How much feedback does sound provide when your sharpening?

Cereal_killer

Cereal_killer

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Wether your using benchstones, a sharp maker, a guided system or some sort of power sharpener how much do you pay attention to the sound it makes?

Till recently I would listen to music while I was doing my sharpening but I've started to pay more attention to the sound the strokes make, I find I can hear the difference between the correct angle and being off just a degree or two on my DMT diamond stones and my leather strop. I also find I can hear a difference from before a burr has formed to when its there.

How much do you guys pay attention to the sounds of the strokes when you sharpen? Could you sharpen just as well if you couldn't hear?
 
I can tell more by feeling the edge, but yes, sound is also very telling.
 
Cereal_killer said:
Wether your using benchstones, a sharp maker, a guided system or some sort of power sharpener how much do you pay attention to the sound it makes?

Till recently I would listen to music while I was doing my sharpening but I've started to pay more attention to the sound the strokes make, I find I can hear the difference between the correct angle and being off just a degree or two on my DMT diamond stones and my leather strop. I also find I can hear a difference from before a burr has formed to when its there.

How much do you guys pay attention to the sounds of the strokes when you sharpen? Could you sharpen just as well if you couldn't hear?
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I agree with you. I listen for a sound to know when I have held the knife at a wrong/correct angle. So it plays a big role for me. By the way I use an EP.
 
I'm not the best at judging my sharpening progress by analyzing the sound as I scrape. However, I can get a sense of sharpness by listening to how a bevel sounds by scraping my finger over it (perpendicular) from time to time while sharpening. A thin even bevel at it's apex will sound "ringy" (for a lack of a better term). If it is getting thinner and more even you will notice the sound change through the process.

Don't just look at your work. Use all your senses.
 
For me, sound plays a very important role, but no more important than 'feel.'
Together, they give me the information I need to get the edge I'm after.

Stitchawl
 
Feel and sight are more important for me than sound. I can hear and also feel when I'm pushing the burr to the other side of the edge. I can also hear a difference between when an edge is at 20 degrees per side and when I get done reprofiling to say, 17 degrees per side. I use a WE.
 
Sound and feel. Feeling of the knife mostly, but on high grit equipment the sound plays important part. Still, the feeling is bigger deal to me.
 
I used to pay a lot of attention to it but not so much anymore. Have done a lot of sharpening at my bench at work, while the equipment is running. Earplugs are a good idea, so I rapidly moved to pretty much straight tactile feedback.

At one point I had an automotive stethoscope running to my sharpening block as part of an experiment, but found IMHO that sound only went so far as an indicator. I still appreciate it as an added input but am fine without.
 
doesn't play a huge role, but does play a role. It tells you a lot about the coarseness of a stone and when you are consistently hitting a finished, even bevel. Lets you know when your angle is off, too.
 
Can definitely tell by sound if I am taking a lot of steel (still apexing) or just a little at the edge.
 
Most of the sound-related sharpening feedback I get is from my wife saying "Geez, that sounds annoying... go do that in the shop or outside!" :D I find the sound rather relaxing... "normal" people tend to find it grating.

Seriously, though, I can certainly hear the difference between grades of stones, between a rough edge and one that's getting close, when I've gone to a finer stone too soon and it's just sort of gliding over the bevel, when I come across a small chip or dull spot, and when the burr starts to form/go away, etc. Likewise, it's worth listening to your blade when stropping.

As the others said, it's just one part of paying attention with all your senses... but not the most important.
 
Yes, I listen to this sound as well. Depending on what's going on in the room, thus on some occasions I hear it better than others. Yet, sound, feel and any other feed-back I get is beneficial in telling me how things are progressing. DM
 
Sound can be another indicator of where you're at with sharpening. It doesn't always come into play for me but there are definitely times where the sound can help me evaluate my progress. What I usually notice is if the sound isn't smooth and consistent or the sound is different between the two sides.
 
Sound is very important for me.

When bevel is true to the stone it makes a certain noise, if bevel isn't flat on stone it makes higher pitch noise.
 
It doesn't matter if I'm doing everything right. Sound really helps me when I make mistakes, because it lets me know while I'm sharpening instead of after I stop to check the edge.
 
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