Paper cut test

Sharpnessis

Sharpnessis

Joined
Aug 11, 2012
Messages
810
I just finished sharpening my delica. Went up to 3000, checked the edge with a loupe, stopped with green compound on leather, checked edge again with loupe. No burr, no wire edge.
First test.... Shave hair=no problem. Second test.... Cut phone book paper =no problem, third test... Fold paper in half and filet paper=no problem. Then I turned the paper width wise to try again and it just ripped the phone book paper! It has happened to me before. Paper cuts fine holding the paper one way (say length wise) then turn the paper on its side (say width wise) and it won't cut.
I don't get it. Does this happen to anyone else?
 
The paper has a "grain" to it and will usually cut easier in one direction than the other. Very common. What you have is a very sharp knife, that could be improved upon, but what will you gain in the real world use. If it will cut the phone book paper without snagging or tearing in one direction, then more than likely it will cut anything you want to cut with it. Also, it will dull slightly somewhat with cutting a lot of paper.

Now, if you are trying to get it to the next level for "Braggin rights" then you still have more work to do. As Ben stated above, strop some more, but be careful that you don't round the edge by improper stropping. Good luck in your quest.

Blessings,

Omar
 
Thank you gentlemen. I have been stropping for about a half hour. The edge in bright light looking through a loupe is non-existent. I can barely see it. I'll keep trying though. Omar, I want those bragging rights!
 
Nothing wrong with braggin rights! I am constantly trying to perfect my sharpening ability on one or two "project knives" just to see how sharp I can get them. If my EDC knives will cut the paper in one direction I am satisfied. Any sharper and I might be hesitant to use them and dull them. That is just me. Don't have any true Mirror finish knives yet either, but they will be like my project knives, and just used for braggin rights. Have fun!

Blessings,

Omar
 
Thanks for the blessing Omar, I'll need it. I guess I'm still searching for the right sharpness for for edc. Still not sure because I always go back to the paper cut test and grind up to the thousands, lol. Don't know if I'll ever learn.
 
Sharpnessis said:
Thank you gentlemen. I have been stropping for about a half hour. The edge in bright light looking through a loupe is non-existent. I can barely see it. I'll keep trying though. Omar, I want those bragging rights!
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Be careful not to over-strop it. If you've already been at it for a half-hour, it's possible the apex may be getting a bit rounded off or over-polished. Especially at high-grit. When the edge is that close to being 'there', it's real easy to go just a little too far with it. The work done on the hones is what will accomplish the most for sharpness. If stropping doesn't improve on that within maybe 10-20 passes per side, that's usually a hint that it could be taken a little further on the hones.

You are very close, though. So, it shouldn't take a lot more work.


David
 
Thanks again Omar. I kept stropping and don't think I lost any sharpness. I could still fold phone book paper in half and cut it easily (only in the grain direction). I didn't realize I could over strop. I will try yet again, but on another blade, I think my delica is good, like you said, for edc.
 
Okay I am so excited! It just whittled hair! Omg! I posted pics on Facebook and instigram. I'm such a geek! But guess what... Still won't cut that Damn phone book paper against the grain! I must have the strongest pb around! Lol
 
If it's whittling hair, but not cutting the paper, I see a couple possibilities:

1. Apex isn't complete along the full length of the edge. Some portions are apexed & sharp (where it's cutting hair), but not all of it. May also be that some portions are a little rounded off from stropping.
2. There is a burr or wire that's folding over. The burr/wire can cut hairs, but is folding or deflecting when cutting the paper.

I'm betting #1 is more likely, at this point. If it's a combination of incomplete apex and rounding from stropping, it'll need to go back to the regular sharpening (sandpaper?) to fix that, because continued stropping will likely make the edge rounder/smoother.


David
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
If it's whittling hair, but not cutting the paper, I see a couple possibilities:

1. Apex isn't complete along the full length of the edge. Some portions are apexed & sharp (where it's cutting hair), but not all of it. May also be that some portions are a little rounded off from stropping.
2. There is a burr or wire that's folding over. The burr/wire can cut hairs, but is folding or deflecting when cutting the paper.

I'm betting #1 is more likely, at this point. If it's a combination of incomplete apex and rounding from stropping, it'll need to go back to the regular sharpening (sandpaper?) to fix that, because continued stropping will likely make the edge rounder/smoother.



David
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Thank you David. My name is also David. Thank you for the input. I got a brand new razor blade and tried to cut the phone book paper against the grain, wouldn't do it, it just ripped! I know I will always try to improve but I can't deal with this Damn phone book lol! I love all the advice, thank you guys soooo much I will use and try to improve! Btw I was so happy with that hair I posted it on bf Facebook page!
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
If it's whittling hair, but not cutting the paper, I see a couple possibilities:

1. Apex isn't complete along the full length of the edge. Some portions are apexed & sharp (where it's cutting hair), but not all of it. May also be that some portions are a little rounded off from stropping.
2. There is a burr or wire that's folding over. The burr/wire can cut hairs, but is folding or deflecting when cutting the paper.

I'm betting #1 is more likely, at this point. If it's a combination of incomplete apex and rounding from stropping, it'll need to go back to the regular sharpening (sandpaper?) to fix that, because continued stropping will likely make the edge rounder/smoother.

David
Click to expand...
:thumbup:David

Spyderco's HT vg-10 possesses tough burr/wire to remove, so I suspect both 1 & 2 scenarios as mentioned in David's post. For my Endura vg-10 to push cut phonebook paper in 'a balanced strop part ii' video, prior to strop I produced a clean & durable edge endded on dmt ee. Any weak part of the edge will deform or tear, which will catch & tear the paper.
 
Sharpnessis said:
Thank you David. My name is also David. Thank you for the input. I got a brand new razor blade and tried to cut the phone book paper against the grain, wouldn't do it, it just ripped! I know I will always try to improve but I can't deal with this Damn phone book lol! I love all the advice, thank you guys soooo much I will use and try to improve! Btw I was so happy with that hair I posted it on bf Facebook page!
Click to expand...
Take a look at my 'a balanced strop part ii' video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujhB1IYedHw
Cutting phonebook paper can be frustrating by ifself, knowing/thinking about it a little bit may save time & frustration. I wasted enough time with newsprint & phonebook papers - lol.
 
Sharpnessis said:
Thank you David. My name is also David. Thank you for the input. I got a brand new razor blade and tried to cut the phone book paper against the grain, wouldn't do it, it just ripped! I know I will always try to improve but I can't deal with this Damn phone book lol! I love all the advice, thank you guys soooo much I will use and try to improve! Btw I was so happy with that hair I posted it on bf Facebook page!
Click to expand...

You can still use the phonebook paper to give you some clues as to where the edge needs a little more TLC. A very SLOW draw-cut (slice) through the paper, using the full length of the cutting edge (heel to tip) can show a lot. Areas that slip over the paper are either incompletely apexed or rounded over, and areas that snag and fold the paper are more likely burrs/wires/dents/chips. If you do it slowly enough, and take note of where these things happen along the edge, you could even mark those areas with a Sharpie or similar marker, so you know where to focus more attention on the edge. Don't even worry about the hair-whittling at all; make the paper cutting work first, and that'll be 90% of the battle.


David (there seem to be a lot of 'us' around here... ;))
 
bluntcut said:
:thumbup:David

Spyderco's HT vg-10 possesses tough burr/wire to remove, so I suspect both 1 & 2 scenarios as mentioned in David's post. For my Endura vg-10 to push cut phonebook paper in 'a balanced strop part ii' video, prior to strop I produced a clean & durable edge endded on dmt ee. Any weak part of the edge will deform or tear, which will catch & tear the paper.
Click to expand...

Good to see you chime in here. I watched your vids today, and have been tinkering a little bit along similar lines. I'll post a reply in your other thread, but was encouraged by what I found. :thumbup:


David
 
bluntcut said:
Take a look at my 'a balanced strop part ii' video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujhB1IYedHw
Cutting phonebook paper can be frustrating by ifself, knowing/thinking about it a little bit may save time & frustration. I wasted enough time with newsprint & phonebook papers - lol.
Click to expand...

Just watched you video. Thank you for sharing your expertise with the world. I didn't realize it was similar to cutting rope, I mean it's only paper, right. I've never stopped the way you did so I'll give it a go. Thanks
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
Good to see you chime in here. I watched your vids today, and have been tinkering a little bit along similar lines. I'll post a reply in your other thread, but was encouraged by what I found. :thumbup:


David
Click to expand...
Thanks David OWE. For many people, including me you had helped on this forum. Har harrrr BF Spark! should grants you a Pirate status.
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
You can still use the phonebook paper to give you some clues as to where the edge needs a little more TLC. A very SLOW draw-cut (slice) through the paper, using the full length of the cutting edge (heel to tip) can show a lot. Areas that slip over the paper are either incompletely apexed or rounded over, and areas that snag and fold the paper are more likely burrs/wires/dents/chips. If you do it slowly enough, and take note of where these things happen along the edge, you could even mark those areas with a Sharpie or similar marker, so you know where to focus more attention on the edge. Don't even worry about the hair-whittling at all; make the paper cutting work first, and that'll be 90% of the battle.


David (there seem to be a lot of 'us' around here... ;))
Click to expand...

Great tip. Ya know, I'm trying to cut the dang paper I don't stop to see where it catches. I'll do better next time, with all these great tips!
 
Check this video out.... Maybe it will help. It doesn't have to be a mirror finish to slice paper the way you are wanting... [video=youtube;mSt2mCWGFII]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSt2mCWGFII&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/video]
 
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