How sharp do you like to get?

Most of the larger blades, I like a good working edge. I get them sharp on a stone and maintain it with a strop, sot hey are at least shaving sharp. My smaller blades need to be able to circumcise a gnat. I've split hair easily with my bk13, Candiru, and SAKs.
 
Kinda like Nate said, I don't bother with too sharp on choppers. The "king" is convexed enough and sharp enough to pop most hair. My bk5 only ever touches an India and strops. My Bk14 and Bk16 however... could be used if I misplaced my razor. I will admit to engaging in "sharpening therapy" from time to time.
 
Like the above few posts, I keep all of my knives at different angles and sharpness. Larger choppers or working knives are normally at a wider angle with just enough bite to shave hair (and a tiny bit of skin). My letter opener / smaller blades can normally shave the hair off my face.

Altho sometimes when I get in one of those "moods" and I want a little alone time. I'll experiment with different angles and grind styles and even go so far as an insane polish on some of my knives.
 
Keep them all damn sharp, but some sharpening systems work better on some of my knives than others. I do my bk2 on a work sharp field sharpener rather than my sharpmaker, for example.
 
I don't really know how to measure a 'working edge', so I go right to paper and shaving, which are reliable indicators.
 
Paper and shaving sharp. Boom. Done. I use stones and a strop. Takes me almost no time at all to sharpen up an edge and about 5 min to refresh it here and there.

I've not made one super scary bang-wiz sharp though. I guess I'm not patient enough or lack the motivation. It is cool how sharp some people can make blades.
 
Pointy has a point...groan..... If you need a place to park your mind, making your blades really scary is not a bad way to spend those commercial breaks.....Just don't lose track of where you are ....LOL....... Pointy worked over my EDC Necker at the last gathering and it has been a real pleasure to use, a bit of strop now and again has kept it "watch this" sharp...... Thanks again o' braumeister.....
 
I turned my little Necker into a laser. But that was edge geometry modification. But that was the effect of a bad day as well.
 
NikkiR said:
I don't know why, but that hit me right in the funny bone...excuse me while I wipe my yogurt off the screen.
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It's meant to be funny, but I guess you and I are the only ones that think so. I've been saying that for years, and you're the first person that didn't just say "TMI, dude" or "ewwwww!" :D

I certainly agree about different geometries and different levels of sharpness/polish for different tasks. My leather cutting knife, my kitchen stuff and my choppers are completely different animals in almost every way, except they're all made of steel.

Not so sure I agree about sharpening being relaxing... it used to be, but the thrill wore off some time ago for me ;) That's part of the reason I continue to search for the edge (and of course steel and HT) that has a good balance of really working well, but not requiring a ton of maintenance.
 
Paper-slicing and (arm)hair-shaving.
I just need a working edge that'll last until I get around to doing it again.
 
The LionHearted just got done with my Zt0550. Look like he has done another great job! Thank you Fernando Medina!

edge2.jpg
 
Ethan Becker said:
Pointy worked over my EDC Necker at the last gathering and it has been a real pleasure to use, a bit of strop now and again has kept it "watch this" sharp...... Thanks again o' braumeister.....
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Anytime, Uncle E . Glad you're enjoying.

For me it's kinda a hobby within a hobby within a hobby; it's fun to find the "next level" of sharp and then go use it or test it. And it's something to keep the hands busy and mind focused when other distractions do not present themselves. But there is more to life than sharpness. And with any luck it involves dead pig :D
 
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