Sharporexia Nervosa--aka cumpulsive sharpening

Jeff Clark · Nov 1, 1999

Hi, My name is Jeff and I suffer from compulsive sharpening syndrome (Sharporexia Nervosa). I've suffered from this off and on for around 40 years. Just like a teen- age girl who feels she just isn't thin enough I find myself fretting that my latest knife is sitting around not being sharp enough. Common symptoms are excessive arm hair loss and hiding hones and razor strops around your home and office.

Last week's knife is a Browing Model 725 lockback. It's my first folder that uses AUS-8 alloy. It has a real thin blade profile and shaves like a straight razor. When I thumb-scrape test it I remove thin-sections of skin from my finger. The trouble is, I've already tried 3 different sharpening styles on it in the last 5 days. I've probably spent a half-hour on stropping it alone. And I'm sure that I can find a way to get it sharper. I'm out of control... again.

Are there any other sufferers out there? I'm actually better than I was as a youth when I suffered from knife throwing bulimia, to the detriment of knives, house, and home. Is there a way to know that you've got a knife as sharp as humanly possible--or to be satisfied with a knife that is only sharper than you have any rational application for? I can't stop thinking about it. I've got to go out and strop, maybe even hone.

[This message has been edited by Jeff Clark (edited 01 November 1999).]

David Williams · Nov 1, 1999

Sounds worse than knifeflicking and knifewhacking

Fortunately I don't suffer from any... Hey! this knife is dull! Where are my bench stones?

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"A knifeless man is a lifeless man"
-Nordic proverb

[This message has been edited by David Williams (edited 01 November 1999).]

David Rock · Nov 1, 1999

I hear you, brother.

As I write this, I have on or near my person the following sharpening devices:

1 DMT Diafold course/fine (blue/red)
1 DMT extra coarse Mini-fold (black)
1 DMT fine Mini-fold (red)
1 crock stick "V" sharpener
1 Eze-Lap pocket sharpener (the kind that looks like a pen)
1 SAK-style sharpening steel

And that's just in my office!

Yes, I'm a sick man. The good news is I can use my knives without having to worry about them getting dull.

Jeff, when you sharpen a knife, you test it on your thumb or by shaving a bit of arm hair. Me too. Do you you find yourself touching up the edge again out of fear that the bit of hair you shaved might have dulled the edge just a teeny-weeny bit?

David Rock

[This message has been edited by David Rock (edited 01 November 1999).]

Jeff Clark · Nov 1, 1999

It goes without saying that any blade test, such as shaving, will have some effect on the blade (if only on a quantum-mechanical level). This leads to a dilemma, how to fix the problem without over-smoothing the blade. If you strop with leather (particularly leather impregnated with a buffing compound) every time you shave a little arm hair you will get it too smooth and start to slightly round the final bevel (I don't believe in convex bevels). I try and content myself with stropping on my pants leg after a little compulsive hair shaving. (Did you know that there's a similar disorder called trichotilomania, where you nervously pull out head and body hair?) I'm glad that AUS-8 is harder than the 420HC in my Swiss Army Knife, I don't have to worry so much about shaving induced dullness.

Longden · Nov 1, 1999

It's also pretty bad when you find yourself worrying about a knife edge getting dull ... and you haven't even used it since the last sharpening (aka spontaneous dullness).

All those airborne particulates bashing against your nice edge! Out of concern for the peace of mind of sharporexia sufferers, I won't even go into airborne moisture.

Plus, since steel is an amorphous solid, the molecules are constantly shifting!

Jeff Clark · Nov 1, 1999

Sometimes it's a bad thing to know too much physics. I know that a honed edge is left in a high-energy state with freshly broken chemical bonds yearning to grab onto contaminants or to otherwise reduce their surface energy. The old razor manufacturers said that your razor edge "grows" between uses. The correct way to use a straight razor is to strop it just before use to put those newly located atoms back in line.

The AUS-8 isn't so bad, but I'd swear that my BG-42 has been creaping. I have't caught it in the act yet, but maybe if I grab it out of my pocket without warning...

[This message has been edited by Jeff Clark (edited 01 November 1999).]

johno · Nov 1, 1999

I swear that my Puma folders, maybe just more than the others, don't shave hair as well if the've been sitting for awhile.

Blues · Nov 1, 1999

I have found that I am not only a knife collector, but a collector of hones, doodads, steels, etc. intended to maintain said knives and keep them sharp.

I'm actually getting to the point where I enjoy collecting sharpeners as much as the knives.

Hmmm, I see a pattern emerging here. Thank God we're the NORMAL ones!

Blues

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Live Free or Die

Shawn R Sullivan · Nov 1, 1999

I feel your pain. I must go and sharpen my knives. All of them.

Shawn

ptn · Nov 1, 1999

Yup! me too. Always checking with my thumb and if there is any question, shaving a little hair from my left arm......then I've got to touch up the blade again. Can't help that little sense of pride when I feel that razor like edge. What's wrong with that?

ptn

misque · Nov 1, 1999

You people are some real sickos I mean to tell ya...

Uh-oh.

Uhhh, sorry about that.

I just realized as I sit in my Lazy Boy with the Laptop on lap that I have within reach a Lansky system, a Sharpmaker 204, a Diafold fine/course stone, behind me are double Crock sticks and on the counter 3.5' behind me is a Chef's Choice manual hone and one of those little ceramic pocket sharpeners.

Nevermind...

Damn! This Voyager is pulling more hair than it shaves! Gotta go!

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The individualist without strategy who takes opponents lightly will inevitably become the captive of others.

[This message has been edited by misque (edited 01 November 1999).]

Steelwolf · Nov 1, 1999

Within arms length, I have a Lansky diamond system, a couple of Eze-Lap hand hones, a Buck Jiffysharp (actually got 2 of those, but the other is in the kitchen for that quick swipe before I start preparing dinner) and the Eze-lap pen type sharpener.

And any of you guys fish? Cause I do, and I find myself compulsively sharpening hooks as well.

grnamin · Nov 1, 1999

Ah, what a relief! What ails me does have a name.

. I thought I was going out of my mind and I was the only one who knew about it. I have my Sharpmaker 204MF setup on my coffee table so that I can sharpen my knives whenever the urge overcomes me.

-Greg

Dr.Lathe · Nov 2, 1999

Guys,
With all the sharpening tools you have......
This would be the ultimate!! A $69.00 belt sander from Sears that runs the 1" wide belts.... With, a 3M 15 micron belt. I think Tru-Grit sells small quantities. You already have the leather strops. So, for under $100 bucks you have the ultimate knife sharpener! You will NEVER use the hand stones again unless you bring them in the field with you!
Neil
EDIT: For those that prefer the toothier edges, go with a higher micron size belt.
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Just updated 10/31!! New Knives, New Pics!!!
http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Meeting/5520/index.html

[This message has been edited by Dr.Lathe (edited 02 November 1999).]

[This message has been edited by Dr.Lathe (edited 02 November 1999).]

Shawn R Sullivan · Nov 2, 1999

Thanks for the tip Dr.Lathe its off to sears I go. Power tools and sharpening all in one fell swoop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shawn

JoHnYKwSt · Nov 2, 1999

I have a mild case of this disorder. Sometimes in the middle of the night when I can't sleep, I'll get up and start sharpening! And after I'm done sharpening if I'm still not sleepy, I'll start sharpening kitchen knives, scissors, whatever I can find.

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Johnny
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Jeff Clark · Nov 2, 1999

I don't use power tools on my final edge. I don't want to risk compromising the hardness of the microscopicly thin edge by the heat of a belt, likewise I don't believe in buffing. I prefer to work with water on my hones (which is hard with ceramic rods). When I use my diamond plates I work under running tap water.

Phillip Jones · Nov 2, 1999

Guys, There is nothing wrong with you. I worry more about the people who are afraid to sharpen thier knives. Those people should seek medical, psychological or spiritual help immediately. 'Tis better to have sharp ones lying around than dull ones. Hold your heads high with pride and let's sharpen one for the Gipper.

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If a man can keep alert and imaginative, an error is a possibility, a chance at something new; to him, wandering and wondering are a part of the same process. He is most mistaken, most in error, whenever he quits exploring.

William Least Heat Moon

Jeff Clark · Nov 2, 1999

I thought of another extreme symptom, hidden honing. Has it got to the point where you try and hide how much time you spend stropping and honing from your significant other? Do you find times and places to hone where you won't be observed? Are you ever "caught" honing?

Longden · Nov 3, 1999

JoHnYKwSt, God help the robber who runs into you while sleep-walking!

Jeff... just got my Buck 501 from Cumberland and that BG-42 edge is sweet! Only my VG-10 Calypso Jr comes close.

Guys... don't worry about sharporexia until you start talking to your knives.

Sharporexia Nervosa--aka cumpulsive sharpening

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