On the edge

mfaster7

mfaster7

Joined
Sep 9, 2006
Messages
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I was curious. How do you guys test for sharpness. Pushcut telephone book paper, newsprint, skin, hair. I like to cut dangling fine hairs but since I cut my hair this has become exceedingly dangerous. Now I am into cutting short fine hairs. I wonder what I will lose first. my fingers or my hair. Anyone have a better method?
 
Push-cutting thin layers of skin off the end of my left thumb... Can't do it too often though so I leave this for the final test after it pops hairs nicely.

Also, push-cutting a piece of 1/4" thick expanded plastic foam I have. Not sure what plastic it is (not polystyrene or polyurethane) but it just deforms if the blade isn't really sharp.

Edit:
I missed taking the tops off my chest hairs. My arm hairs are a bit fine really, although I managed it with my Barkie after a lot of stropping.

Rick.
 
Push cut lightly against my fingertips. :eek:
I also use the blade against fingernail tests too. (rest at an angle, and slide across feeling for smoothness)
 
I cut my rubber chicken (that doesn't sound right).

I do the chop lots of wood and shave hair afterwords. For serious sharpness I pass the blade along my arm just above the skin with out touching. If the hairs jump out of the way I'm good. :)
 
I sharpen it with sandpaper, strop it, then just beat the heck out of it on some wood!

Need.........better...........stropping.................skillz..............
 
I chop cinder blocks to test the sharpness :thumbup: then shave my back.
 
I typically test on regular college rule notebook paper, cardboard and hardwood.
 
In no particular order:
-slice various thicknesses of paper
-see how easily it cuts small pieces of skin off tip of thumb
-run down finger nail and see how easily it grabs and/or shaves the nail
-shaving arm hair

I have found for instance that trying to slice that paper that Campmor catalogs is made of (thinner than phone book paper I think) seems to be the ultimate paper test...gotta be pretty sharp.

Lots of self mutilation involved here if you didn't notice ;-)
 
I find that sharpening is lots of fun but it's easy to get compulsive about it. I have to admit that my ultimate test is rather dangerous. I hold a fine hair between my thumb and index finger. I then cut it in half. On two occassions I have cut the tip off of my fingers. But I find that the hair test is always fun. When the knife is as sharp as I like it will grab any hair no matter how short and fine and shear thru it even when I swing the knife slowly. I would like to find an alternate method that is just as illustrative but a little less bloody.
 
my true test of sharpness is to cut free hanging beaver hair. it is very fine, almost like fur if you will. now a days it's getting harder to find a good supply of this, in the seventies it was way more plentiful.

if you don't have access to a good beav pelt then i guess muskrat fur or frog hairs would do in a pinch. :thumbup:
 
I have three tests. Unfortunately, I am a very poor sharpener so I have never gotten past the second test. But maybe that day will come...
Test 1: Shave paper. Not a push cut, just a regular slice.
Test 2: Arm shaving.
Test 3: I chop the air a few times and sniff for ozone. Alternately, if there is a storm outside, I go and try to chop a lightning bolt in half.

If a knife passes all three tests, it is officially sharp :thumbup:
 
idahoskunk said:
my true test of sharpness is to cut free hanging beaver hair. it is very fine, almost like fur if you will. now a days it's getting harder to find a good supply of this, in the seventies it was way more plentiful.

if you don't have access to a good beav pelt then i guess muskrat fur or frog hairs would do in a pinch. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

You are correct Skunk
They were way more plentiful back in the good old days
 
idahoskunk said:
my true test of sharpness is to cut free hanging beaver hair. it is very fine, almost like fur if you will. now a days it's getting harder to find a good supply of this, in the seventies it was way more plentiful.

if you don't have access to a good beav pelt then i guess muskrat fur or frog hairs would do in a pinch. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Too Right Skunk
WHere are the days of yesteryear
 
idahoskunk said:
my true test of sharpness is to cut free hanging beaver hair. it is very fine, almost like fur if you will. now a days it's getting harder to find a good supply of this, in the seventies it was way more plentiful.

if you don't have access to a good beav pelt then i guess muskrat fur or frog hairs would do in a pinch. :thumbup:
Click to expand...


Gillette,


man's best friend:thumbup: :thumbup:

I do have a badger hair shaving brush, but that cost me way to much money to go and chop up with knife.
 
idahoskunk said:
my true test of sharpness is to cut free hanging beaver hair. it is very fine, almost like fur if you will. now a days it's getting harder to find a good supply of this, in the seventies it was way more plentiful.

if you don't have access to a good beav pelt then i guess muskrat fur or frog hairs would do in a pinch. :thumbup:
Click to expand...


That dang AIDS virus changed everything, huh?
 
idahoskunk said:
my true test of sharpness is to cut free hanging beaver hair. it is very fine, almost like fur if you will. now a days it's getting harder to find a good supply of this, in the seventies it was way more plentiful.

if you don't have access to a good beav pelt then i guess muskrat fur or frog hairs would do in a pinch. :thumbup:
Click to expand...


MY last attempt at using Beaver pelt got me slapped into next week, particularly since there had been a recent waxing.
 
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