Sharpmaker and wire edges.

[Steel130]

So basically I have been using the sharpmaker for over a year. I have pretty much always had good luck with getting all my knives very sharp. After using it more I have been able to easily push cut phonebook paper at the 40* setting. Recently I have been examining my edges under a bright light and noticing that I am getting wire edges. Almost alway seeing to hand over the left edge of the knife, nearly never to the right. Sometimes my edges dont pass the finger nail test and I know I have a wire edge. So here is my problem. Lately my edges can pass the finger nail test at an angle slightly higher than my edge angle, can slowly push cut phone book paper with no snags, but under a certain light it looks like I have a wire edge . In sunlight I cant see anything that looks like a wire edge. So if a wire edge is undetectable by feel. How do I know if I still have one? Should I upgrade to the UF stones and a strop? Its driving me completely insane, so any help is appreciated.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

The reflection coming off the edge could also be an additional bevel, like a micro bevel. Very common, and easy to do with the little bit of angle variability that's always present in any 'freehand' (non-guided) sharpening. Especially if you're able to push-cut phone book paper; a true wire edge will almost always hang up, slip or snag the paper. I'd use a good magnifier under very bright light to inspect it. Rotate the blade under the light, and see how many times the 'shine' brightens up and then goes away, as you rotate the blade.

 

[Steel130]

Thank you very much. That was my first thought that perhaps its just a small micro bevel from non perfect angles. I will try and get a magnifying glass with a high power soon.

 

[eccvets]

you can use a cotton ball or a q-tip to see if you have a wire edge, just see if it catchs as you run it along the edge. As far as getting rid of it, strop it off. personnaly I use a peice of soft wood and just run the edge down it to knock it off.