How sharp is your knife?

[ateallthepies]

If my knives (and axes) don't pop my arm hairs I feel like a sharpening failure! Are others the same?

Steve
(who has lovely smooth arms!!)

 

[luckylee]

i'm the same bud, your not on your own, i also cut paper with them, and as you proberbley now, there is a different soulnd when your knife is scary sharp there is no hairy bits on the cut on the paper, its hard to explain, sou should be able to cut wavey lines effortlessly if it is propper sharp.

 

[ged]

If my knives (and axes) don't pop my arm hairs I feel like a sharpening failure!...

You worry too much.

 

[The Big Lebowski]

Guilty as charged... But, I just like sharpening things in my defence!

 

[BillyBlade]

I have bald patches on my arms and legs. You can guess what from.

 

[Dave Budd]

you lot have too much time on your hands

if I spent as much time sharpening my tools to the extent that bushcrasfters require then I'd run out of time to use them as long as the thing is sharp enough to do what I need then it will do. If that means razor sharp, then so be it but most of the time it really doesn't benefit from a mirror polish

 

[robin wood]

Sharp enough is sharp enough.

 

[rik_uk3]

So long as it cuts meat and veg for the pot its sharp enough.

 

[The Big Lebowski]

but most of the time it really doesn't benefit from a mirror polish

Sometimes thats simply a by-product of the sharpening... I can guarentee it wont be there 10 seconds after use.

 

[stekker]

If my knives (and axes) don't pop my arm hairs I feel like a sharpening failure! Are others the same?

Steve
(who has lovely smooth arms!!)

+ 1 Greetings Theo.

 

[mrcairney]

I think it's too easy to get obsessed with how sharp your knife it. I'm guilty of it myself! In fact it can get crazy. I think I've been through a legal pad getting that sweet spot Lee mentioned and I've only got 3 knives (and one of those is only a mora 511!) However, it's a good skill to know, either way.

(And yes, I have shaved my arms in the past )

 

[McCoy]

All are razor sharp, if I've been using a tool, it gets sharpened on a DC4 and then 100 passes on a strop that night or the morning after. I don't work for ages obtaining a mirror finish though. I find if you sharpen a tool regularly and keep the edge in check then they will cut efficiently and safely all day.

 

[Ogri the trog]

As sharp as it need to be for whatever I find myself doing.

As I have learnt more about sharpening and my abilities grown, my knives become sharper, but I do not get phobic about endlessly honing/stropping and shaving arm hair or gazing at a near invisible edge.

If it works, I use it, if not - it gets worked on until it does!

Ogri the trog

 

[HillBill]

My axes are taken up to 600 grit on wet and dry, this gives a nice cut with little friction.

Carving knives benefit from a smoother bevel, so these are the ones i polish up if i need a good finish on the wood.

My working knife has a 240 grit bevel and a micro secondary for a toothy edge that lasts.

 

[Longstrider]

S-H-A-R-P .

That's how sharp

 

[TomBartlett]

I'm in the same camp as many others here: it's sharp enough when it's sharp enough. However, it is fun once in a while to try and put a hair popping edge on just to see if I can.

 

[FGYT]

There is a reason why this sticker goes on every blade i send out

once you break the seal its your fault you where told

 

[spandit]

Sharp enough to cut butter...



...really need some practice/help

 

[Retired Member southey]

Mine are between this sharp, and that sharp! never too sharp, and far from dull

 

[Siberianfury]

depends on the steel or edge geometry, just got a blade from duncan that is ridiculously sharp. normaly i strop the blade and occasionaly hone it with a spyderco stone to maintain a razor edge.