sharpness test

[rje58]

I prefer to use the ancient Samurai method of Tameshigiri

That is a wonderful test method! I used to use it, but it lead me into too much trouble!

Now I use the ancient Japanese art of Tamanegi o suraisu suru.

 

[3D Anvil]

Which one did you order? I’ve always been curious about those things.

I have the PT50B, which is the middle one in their line. It rounds readings to the nearest 5 grams, as opposed to 1 gram granularity for the top model, but that's fine. I don't think you can get a repeatable result finer than 5g anyway.

 

[blanex1]

I use phone book paper, because I got sick of cutting myself and like said' the paper douse not bleed and its a cheep way to test for sharpness .

 

[nevertakeadayoff]

I use phone book paper, because I got sick of cutting myself and like said' the paper douse not bleed and its a cheep way to test for sharpness .

HAHAHA YES!

 

[Terry M.]

Which one did you order? I’ve always been curious about those things.

Edge-On-Up Home Edge Tester

A Standard Test for Sharpness How sharp is the edge? That is both the most important question a sharpener can ask, and possibly the hardest to answer. There are tests like cutting paper or shaving hair that are often used to demonstrate sharpness, and they are helpful to a point, but they lack...

www.sharpeningsupplies.com

 

[BTTLBRN]

I like to use receipt paper, phone book paper and those annoying mailers that get sent to the house. I hold the paper loosely and with little pressure on the blade do light pressure cuts and "c" cuts; if the knife passes easily through that it's sharp enough for me. That and push cuts, those are typically good guides for me.

 

[nevertakeadayoff]

Edge-On-Up Home Edge Tester

A Standard Test for Sharpness How sharp is the edge? That is both the most important question a sharpener can ask, and possibly the hardest to answer. There are tests like cutting paper or shaving hair that are often used to demonstrate sharpness, and they are helpful to a point, but they lack...

www.sharpeningsupplies.com

The test media is aluminum???

 

[3D Anvil]

The test media is aluminum???

No, it's some kind of plastic or nylon monofilament. You can either get a spool of it, which strings across a block, or single-use blanks which are made of aluminum that's pre-strung with test media.

 

[Another Shepherd]

Here are some sharpness test results with a PT50A:

Factory Edge

That's done using coarser materials. They can grind them out much faster that way.

www.bladeforums.com

 

[000Robert]

I have the PT50B, which is the middle one in their line. It rounds readings to the nearest 5 grams, as opposed to 1 gram granularity for the top model, but that's fine. I don't think you can get a repeatable result finer than 5g anyway.

I have a PT50A, but it stays in its box most of the time. I use printer receipts, PB paper, and sometimes for fun, rolling papers.
And also my 2" Poly/Nylon HD webbing strap.

 

[nevertakeadayoff]

Ah, I see the point of the scale is to measure quickly to get a good reading.

 

[rje58]

Ah, I see the point of the scale is to measure quickly to get a good reading.

I have an electronic digital food scale that is quite accurate. I sense a homegrown sharpness tool in my future.

 

[nevertakeadayoff]

I need to stop posting here when I'm super busy doing other shit...

The scale needs to keep the last reading and take readings multiple times per second to be of any use here.

I do like this system now that I see the test media isn't aluminum lol.

 

[karnaknives]

Many have tried to approximate the PT50 with other scales with varying degrees of success.
After watching others go through that process I decided to buy one and I'm quite happy I did.

 

[nevertakeadayoff]

I just sharpened on a 4000 grit stone (tormek) and it barely cut my arm after nearly the entire length of the blade. However, it sure cut hair on my leg pretty well (maybe better than 800 grit stone) and it cut the handle of a grocery bag about the same. I dunno what to think...

*sigh*....maybe I need that damned PT50.... I want consistency in my sharpness test.

 

[Jim malone]

I'm pretty shure this is Damiand from the Spyderco forum...

 

[nevertakeadayoff]

Ya, it's me, Diamond.

As for my last post here, I figured out the problem shortly after the post. The 4000 grit stone is a polishing stone, so trailing edge was the fix : )

 

[kwackster]

Grapes.

 

[K.Coper]

I either slice copier paper, slice a paper towel or have the blade bite my thumb nail. If it passes one these tests, it's sharp enough.

 

[777 Edge]

If you have access to a 3D printer, make yourself one of these. I designed it a while back and posted the printable designs up for free for our sharpening community. DIY version of an edge tester and works very well.

Edge Tester - 3D

Here is a design I just finished a couple days ago and have been testing it extensively over the last few days. It is based on the popular, but expensive, BESS Edge-On-Up sharpness tester. I use 0.325mm monofilament fishing line, and a Feather DE razor blade as my calibration value. I also make...

www.bladeforums.com