How sharp should I be able to get my knives?

THG said:
Pretty much anything except paper, tape, hair, and other various little things. If you cut anything medium duty, that edge is gone in one cut.
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I find tape to be a terrible edge killer. Once the gunk is gone the edge is back, but cleaning it takes longer than sharpening in some cases.

I'll have to try that one cut thing. About a year ago I tested my Schrade Peanut and it could still shave hair after over 100 cuts through sheet aluminum (soda cans). I actually ran out of cans in a 6 pack of Mountain Dew and suspended testing for lack of material. I did not test the edge after one cut though, and not to the standard of whittling hair.
 
I just used the first inch of blade back from the tip on a Spyderco Mule in CPM M4 to saw through the circumference of a soda can. It lost its whittling edge but would still shave a clean patch of hair. The edge profile is about 8 degrees per side.

ETA: 20 strokes per side on DMT extra fine and 10 strokes per side on Spyderco UF ceramic and it whittles hair again.
 
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i test my knives by holding up a 6"x6" piece of newspaper and i cut it against the grain (removing a 1/2"-3/4" off the top) , if it cuts smoothly the knife is good to go .
 
Knives only need to be as sharp as they need to be for the task at hand.

If the task is whittling hair, sharpen it appropriately.

The key is to find an edge that performs the task at hand well enough, and keeps a good enough edge for the next task at hand.
 
me2 said:
I find tape to be a terrible edge killer. Once the gunk is gone the edge is back, but cleaning it takes longer than sharpening in some cases.
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Get some 'Goo Gone' liquid (in the squeeze bottle, available at Walmart) and some Q-Tips. Just wet the Q-Tip with the Goo Gone and wipe down the blade, wherever you see the tape residue. The Goo Gone is specifically made and marketed for this type of job, it's perfect. Takes only seconds to break down and dissolve the gunk on the blade. And using the Q-Tip allows you to put it exactly where you need it, without messy drips or overspray or getting your fingers wet with it. After that, wipe the blade with a paper towel moistened with Windex. This is how I've been cleaning my blades after cutting tape.
 
If you're out of your teens the palm of your hand usually makes a fair strop. I've used the edge of my left palm for many years to attain that final 'hair popping' edge. Try it. Sometimes, I'll rub that area of my palm over a just used and very fine whetstone to imbed it with a tad of abrasive. I've also moistened my palm and rubbed in some baking soda which must be about 5,000 grit or more because you can polish scratches from watch crystals or eye glasses with a moistened fingertip and the soda.
 
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