciously.
 
Paratrooper06 said:
Would you ever tell a hair stylist or barber to only cut half your hair?
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I want a haircut that makes me look 40% handsomer than Brad Pitt. If an equal number of snips off each side is what it takes, then count your snips.

When I see Mr and Mrs Pitt walking down the street, I want her to say, “See you later honey, I want to go walk with THAT guy.”

So far, no hair stylist has been up to the task.

Parker
 
NOT !##!

The number of strokes per side should be related to where the centerline of the apex is relative to the centerline of the blade, and setting desired geometry (the goal of the stone to blade session).
Or, for those that care about looks, the width of the bevel facet.

My comments are primarily related to the initial grits during typical reprofiling of primary or secondary bevels. For those in the petting phases of sharpening (polishing and refining after geometry has been established) count your strokes as you will or will not, as the effects are diminished.
 
I myself do not pay attention, as a slightly uneven grind doesn't bother me as long as it's doesn't hinder the function. I more so do the alternating strokes when it comes to burr removal.
 
KHarper said:
I keep seeing people in sharpening videos stressing that you need to take the exact same number of strokes on each side of the blade to keep it even, but I can't see why this is really that important. I can see not wanting to take way more off one side than the other, but I sharpened for years without just giving more than generally the same treatment to each side. I never bothered counting the number of strokes I made on the stone, and it always worked fine for me. I can't even see why it would matter anyway, as long as you are creating a sharp edge. Maybe it would detract very slightly from the absolute cutting efficiency of the knife, but I have had name brand knives from the factory that have unevenly ground bevels, and they worked just fine. So does it really matter, or are people just being overly particular?
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They need not be perfect. It would take quite a bit of uneven to tell in use. It can cause steering in the extreme.
Some knifes are intentionally made and sharpened with different grinds to suit right or left handed use and or certain tasks. Most often seen in Japanese knifes and some paring knifes too.
 
I try to count strokes, but as I get older, I tend to forget how many strokes I've done. :confused:
 
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