I sliced hanging TP today!

L

lostmymirth

Joined
Feb 5, 2005
Messages
50
Greetings,
I concidered myself a good knife sharpener for a long time now. But today I just reached a new level. I got my knife so sharp today that I can cut hanging toilet paper; an smooth slice, no tears at all! Sorry, no pictures as I dont have a digital camera.

I've seen pictures posted before on this forum and I admit that I thought they were fake. You know, lay the TP against a magazine, slice it, then hold it up as if you cut it while hanging, but no I tell you it IS possible. It's a wierd cut though, if I go really slow with a slicing motion it goes right through and if I just chop at it really fast it cuts too (watch the fingers :eek: ), but at a medium speed it just tears the TP. Kind of weird if you ask me.
 
No secret, pretty standard method:

The blade was 440c. I brought a burr to each side using an old DMT coarse diamond stone. The diamond stone isn't really all that "coarse" anymore as I've been using it for 5-6 years now so maybe its a medium now. then I alternated - one swipe per side for about 30 swipes each side progressively lighter each time until just the weight of the knife was on the stone. Then I used one of those little dogbone ceramic rods you hold between your thumb and middle finger to put a micro bevel at the edge, maybe 30 swipes per side. And voila, an extremely sharp knife. I was freehanding it so I don't know the angles exactly, but I estimate a 15 degree primary and a 20 degree secondary bevel.
 
I haven't been able to do this yet, does it matter that I use the quilted charmin? Stuff is really really thick and soft...
 
I posted some pictures of this test lately. I use Scott's 1 ply. I would think going through the thick fluffy TP would be really tough. If I ever get ahold of some I'll see if my straight razors can get through it. If they can't, no knife will. :) This image is not fake, I just hang a roll from my basement cieling. The better the edge, the more sheets you can slice through without tearing. If there is any nick or defect in the edge it will catch and tear the TP. The image is photoshopped to darken the TP so you can better see the slice and texture of the paper. I isolated the knife so it wouldn't be darkened, so it looks a little funny. Maybe I could try posting up a video of this sometime. :)

tp_slice01.jpg
 
I would imagine that the softer the TP the harder to slice. I looked to see what kind I have but I threw away the packaging. I am pretty sure it was cottonell. Normal 2-ply TP, it has a flower pattern "quilted" into it.
 
WadeF, I think yours is a little sharper than mine, mine pulled one or two of the perforations as it went from one sheet to the next, yours doesn't look like it pulled at all.
 
lostmymirth said:
WadeF, I think yours is a little sharper than mine, mine pulled one or two of the perforations as it went from one sheet to the next, yours doesn't look like it pulled at all.
Click to expand...

It pulled eventually, but I think I got through 3-4 preferrations before that happened. I think when you get to the point where the blade isn't slicing and the paper isn't pulling across it, it will catch. So a lot of it depends on how you slice at the TP. The sharper the edge is the slicing motion is less important. Sometimes you can just push the blade right into the TP and pull the knife down through it.
 
Thats cheating WadeF - you are using a Calypso Jr :D
You can trim the toenails of a ant with one of them.
 
Conrgrats Lostyourmirth! That's awesome!

WadeF, congrays to you, too, but now you need to do that with your 710HSSR and then with each of its serrations. :p :)
 
I have to try some Scott's single ply. None of my knives will cut through Charmin cleanly even though it's single ply. Newspaper or cigarrette paper is cake compaired to TP!

Waiting patiently for your video, Wade!
 
My BM710 will slice TP. I don't usually have a problem getting any knife to do this if I want it to. I sharpened up some kitchen knives and sliced TP with them no problem.
 
At the moment, both my EDC's will slice TP (also single ply Scott's). They are an S30V Millie @ 30° and a Case Amber Bone CV Stockman, Pen blade @30°, Sheepsfoot blade @40°. Each sharpened on the 204, 20 swipes per. (Large blade is still fat and won't even shave)
 
Well I got some single ply scott.. I can cut through it w/ my Leek and SAK but I really hate wiping my ass with it cuz my fingers cut through too. :eek:

I'm going back to Charmin! :D
 
Damn, I just spent an hour or so in the bathroom sitting on the toilet with a Mini-Pika, my sharpening stone, and crock sticks. I finally got the bugger to cut though, too bad it ripped right at the end. Not as good as Wade still but oh well! :D :D :D

tp_yay!.jpg
 
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