True Or Not?

[afishhunter]

True or Not:

If you can make a feather stick out of a standard round disposable wood toothpick, the blade is "sharp enough".

 

[Scott J.]

Seems true to me unless you need to perform some kind of emergency surgery.

 

[TrainedBullets]

Probably.

I generally consider a knife sharp enough when I can cleanly slice a cash register reciept. Based on a quick test of one of my sharpened GEC 62 blades, that level does allow me to featherstick a toothpick. The factory edge could do neither.

That said, I’m sticking with my receipt test.

 

[JohnDF]

I can feel the edge and generally tell if it's sharp enough.
At least sharp enough to do whatever I need it to do during the day.
I surely wouldn't put it through a test that has the potential to dull the blade.

 

[buckthorn]

A helpful feature of using the paper slicing test is that you can feel where there might be a bad spot along an otherwise well-sharpened edge.

 

[kamagong]

I suppose that's a good test, except it also requires a modicum of skill and a steady hand. I can whittle a passable feather stick, but doing so is beyond the abilities of my ham-fisted nephew. Doesn't matter how sharp the knife is.

 

[jackknife]

I've long given up obsessing over the edge. If its sharp enough to slice newsprint or cut cleanly through jute twine on one pass, its sharp enough for what I need in the course of my day. In the morning after I finish my coffee, I try it one a piece of paper, and of it snags a bit, I use the bottom of my coffee mug to give it a light stropping. Thats it.

 

[CHNeal]

Am I the only person here that had no idea what a feather stick was until kamagong posted that pic? Also am the only person here that still doesn’t know what a feather stick is used for?

As for is your blade sharp enough, I use my knife multi times a day. If at some point it doesn’t cut what I need it to cut I give it a few passes on the bottom of my coffee cup next time I’m near it or give it a good swipe on my truck window and back in business I go.
I guess I’m a pretty poor knife nut...

 

[Scott J.]

Am I the only person here that had no idea what a feather stick was until kamagong posted that pic? Also am the only person here that still doesn’t know what a feather stick is used for?

Younger guys use them for kindling, old guys like me just gather up a bunch of dry twigs or hatchet up some small pieces and use a Bic lighter

 

[315]

Younger guys use them for kindling, old guys like me just gather up a bunch of dry twigs or hatchet up some small pieces and use a Bic lighter

Touché sir.... I might have a steady enough hand, I just wouldn’t have the eyesight without some magnifiers to get it done

 

[Scott J.]

Touché sir.... I might have a steady enough hand, I just wouldn’t have the eyesight without some magnifiers to get it done

Lol, you and me both.
Maybe I could afford laser eye surgery if I quit buying knives.

 

[jackknife]

Younger guys use them for kindling, old guys like me just gather up a bunch of dry twigs or hatchet up some small pieces and use a Bic lighter

Yup, thats the way for me!

I've got 67 years of camping/back packing in back of me, and I made a feather stick once. I was 12 years old and in the boy scouts. That was it. Until only about 10 years ago, I used a Zippo, then retired it and went Bic.

Dry twigs/pine needles work great and save time, aside form the fact that I don't have the eye sight for making something as fine as a feather stick.

 

[Bigfattyt]

Ive used feather sticks to light a lot of fires.

If I have plenty of dry wood and kindling, and am not short of starter material it is not needed.

If I have some what damp wood, I will often get the core split, make some feather sticks from the dryer wood at the core.

 

[Misplaced Hillbilly]

I once feather sticked a dry pine needle,with my Schrade PH1

IF I can duplicate the task I'll post some pics.

 

[Misplaced Hillbilly]

Yep I believe its ready .....

This WAS in the middle but as I moved it to take the pick one half of it broke off

 

[Misplaced Hillbilly]

But honestly most of my day to day knives aren't this sharp,I'd say for sure if you can whittle a toothpick your definitely good to go

 

[kamagong]

Eh...if I had to make a fire for warmth or cooking every day I probably wouldn't bother with feather sticks. But for lolling about camp? It's an enjoyable way to pass the time, and it helps to cultivate control and fine motor skills with a knife.

If you get really good you can make a bow to top off a present.

image by crookedknife

 

[315]

I once feather sticked a dry pine needle,with my Schrade PH1

IF I can duplicate the task I'll post some pics.

Yep I believe its ready .....

This WAS in the middle but as I moved it to take the pick one half of it broke off

David, I was about to ask you if that was before or after you cut down the great Sahara forest with your trusty axe Then I saw the last photo...I concede...

 

[gaj999]

True for me.

 

[Pàdruig]

I don't use feather sticks for starting fires but I certainly do use the feather sticking technique at times when I am building a fire - if that makes any sense...

I live in the PNW, everything has a propensity towards being damp at any given time of the year. When I build a fire, I will feather some of the larger branches so that they will dry and subsequently alight more efficiently. More air passes through the fibers/shavings and therefore larger flames are produced, creating more heat and burning fuel more efficiently. It is a technique that has its place, just like batoning. Not applicable in every scenario but handy to have in your knowledge base.

In terms of feather sticking a toothpick for a sharpness test... Not something that I do. I can generally judge the edge by feel and after a quick strop , I'll test it on my arm hair. That's generally good enough for me.