Sharpness

C

CarolinaJack

Joined
Aug 1, 2022
Messages
2
I am 58 years old. Been using a whetstone since I was 5 or 6 years old. Won't say I was using it correctly at that age, but everybody has to start somewhere.

Anyway, to the point. I always read about folks getting a knife "hair popping sharp", implying this is the sharpest we can get a knife.
I don't think this is correct. I like it better when the hair just gets cut and lays back on the blade, implying a cleanly severed hair, no stress as it is cut, it just lays down, kinda like a sharp sickle bar does with hay.

Change my mind......
 
C CarolinaJack - welcome to blade forums

If a knife has bite, but still cuts hair without pulling it - I’m happy. 600 grit edge works for me. I just want it to cut without tearing. Razor edges don’t last in my experience, but sharp working edges do/can ( depending on a few variables of course ).

We need pics
 
Welcome!

I shave hair with the finished product. I've no preference whether the hair "pops", lays down nicely, or just gets shoved forwards a'la road grader with the blade.

If it shaves hair, I'm done flailing at the stones for the day and into the pocket she goes.

Then again, I'm only 56... you've had a couple years to learn what I obviously haven't learnt yet 😁
 
The youngster has a point.The sharpest I've had my spydercos is, when trying to split hair, I touch the edge on the hair and instead it falls down like a micro-tree (a mini "timber!") In most cases, I manage a split. On a bad day, only one part of the edge can split. I'm 59.
 
It's a bit difficult to shave with a BK-5.

In reality I don't have much arm, leg, or facial hair, and my test has always been by feel with my thumb.
 
I used to use the shaving hair method. Now I test sharpness on skin. Usually the outside edge of my index finger.
 

"Hair popping - the hair bends before it cuts, and the severed hair part will “jump away”. Requires at least 30 BESS or 0.05 micron edge. I couldn’t make a hair pop with the 35 and 40 BESS edge."

"Silent slicer - at 20 BESS and under the hair falls effortlessly as soon as it touches the edge; not jumping away like with popping, just silently falls, indicative of a 0.01-0.03 micron edge."
 
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The sharpest knives I’ve ever had didn’t shave so much as they felt like they were wiping the hair off my arms if that makes any sense. I don’t try to get them that sharp when I sharpen them though.
 
Bob Denman said:
That has got to get a bit bloody at time!
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Ha, Not at all. I'm only talking about the top layer of skin, it's more of a feel of how the edge grips/ tugs on the skin rather than a slicing motion. If it's not sharp enough it sort of just skids without biting. Anyway I've found it to be a very reliable way to test for the sort of edge I want, which is not a smooth or polished edge.
 
I've tried that: my blades are usually thirsty, and dive much deeper than I intend...
 
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