where does this phrase in blade lingo come from?

M

mykem

Joined
Feb 23, 2001
Messages
294
Hey,

I see this phrase ALL the time and it makes no sense to me.

"Hair popping sharp." Where does it come from? I know it means very, very sharp. But since when does hair "pop?"

Balloons pop. Bubble gum pops. Bubble wrap pops.

But hair?

Hair doesn't pop. So what gives with this "hair poppin' sharp" stuff?
 
If a blade is sharp enough when attempting to shave with it the hair will not only shave but will kinda just jump off...thus hair popping sharp...since the knife is sharp enough to make the hair just pop off your arm leg or whatever.
 
Bobby3326 said:
If a blade is sharp enough when attempting to shave with it the hair will not only shave but will kinda just jump off...thus hair popping sharp...since the knife is sharp enough to make the hair just pop off your arm leg or whatever.
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I wish my eyes were good enough to see hair jump and pop. But I guess they aren't. i'll look for a video.
 
There is a difference between shaving sharp and hair "popping" sharp when it comes to knives. You can have an edge that scrapes some hair off here and there, and one that makes the hairs appear to be jumping/popping off your arm. I don't really know of a better term.

Good point tho it doesn't really make sense. Jumping doesn't make sense either.
 
mykem said:
I wish my eyes were good enough to see hair jump and pop. But I guess they aren't. i'll look for a video.
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If you test your edge on arm hair and it just pushes the hair into a pile it's shaving sharp...however if you do it and hair is flying or popping up onto the blade then your likely hair popping sharp or fairly close to it.
 
Bobby3326 said:
Lol the knife is that sharp...there's shaving sharp, hair popping sharp, tree topping sharp, hair whittling sharp, then a variety and hanging hair tests that describe sharpeness levels.
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Hair whittling?!?!? Come on, now.
 
mykem said:
Hair whittling?!?!? Come on, now.
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That's actually a few stages before the knife on the video
1SAlKvc.jpg
 
Imgur is blocked here at work so I can't access it, but if you search the forum for a thread called "So...I have to gush..." I posted a picture of one of my beard hairs whittled with a Spyderco Dragonfly 2 factory edge. Now...keep in mind that I'm a burly SOB and my beard is pretty thick...but still.
 
VermontEdge said:
Imgur is blocked here at work so I can't access it, but if you search the forum for a thread called "So...I have to gush..." I posted a picture of one of my beard hairs whittled with a Spyderco Dragonfly 2 factory edge. Now...keep in mind that I'm a burly SOB and my beard is pretty thick...but still.
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Lol imgur is blocked but bladeforums isn't.
 
craytab said:
Yup, after learning to sharpen properly and using the proper equipment you can make any knife do this.
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Do you know how to sharpen properly?

Do you have the proper equipment?

Do you use the word "proper" a lot?

May i see some pictures of some blades you have sharpened properly?

Thank you.
 
mykem said:
Do you know how to sharpen properly?

Do you have the proper equipment?

Do you use the word "proper" a lot?

May i see some pictures of some blades you have sharpened properly?

Thank you.
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Yes, yes, only if it is the proper word needed, I have posted hundreds of photos of my knives all over this forum. You are more than welcome to go look at them.
 
mykem said:
Hair whittling?!?!? Come on, now.
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Yeah, sharpening is just a skill. I got lucky and got a Small Sebenza 21 to whittle hair once. ONCE. I think actually whittling the hair takes about as much skill as getting the blade that sharp, but both are possible by entirely un-extraordinary knife enthusiasts, like me.

Following step-by-step instructions, exercising patience, and LOTS of stropping will allow just about anyone to get a knife that sharp.
 
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