Thread: Slurry Dulling

Interesting thread and a question that has vexed me from the beginning. What is sharpening as I see it. A geometric plane of an abrasive material which is used as a template for object to be sharpened is worked against that plane until the material (steel) mirrors the abrasive planes geometry. This is never really perfect as both materials affect each other and the result is usually a small compromise. It is difficult for me to understand the role of slurry in this process other than some of the slurry is trapped between the blade edge and the base stone. I also usually never see visual evidence of the slurry going under the blade unless the stone has a valley or the blade is warped in some way. I make a stroke and the slurry is squeegeed away with most of it riding in front or over the blade as I push. I understand as i flip the razor that slurry winds up sandwiched between the blade and stone and the next stroke forces it under the blade to affect abrasion. I still don't understand why this is good or even necessary as the muddy slurry seems to wreak havoc in many ways on the steel to stone contact and am going by pure belief that something good comes of this. Now where fast metal removal is concerned I can understand maybe why this is helpful but as the edge gets finer and apex geometry becomes more sensitive how can all these particles banging into the razor edge and riding over under etc. be productive. my gut feeling says no, but that's all it is a gut feeling. As I see it the very finishing of razors no matter what stone is involved seems require that slurry be omitted or used in the most diluted way. So my question is why use it in the first place other than the typical Jnat user that is using different grit stones on a base stone to extend the range of that hone, I get that. But if you have different hones why use it at all? Tradition? I wish there was more real science behind this so I can get my head around it.