on_the_edge
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2006
- Messages
- 11,756
Well, I decided to have a little chop-off today between to capable contenders. I dont know that I have ever really seen a side by side comparison of these two, so thought I would give it a very unscientific try. The contenders are:
On top is my heretofore UNUSED SHBM with an asymmetrical edge. It can shave arm hair with no fuss. On the bottom is my Satin Battle Rat, sporting a convex edge that can also shave arm hair. In my estimation, I would judge them to be about as equally sharp as one is going to get based on my pre-bout arm hair shave qualification. (I told you this was not scientific.)
The victim is part of a post that I think I picked up from Home Depot some time ago. I think it is Redwood (???), and measures 3-7/8 across at its widest point, 3-3/16 at its narrowest part.
Off we go.
Here is a pic of the post after 40 whacks with the SBR. Before you judge my accuracy, I will say that I am working in a somewhat cramped space. In other words, I needed to be careful about things behind me as well as things in front of me. Anyway, more pics, less gab
Here is the post after 40 hits in a different spot with the SHBM.
After 51 hits with the SBR, the post began to fracture laterally along the grain from the force of the hits.
Here is a pic of the post after 44 hits with the SHBM. You can see that it is now fracturing on the right.
I decided to turn the post over before continuing with chops from the SBR. At 62 chops, poetically speaking, the post was toast.
However, because the post was fracturing more to the side with the SHBM than to the side and downward as with the SBR, I did NOT turn the post over when I continued chopping with the SHBM. In retrospect, I dont know if that was a good idea or not, since by the time I got to 62 hits with the SHBM, this was all that was left (pic shows entire post, not just the part destroyed with the SHBM). Basically, the post just kept fracturing.
Post destruction comment-
This test was done first with the SBR entirely, and then with the SHBM. I got through it with the SBR with no hand discomfort at all, and no glove. It felt great. Continuing with an ungloved hand, the SHBM happily removed a small circular chunk of skin ¼ in diameter on the palm of my hand between my thumb and index finger. It didnt even wait for a hot spot and blister. However, it felt much more comfortable after putting on a glove, and that is how I finished up with the SHBM. I tried to chop with equal force as well even though my hand was hurting a little at that point.
IMO, the SHBM is a better chopper in terms of raw chopping results than the SBR. I guess this is expected since it is heavier and longer than the SBR. Still, I wondered if a convex edge on a lighter, shorter knife would outperform an asymmetrical edge on the longer, heavier knife. The SBR is definitely the "comfort" winner for me. Vibration with both was not something I even noticed.
Both knives remained hair-popping sharp, although IMO, the SHBM cut arm hair more easily than did the SBR. There was also a little coating wear on one side of the SHBM. I believe you can see it in the pic.
All in all, I wanted to test two knives that were dissimilar in many ways, such as edge geometry, handle material, dimensions, and weight. I know some will say that its like comparing apples and Hondas, and thus, it is hard to know why one knife performed one way and the other the other way. Again, if it was scientific, I think there would only be one variation between the two knives and that variation would account for any differences. Still, I prefer fun over scientific methodology. They each have their place, but in my garage, fun rules the day.
On top is my heretofore UNUSED SHBM with an asymmetrical edge. It can shave arm hair with no fuss. On the bottom is my Satin Battle Rat, sporting a convex edge that can also shave arm hair. In my estimation, I would judge them to be about as equally sharp as one is going to get based on my pre-bout arm hair shave qualification. (I told you this was not scientific.)
The victim is part of a post that I think I picked up from Home Depot some time ago. I think it is Redwood (???), and measures 3-7/8 across at its widest point, 3-3/16 at its narrowest part.
Off we go.
Here is a pic of the post after 40 whacks with the SBR. Before you judge my accuracy, I will say that I am working in a somewhat cramped space. In other words, I needed to be careful about things behind me as well as things in front of me. Anyway, more pics, less gab
Here is the post after 40 hits in a different spot with the SHBM.
After 51 hits with the SBR, the post began to fracture laterally along the grain from the force of the hits.
Here is a pic of the post after 44 hits with the SHBM. You can see that it is now fracturing on the right.
I decided to turn the post over before continuing with chops from the SBR. At 62 chops, poetically speaking, the post was toast.
However, because the post was fracturing more to the side with the SHBM than to the side and downward as with the SBR, I did NOT turn the post over when I continued chopping with the SHBM. In retrospect, I dont know if that was a good idea or not, since by the time I got to 62 hits with the SHBM, this was all that was left (pic shows entire post, not just the part destroyed with the SHBM). Basically, the post just kept fracturing.
Post destruction comment-
This test was done first with the SBR entirely, and then with the SHBM. I got through it with the SBR with no hand discomfort at all, and no glove. It felt great. Continuing with an ungloved hand, the SHBM happily removed a small circular chunk of skin ¼ in diameter on the palm of my hand between my thumb and index finger. It didnt even wait for a hot spot and blister. However, it felt much more comfortable after putting on a glove, and that is how I finished up with the SHBM. I tried to chop with equal force as well even though my hand was hurting a little at that point.
IMO, the SHBM is a better chopper in terms of raw chopping results than the SBR. I guess this is expected since it is heavier and longer than the SBR. Still, I wondered if a convex edge on a lighter, shorter knife would outperform an asymmetrical edge on the longer, heavier knife. The SBR is definitely the "comfort" winner for me. Vibration with both was not something I even noticed.
Both knives remained hair-popping sharp, although IMO, the SHBM cut arm hair more easily than did the SBR. There was also a little coating wear on one side of the SHBM. I believe you can see it in the pic.
All in all, I wanted to test two knives that were dissimilar in many ways, such as edge geometry, handle material, dimensions, and weight. I know some will say that its like comparing apples and Hondas, and thus, it is hard to know why one knife performed one way and the other the other way. Again, if it was scientific, I think there would only be one variation between the two knives and that variation would account for any differences. Still, I prefer fun over scientific methodology. They each have their place, but in my garage, fun rules the day.
Why do you ask???
