Thanks Dennis, I often do wear gloves, but I really wanted to experience the cuts...using gloves can mute the expression of a dulling blade to the observer. It is all very subjective, and everyone would be well advised to ignore me in this regard and opt for safety!
I would be happy to discuss and review my sharpening methods...I really wish I could take some better photos...I got the light just right in this one to highlight the edge and the degradation to it. It almost looks like a wire edge at this point! Very interesting.
No, my car is pretty modest, but I have access to some sweet rides (good friends are wonderful to have!) I have access to some runflat tires too...those are UNBELIEVABLY tough to cut.
Edit to add sharpening methods/progression for those interested:
Reprofiled on an adjustable wedge (I posted a video a while back on how to make a wedge like this if anyone is interested...I'm working on a new video that shows the new model that is quite improved over the one in the current video) that was set at an angle of 6.6 degrees. I hold the knife flat (or reasonably so and stroke the stones to reprofile and sharpen). Some have pointed out that I may have error in my angles due to my inability to hold the knife flat...perhaps this is true, so I am measuring things today. The edge bevel looks to have only very minimal convex (owing to my inability to hold PERFECTLY, but I think it is fairly good?).
I started with a DMT XC (do not yet own the XXC) and profiled the knife with stones at 6.6 degrees from horizontal. I used an iPhone application to measure the angles...calibrated and measured 4 different ways to attempt to reduce error (used the back of the phone then turned the phone 180 degrees, then used the flat side of the phone and again turned it 180, then made sure the angles were consistent). Anal, yes...I try to be thorough.
Then I progressed through the DMT stones (coarse, Fine, Xfine, XXfine), I did edge testing during each stone to verify that the edge was coming along (it was shaving off the XC stone and whittling hair off the fine). Then I did some Kevlar cutting tests and discovered some minor imperfections in the edge...
So the next day, I went back to the coarse stone (I think...I may not recall correctly), then progressed through the XXfine DMT again. I probably did a few hundred feather touch passes on the XXF stone (3 micron DMT) then I went to the leather strop loaded with green compound. I started with 100 passes per side, then flipped and repeated, then 50, then 25, then 10, then 5, then perhaps 100 more alternating sides each stroke. When I use the strop, I go completely free hand (set one end of the strop on my knee and the other is supported with my left hand). It seems to go much faster this way. During this procedure I start with very low pressure and let the diamonds work and ease up toward the end with each stone to approximately the weight of the knife (best I can tell).
My sharpening is good, but not as pretty as some of the stuff I see posted here. I consider myself in a constant state of learning...I have a little ways to go as I see it. Some day I want to see sparks on my edge for atoms splitting as I wave the knife around LOL.
