tall tales of sharpening.

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psycho78

Joined
Jun 17, 2006
Messages
1,108
push cutting toilet paper?

splitting hairs?

popping hair above the skin?

(maybe my hair is finer than some)

I've been sharpening knives my entire life, putting razor sharp edges on every piece of steel I could put my hands on. Shaving in the bathroom with knives and straight razors for years. I am not a novice, or sloppy sharpener, and I just cant see some of the cutting tests described on these forums happening. I'm sure there are some damn fine sharpeners on these forums, but somehow I'd like to see video proof of these feats being done.

What do you guys think? Am I the only one here who thinks this? If you have knives that can do these things, tell me what they are and post some videos or something.

I know this may sound egotistical...but I'm confident in my sharpening abilities and just cant see this being done. Some knives thicknesses, geometry and steel just wont allow it.
 
I think the ultimate test is a full cut of an unsupported single sheet of common printer paper or even newspaper taped together in a tube and leaving the bottom still standing, there is a video floating arround of it and it is breathtaking
 
Now, I can totally see these tests being done. I've done them myself, and I saw David Schott's video of a tube cut that was awesome.

It's just these tales of "tree topping" and splitting hairs, and push cutting floppy ass toilet paper. I want to see this. i want to actually see and feel the edges of the knives that are performing these feats.
 
Great idea. I'd also really like to see some of these sharpness tests on video. Not because I don't beleive them but because I think little differences in how they are done is best seen. Like the paper tube video before I saw it I was thinking it was done fairly differently.
 
That paper tube video was quite stunning. I too would like some of the masters to share a bit.
David
 
I've had factory edges that could cut hair above the skin, and I've split a few of my arm hairs. Best I've ever done with tp is a clean slice, I haven't push cut it. though there are definitely different grades of tp, I think I'd have a good chance with the public restroom industrial rolls that have wood chips in them :p

I've sliced through thermal paper receipts rolled up and taped, but not without knocking it onto the floor.
 
There are some pictures on here somewhere of a multiply split hair done by somebody. I have a 1095 rat-3 sharpened on the edge pro through 3000 grit tapes down to 20 degrees included that will pop the tops of hairs off when run about 1/8" off the skin of my arm. The technique I used was sharpen through 600 grit stone then move the angle ever so slightly up and hit just a few times with the 1k then the 3k. The resulting edge when viewed through a 40x dissecting microscope looks like finely polished micro serations. I don't have video capability, but it can be done. I have tried push cutting all types of toilet paper with no luck....the same rat-3 won't even come close.
 
On Fikes DVD, arm hair is shaved above the skin. There is of course significant difference in human arm hair, some of it is far more difficult to cut than others.

-Cliff
 
After I do a good job of sharpening lately, I run the knives through my arm hair above the skin and there is hair all over the blade, and when you run your hand back and forth over the arm hair there is a bunch all over my hand. The knife I've had the most success with is the reground Fallkniven U2 Cliff lent me, which is ground incredible thin, and it is almost effortless to put a great edge on it with a 15 degree microbevel and stropping. I've had similar hair above the arm shaving performance from a factory Spyderco and a Ben Dale sharpened knife. I've never come close to pushcutting toilet paper, though I want to get some 1 ply to see if I can get to the level of slicing it, though pushcutting it would seem like the holy grail of sharpening. The farthest I've been able to pushcut the yellow pages from the point of hold is a little over 2.5", and I've averaged a little over 4" on newsprint, both with the U2. I don't have a video camera otherwise I would have my wife tape it for me.
 
I used to be more suspicious of sharpening tall tales than I am now, with practice and patience I've come to see for myself that most these things are possible.

Push cutting toilet paper however remains a mystery to me, doesn't seem important enough to quit using Charmin Ultra .... though I have seen some in public restrooms I think you cut push cut with a lawn mower blade.
 
I have probably medium to fine hair on my arms. I have been able to get some of my blades sharp enough to not only shave but pop hair off at skin level.

I have never been able to tree-top or even approach the push cutting of toilet paper. Possibly if the toilet paper was used enough and got stiff.........Sorry, Whine & Cheese material.:eek: :D
 
Most of my knives will puch cut newsprint one inch out from the fingers. Even my big ol' honkin' Cold Steel SRK. But I've never been able to get one to shave arm hair above the skin level. Maybe it's just my hair?:confused:

It would be scientifically impossible to get steel as sharp as flaked obsidian. (I think! Let me know if I'm wrong Cliff or Joe!) Maybe if there's someone out there that has a genuine obsidian knife, you could try the pushcutting of the toilet paper and let the rest of us know if it's possible????:confused:
 
I found obsidian scalpels for sale online, been thinking of getting one. I can't believe I'm thinking of dropping $80 on a small piece of galss to see if it will cut toilet paper :rolleyes:
 
hardheart said:
I can't believe I'm thinking of dropping $80 on a small piece of galss to see if it will cut toilet paper :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Well, these things happen...

Personally, I sharpen till it shaves hair off my arm or leg and leave it alone. But that's because I use my blades for things other than toilet paper, and don't really see the point of making the edge that thin. My knives cut paper, cardboard, meat, tomatoes and wood just fine, and I don't baby them.

It's interesting stuff to read though, mostly to see how fine of a finish different steels will take. But I regard it much the same as I do arguments of sub-minute-of-angle rifles; don't need it, don't care.
 
I just picked up a carbon fiber millie the other day with a less than satisfactory edge on it. So I stropped it with boron carbide then chromium oxide and it'll pop arm hairs and cut a free standing roll of printer paper. Its always easier to slice the roll of paper at a downward angle instead of perpendicular to the knide edge. If some one could do that it would be quite impressive. I'll see how sharp I can get this millie after my edge pro shows up.
 
GibsonFan said:
Well, these things happen...

Personally, I sharpen till it shaves hair off my arm or leg and leave it alone. But that's because I use my blades for things other than toilet paper, and don't really see the point of making the edge that thin. My knives cut paper, cardboard, meat, tomatoes and wood just fine, and I don't baby them.

It's interesting stuff to read though, mostly to see how fine of a finish different steels will take. But I regard it much the same as I do arguments of sub-minute-of-angle rifles; don't need it, don't care.
Click to expand...


yes! I'm with ya man.
 
psycho78 said:
push cutting toilet paper?

splitting hairs?

popping hair above the skin?

(maybe my hair is finer than some)

I've been sharpening knives my entire life, putting razor sharp edges on every piece of steel I could put my hands on. Shaving in the bathroom with knives and straight razors for years. I am not a novice, or sloppy sharpener, and I just cant see some of the cutting tests described on these forums happening. I'm sure there are some damn fine sharpeners on these forums, but somehow I'd like to see video proof of these feats being done.

What do you guys think? Am I the only one here who thinks this? If you have knives that can do these things, tell me what they are and post some videos or something.

I know this may sound egotistical...but I'm confident in my sharpening abilities and just cant see this being done. Some knives thicknesses, geometry and steel just wont allow it.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what the "push cutting toilet paper" is, slicing a sheet, or pushing the blade through a whole roll against a cutting board... I've never been able to slice a sheet. However, I can push a blade about half way through a whole roll against a cutting board. If I had more body weight, I could probably make that cut.

The hair cuts,... Yes, "for sure" you can get a steel blade sharp enough to make those kinds of cuts but,... SO WHAT? It's just a quirky obsession some weirdo’s have. If it gives them a thrill,... nothing wrong with that! I've done it. Lots of guys have done it. :jerkit:

Do all knives need to be that sharp in order to function efficiently,... NO! Of course not!
 
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