New question . .definition of "cutting the tops off of hair"

[mx125]

Edit: title should read "Newbie question . . "

I've obviously figured out "shaving sharp", as well as experienced "shaving in both directions" and "hair popping".

However I've seen references to "shaving the tops off of arm hair" and "splitting a hair in half". Now . . does that the former mean cutting arm hair mid way up the shaft . .while still slightly pressing onto the arm . . . or actually cutting the top off of a standing hair! I can't imagine that as hair bends at almost zero force . .but maybe there is a level of mythical sharpness that actually 'sticks' to a standing hair. In that case the cutting would be more 'upward' away from the base.

And on the second ("splitting hair") is that another way of saying the same thing . .or does that possibly mean slicing along it's length?!

I want to be sure I'm aspiring to the correct sharpening goals!

Thanks.

 

[Applejacks]

Figurative, not so literal.

 

[WadeF]

If you get the edge sharp enoguh you can run the blade through your hair, well above skin level, and it will grab the hairs and cut them off. I've done this with several of my knives. It's pretty easy to do with a properly honed and stropped straight razor.

However, when I hear about people doing this I often wonder how thick their arm hair is. The thicker the hair, the easier the knife can catch it and slice it. Some people have arm hair that is much thicker than mine so I would think it would take a less sharp knife to catch and cut their arm hair as it would to catch and cut my thin and whispy arm hair. My air hair is pretty fine so when I get a knife to catch and slice it I'm happy.

Anyway, the point is you can do it, and you can do it without pushing your hair against your skin. The hairs can be cut with nothing behind them but air. I'll try to post a picture of this sometime, at least showing the position of the blade, you may not be able to see any hairs being cut, but being held up.

 

[mx125]

If you get the edge sharp enoguh you can run the blade through your hair, well above skin level, and it will grab the hairs and cut them off. I've done this with several of my knives. It's pretty easy to do with a properly honed and stropped straight razor.

However, when I hear about people doing this I often wonder how thick their arm hair is. The thicker the hair, the easier the knife can catch it and slice it. Some people have arm hair that is much thicker than mine so I would think it would take a less sharp knife to catch and cut their arm hair as it would to catch and cut my thin and whispy arm hair. My air hair is pretty fine so when I get a knife to catch and slice it I'm happy.

Anyway, the point is you can do it, and you can do it without pushing your hair against your skin. The hairs can be cut with nothing behind them but air. I'll try to post a picture of this sometime, at least showing the position of the blade, you may not be able to see any hairs being cut, but being held up.

That's interesting. . .I will give it another try. I too have very fine (almost flat laying arm hair) but will play around a bit more. I don't think I've yet sharpened beyond hair popping sharp. Then again . .I only go as fine as very light strokes on the sharpmaker Ultra-fine rods. Maybe I would notice a different with a true strop and paste.

 

[WadeF]

Yeah I usually have to use a strop to acheive that level of sharpness. Get a knife shaving your arm hair as best as you can with the sharpmaker ultra-fine rods, then give it some light strokes on a strop loaded with something like 0.5 micron paste. Test it as you go to see if it's getting sharper, or duller. Stropping takes some practice as you can dull and edge rather than sharpen it.

I have also heard people can come off a 1000 grit stone and shave arm hair above skin level, but again it may depend on the thickness of their arm hair. Maybe some others here can describe their sharpening process that allowed them to cut their arm hair above skin level and describe the thickness of their arm hair.

 

[redhawk44p]

I attach sandpaper to glass plate with double stick tape and sharpen up to 2000 grit. Then I use the ultra fine Spyderco benchstone. I follow that with a CO stropping. Here is a hair I whittled on.

 

[mx125]

I attach sandpaper to glass plate with double stick tape and sharpen up to 2000 grit. Then I use the ultra fine Spyderco benchstone. I follow that with a CO stropping. Here is a hair I whittled on.

Wow . .OK. I guess that answers my question!

I will add a strop to my set up.

Can you get there with most of your steels . .or do you have a particular steel that gives you the super edge?

 

[redhawk44p]

I can only do it so far with my flat ground S30V Spydies and the VG 10 Caly 3. I cannot seem to do it with any other grind but flat grind.
Don't expect the strop to do magic. I often round the edge even after years of practice. You have to polish the wire edge but it is like walking a tightrope.