Woo hoo! Finally got a hair popping edge!

J

jasonbroni

Joined
Dec 10, 2009
Messages
325
I always prided myself in my sharpening abilities, but never got hair popping yet... till just now! It even (slightly) whittled one if my girlfriend's hairs!
That's all I got - just wanted to share...
 
Oh.. and PS - I'm guessing that my "sharp edges" were mostly wire edges as they usually didn't last too long. Don't know if you guys remember my post about how a steak dulled my edge - some of you guessed that I had a wire edge - guess I did. But.. this time I did it right - raised a burr on each side a couple of times.. finally doing it right. (And realizing that I have been doing it WRONG...)
And I KNOW that I'm still no expert, but I'm getting better!
 
I'm guessing when that hair popped there was a silly grin stuck on your face Jason!!!
Like this one...😁😁
I got that feeling when I actually raised a burr!!!
What did you use to get the edge bro??
Joe
 
Yes I did smile! I used a Lansky - course to fine - then
stropped on cardboard - then glossy magazine. (Then took a few hairs off of my cheek!) Lol...
 
Just wait until you're at the point where you consider a knife "dull" if it doesn't readily pop hairs.

Right now, I'm not happy with an edge unless I can individually select hairs to pop, and then split them lengthwise afterwards.
 
"Do not test that edge with your thumb. It -will- cut you."
- Me, every time I hand a knife over. They rarely listen, which is also why I keep bandaids handy.
 
Yeah, I don't test edges with my thumb either. I like to use the index, pinky and palm best.:D:rolleyes: People might start questioning your sanity though after seeing your hand looking like burger. Honestly my favorite way to test an edge. Definitely not for everybody though. Also use whatever else is "handy";) to test sharpness.

ZioQq61.jpg

dA3hBT2.jpg
 
Good times.

I used to do this back in the day, Got a satisfied grin on my face every time.

Nowadays, a couple pulls across the coffee mug or the driver's side window followed by a whip across the newspaper and I'm good.

I use 1095, VG-10 and AUS-8 for their ease of sharpening, and I can get them hair popping in short order.
 
Ulf Krogstad said:
Yeah, I don't test edges with my thumb either. I like to use the index, pinky and palm best.:D:rolleyes: People might start questioning your sanity though after seeing your hand looking like burger. Honestly my favorite way to test an edge. Definitely not for everybody though. Also use whatever else is "handy";) to test sharpness.

ZioQq61.jpg

dA3hBT2.jpg
Click to expand...

holy cow, thats sharp, I thought my edges were pretty sharp but I'm guessing no now.
 
I hate pain so nowadays I prefer test on folded up soft tissue paper. If it bites into the tissue immediately and deeply upon drawing then it is sharp and toothy enough to slice into your fingers.
 
Sweet, always nice when you finally get the two sides to meet up in such a way as to pop hair.

As for testing sharpness, Dave Martell did a lecture at Ashokan one year and one thing I noticed that he would often do is to have a sheet of paper and see if the edge would cut into it, push cutting basically, but if it didn't he would go back to the stones as the edges were not fully apex'd yet in order to enter the paper cleanly.

Also a quick check I've heard done is to take your blade and (if you have hair on your head) lightly cut down against the back of your head against the hair, LIGHTLY just to see if the blade catches on the hair, if it does, then it is generally sharp enough to be used for most tasks. So you are not trying to shave your head, but just seeing if the blade catches against the hair, a sharp knife will do so.

G2
 
Congratulations! I remember when I was finally able to get my knives truly sharp, it is a great feeling!
 
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