standard for dullness?

A

audiopile

Joined
Nov 2, 2007
Messages
653
OK -so every body knows that really - really sharp knives cut hair lengthwise. I would like to know your standard for truly dull knives. Won't say where (think of a kitchen you're only in on holidays.)- was a little peckish prior to the bird being served so decided to have a apple. SWMBO had bought a bag o apples -so of course they were all bruised - no big deal -just slice the bruises out. Picked up four kitchen knives in a row -they all skated across the apple !
This (in my opinion) should be the new international standard for really dull knives.What's yours!
 
My standard for dullness is when the knife won't cut what I want it to cut, whatever that may be...:D

I would never ask another persons knife to do something that mine can't do :rolleyes:
 
Last edited:
Im in agreement with the apple test. If the cutting edge leaves a groove in the apple and will not even cut the surface that is just useless.
 
ono724 said:
My standard for dullness is when the knife won't cut what I want it to cut, whatever that may be...:D
Click to expand...

You beat me to it! If a knife doesn't cut what I want it it cut....it's dull.

If a knife cuts what I want it to cut....it's sharp.

Funny thing....I just don't find myself needing to slice hairs lengthwise. Nor have I found the need to shave my arm. Nor cut the top of my water bottle. Nor make little curli-ques on paper. Nor push cut toilet paper.

I must be missing something, because it seems like a lot of people need to do that stuff! :D
 
I supposed if I was forced to come up with dull...I'd have to say "Jessica Simpson."

Whoo doggies....she's as obtuse as a sack of hammers.
 
singularity35 said:
Why should we have a standard for dull knives? :confused:
Click to expand...

Because this is bladeforum and we dig everything knifeish.


I like the fingernail test, if it does not grap my fingernail while resting at an angel its dull, if it somewhat graps it, well it's not sharp, but not dull either.
 
Hmmm, that fingernail test pretty well does it. When it can't grab a fingernail, you won't be doing much cutting at all. That is the test I use to see if a knife is sharp even when I know it really isn't...:D

Won't whittle hair...

Let's see if it will whittle paper... nope

Let's see if it will grab at my arm... nope

Let's see if it will slice paper... nope

Let's see if it will grab at my thumbnail... Oh, there we go. Yep, still sharp. :D
 
I sharpen my knives obsessively. It's weird really. My only idea of a dull knife is my mother's kitchen knives because she never sharpens or maintains them. They skate right across an able as well so I suppose that's a good test. My own standard is if it doesn't shave hair across my arm it needs sharpening for my personal knives.
 
I brought my own knife to do cooking this Thanksgiving. No one else would touch it because they were scared of the "crazy sharp knife."

My standard for dull is if it doesn't cleanly cut what I want it to cut. Once I notice it dragging a bit it's time to touch it back up.
 
i have to fall in with the "if it wont cut its dull" crowd. i like to get as much cutting as i can out of a knife until i start feeling it struggle or tear instead of slice, then i know it needs it.
 
marcinek said:
You beat me to it! If a knife doesn't cut what I want it it cut....it's dull.

If a knife cuts what I want it to cut....it's sharp.

Funny thing....I just don't find myself needing to slice hairs lengthwise. Nor have I found the need to shave my arm. Nor cut the top of my water bottle. Nor make little curli-ques on paper. Nor push cut toilet paper.

I must be missing something, because it seems like a lot of people need to do that stuff! :D
Click to expand...

I don't need to do that. I want to do that stuff. :D
 
It's officially dull if it won't cut paper for me. If it can't cut paper, it usually won't cut anything else I want to cut. The thing is, even low grade steels will do a lot of cutting before they get to the point they won't cut paper. Better steels just do more. Right now, I'm content with whatever Byrd uses. I cut cardboard for 2 days with my Cara Cara, and it would still slice paper w/ no dragging.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top