Re: Testing the Edge
Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2019 2:29 am
What he saidMumbleypeg wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2019 2:00 am Cutting a tomato is a lot like slicing bread. A "toothy" edge works better than a shaving edge. Same for cutting steak.
Ken
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Testing the Edge
http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/knife_forum/viewtopic.php?t=64254
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Re: Testing the Edge
Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2019 5:45 am
I’ll add my amen there too. I’m not a fan of super highly polished edges on a pocket knife. Those belong on my straight razor.Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2019 2:00 am Cutting a tomato is a lot like slicing bread. A "toothy" edge works better than a shaving edge. Same for cutting steak.
Ken
Re: Testing the Edge
Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2019 1:08 pm
Me three.
Re: Testing the Edge
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2019 2:32 pm
In my youth I thought I had to test the edge every time.
Filet a paper towel or cut phone book paper...
But I've been hand sharpening so long now that I just check for a wire edge and strop.
I will thumb the edge a bit and that tells me everything I need to know.
Filet a paper towel or cut phone book paper...
But I've been hand sharpening so long now that I just check for a wire edge and strop.
I will thumb the edge a bit and that tells me everything I need to know.
Re: Testing the Edge
Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2019 1:00 am
I like phonebook paper. If your edge can cleanly slice it (not saw it) they you have a pretty good edge. It also tells you if you have any small dull spots and saves you from having silly looking bald spots on your arm all the time.
Re: Testing the Edge
Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2019 9:22 pm
BatJak wrote: ↑Mon Oct 28, 2019 2:32 pm In my youth I thought I had to test the edge every time.
Filet a paper towel or cut phone book paper...
But I've been hand sharpening so long now that I just check for a wire edge and strop.
I will thumb the edge a bit and that tells me everything I need to know.
Re: Testing the Edge
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2020 5:14 pm
After sharpening every knife in the house, the arm hair thing wasn't feasible and started to look weird.
Paper test, a push test in different parts of the knife as opposed to a slice. Just a straight on push into the paper.
Also, I've lately been trying my hand at wood carving and have used wine corks to practice on. Now I find those, either real or synthetic, to be a pretty good way to compare sharpness.
Paper test, a push test in different parts of the knife as opposed to a slice. Just a straight on push into the paper.
Also, I've lately been trying my hand at wood carving and have used wine corks to practice on. Now I find those, either real or synthetic, to be a pretty good way to compare sharpness.
Re: Testing the Edge
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2020 7:00 pm
quote: "I will thumb the edge a bit and that tells me everything I need to know."
Yep.
Yep.
Re: Testing the Edge
Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 5:03 pm
THis is what I do as well. I've learned to look very closely at the edge (practically studying it) - I can now see tiny flat spots or other issues with inconsistently sharpened bevels - to me, getting both bevels perfect all the way down to the edge with the Lansky rig under close inspection, then a feel for (lack of) a burr ... always comes up with "close enough" to me, as I know it will cut if it passes that testBatJak wrote: ↑Mon Oct 28, 2019 2:32 pm In my youth I thought I had to test the edge every time.
Filet a paper towel or cut phone book paper...
But I've been hand sharpening so long now that I just check for a wire edge and strop.
I will thumb the edge a bit and that tells me everything I need to know.
Re: Testing the Edge
Posted: Sun May 17, 2020 2:54 am
I use cash register receipts. If it will cut those cleanly, i'm good. 
Re: Testing the Edge
Posted: Wed May 27, 2020 3:04 am
This made me laugh! It is also my method. I test on paper at home then take it to work. The shrink wrap will find any imperfections in a hurry.Railsplitter wrote: ↑Sat Oct 26, 2019 4:35 pm At home I usually use phone book paper for the initial test but my favorite way to test sharpness is to cut some shrink wrap while it's tightly wrapped around a pallet. We have hundreds of shrink wrapped pallets at my workplace on any given day.
Once I get the blade sharpened to my satisfaction I'll take the knife to work with me and do a final test on some shrink wrap. The shrink wrap is delicate and it responds well to any imperfections that I might have missed along the edge. Fortunately, I rarely need to do any follow up honing but I use the final shrink wrap test to confirm that.
Bill
Re: Testing the Edge
Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 3:37 am
I use my thumb for edge testing, followed by shaving of arm hair.
Sometimes I use the number of stitches as an indication of sharpness after inadvertently hooking my thumb over the edge while wiping down a freshly sharpened edge.
Just kidding about the stitches, but I do indeed use a lot of band-aids....!
Sometimes I use the number of stitches as an indication of sharpness after inadvertently hooking my thumb over the edge while wiping down a freshly sharpened edge.
Just kidding about the stitches, but I do indeed use a lot of band-aids....!
Re: Testing the Edge
Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 3:39 am
I use my thumb for edge testing, followed by shaving of arm hair.
Sometimes I use the number of stitches as an indication of sharpness after inadvertently hooking my thumb over the edge while wiping down a freshly sharpened edge.
Just kidding about the stitches, but I do indeed use a lot of band-aids....!
Sometimes I use the number of stitches as an indication of sharpness after inadvertently hooking my thumb over the edge while wiping down a freshly sharpened edge.
Just kidding about the stitches, but I do indeed use a lot of band-aids....!
Re: Testing the Edge
Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 3:46 am
You're not the only one on band-aids sir. Right now I have one on my right thumb with a slice on the outside edge, the blade was sharp. On my left thumb is one not from a blade, but from a belt sander when I was shaping a knife handle.Working Edge wrote: ↑Tue Mar 30, 2021 3:39 am I use my thumb for edge testing, followed by shaving of arm hair.
Sometimes I use the number of stitches as an indication of sharpness after inadvertently hooking my thumb over the edge while wiping down a freshly sharpened edge.
Just kidding about the stitches, but I do indeed use a lot of band-aids....!
Re: Testing the Edge
Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 1:20 pm
When I sharpen kitchen knives I use a paper towel to clean the sharpening stone residue off the edge. The slightest bit of inattention and my thumb or finger needs band-aids. That is not my preferred method of checking sharpness, but it does work! I do not normally try to check the edge after sharpening. The first tomato or plum will be a test.Working Edge wrote: ↑Tue Mar 30, 2021 3:39 am I use my thumb for edge testing, followed by shaving of arm hair.
Sometimes I use the number of stitches as an indication of sharpness after inadvertently hooking my thumb over the edge while wiping down a freshly sharpened edge.
Just kidding about the stitches, but I do indeed use a lot of band-aids....!
Re: Testing the Edge
Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 4:12 pm
I find it comically ironic that Case offers a band-aid dispenser/holder....!dlr110 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 30, 2021 3:46 amYou're not the only one on band-aids sir. Right now I have one on my right thumb with a slice on the outside edge, the blade was sharp. On my left thumb is one not from a blade, but from a belt sander when I was shaping a knife handle.Working Edge wrote: ↑Tue Mar 30, 2021 3:39 am I use my thumb for edge testing, followed by shaving of arm hair.
Sometimes I use the number of stitches as an indication of sharpness after inadvertently hooking my thumb over the edge while wiping down a freshly sharpened edge.
Just kidding about the stitches, but I do indeed use a lot of band-aids....!
I wonder if Case holds shares of Band-Aid stocks???
Re: Testing the Edge
Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2021 12:16 am
I think we might be surprised at what all CASE and maybe some other companies have their logo's on.Working Edge wrote: ↑Tue Mar 30, 2021 4:12 pmI find it comically ironic that Case offers a band-aid dispenser/holder....!dlr110 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 30, 2021 3:46 amYou're not the only one on band-aids sir. Right now I have one on my right thumb with a slice on the outside edge, the blade was sharp. On my left thumb is one not from a blade, but from a belt sander when I was shaping a knife handle.Working Edge wrote: ↑Tue Mar 30, 2021 3:39 am I use my thumb for edge testing, followed by shaving of arm hair.
Sometimes I use the number of stitches as an indication of sharpness after inadvertently hooking my thumb over the edge while wiping down a freshly sharpened edge.
Just kidding about the stitches, but I do indeed use a lot of band-aids....!
I wonder if Case holds shares of Band-Aid stocks???
Re: Testing the Edge
Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2022 10:56 pm
Doing some experimenting, want to get a number that will give an indication of sharpness. Same principal as a Bess tester, but not paying 5-6 hundred dollars for one. I'm not that desperate. Playing around with this, so far looks promising.
Re: Testing the Edge
Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2022 12:10 am
I want to reopen this thread.
Using my thumbnail is impractical as is shaving my arm. Tomatoes or other food is wasteful.
What else do you folks do?
Kevin
Using my thumbnail is impractical as is shaving my arm. Tomatoes or other food is wasteful.
What else do you folks do?
Kevin
Re: Testing the Edge
Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2022 12:46 am
Re: Testing the Edge
Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2022 1:34 am
Re: Testing the Edge
Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2022 3:24 am
Re: Testing the Edge
Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2022 2:22 am
Just finished touching this up, the good old paper receipt test, always gives a good guide for either a toothier or smoother edge.
Re: Testing the Edge
Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2022 4:29 am
What if you need to return an item, do you tape all the shreds back together?
“I’m sorry sir, I can’t accept this knife for return without the original receipt in original condition.”
Guess you’re stuck with it (figuratively speaking).
Parker
“I’m sorry sir, I can’t accept this knife for return without the original receipt in original condition.”
Guess you’re stuck with it (figuratively speaking).
Parker
Re: Testing the Edge
Posted: Mon May 08, 2023 3:34 am
Roll up ur pants and start shaving ur leg...hair come off...Sharp!!!!StrawHat wrote: ↑Sat Oct 26, 2019 10:57 am I see in this section many threads about various ways to achieve a sharp edge. What I do not see is how you are testing that edge to determine if it is sharp.
So, boys and girls, what is your favorite method for testing the edge of a newly sharped blade?
Thank you.
Kevin