Thread: What is bread knifing?????

Glen's video shows it - skip to about 3:07

Out of curiosity, and being as I have done knife making/restoration in the past and used a similar technique to work out obvious chips in a blade or to reshape a blade, would bread knifing be a useful technique to remove a frown from a razor, thus starting with a relative consistent thickness to the now dull edge (My apologies for the run on sentence)?

To me it would seem to be a better way to get rid of an obvious defect in the blade shape (most likely due to incorrect honing or a small chip) and to start fresh with setting a bevel. Would also save on hone wear from having to work on the stone so much in order to get rid of the defect or chip.

Don't worry, my thin is thick so go ahead and bash away at the newbie. LOL

Charlie

Originally Posted by CharlieTN

Out of curiosity, and being as I have done knife making/restoration in the past and used a similar technique to work out obvious chips in a blade or to reshape a blade, would bread knifing be a useful technique to remove a frown from a razor, thus starting with a relative consistent thickness to the now dull edge (My apologies for the run on sentence)?

To me it would seem to be a better way to get rid of an obvious defect in the blade shape (most likely due to incorrect honing or a small chip) and to start fresh with setting a bevel. Would also save on hone wear from having to work on the stone so much in order to get rid of the defect or chip.

Don't worry, my thin is thick so go ahead and bash away at the newbie. LOL

Charlie

breadknifing should be a "option of last resort".... it is a waste of valuable metal and hone..... there are easier ways of removing the frown.....

read the wiki or even better pm one of the honemeisters and ask their advice with photos of what you are trying to do.....

I have never understood the negativity toward breadknifing. When it is called for, it is called for. And, there are plenty of circumstances where it is the preferred approach in my opinion.

I was contemplating whether I should buck the negative trend, and decided not to speak up. That is until I watched GSSixGun's video. Paraphrasing...

"Breadknifing is an extreme technique." Agree! But, sometimes you get razors with extreme problems.

"Sometimes, you can breadknife, or you can do circles for hours on end." True! Breadknifing can save tons of time.

"Breadknife down to the problem, and not past the problem." Yes...

"If you know what you are doing, you can sometimes waste less steel than if you honed it out." Exactly.

I hope I did justice to Glen's comments from the video. And, I certainly agree with his opinions.

Originally Posted by LarryAndro

I have never understood the negativity toward breadknifing. When it is called for, it is called for. And, there are plenty of circumstances where it is the preferred approach in my opinion.

Simply put Larry,
We, as in those of us that work with less than stellar razors, have come up with options and we use them, unfortunately many people that have zero clue of what they are really doing have used these extreme options in the wrong way and then cry on the forum...
No matter how many times we warn them they don't listen... No matter how many times we show people that what we do actually wastes less steel, they don't listen.. So I put the info out there they can use it if they want, I knows it works, you know it works, I have proved on Vid and in person many times that I can fix those bad edges in 6 minutes from flat breadknife (not even always needed) to bevel set but they don't watch or listen..

The old saying you can lead a horse to water comes to mind but the info is out there for the taking..

One thing I do enjoy immensely is doing a Breadknife fix at the meets, the look on peoples faces is worth all of the negative comments on the forums, as the Frown, or Chip, disappears, no steel is wasted, and the bevel is set in minutes, it makes it all worthwhile

Watch the Vid from the Denver Meet that is classic

Originally Posted by paco664

now that you have the correct answers to the question i can inject a touch of humor...

"breadknifing" is a S&M version of "spooning"....

Sounds naughty.

Originally Posted by CharlieTN

would bread knifing be a useful technique to remove a frown from a razor, thus starting with a relative consistent thickness to the now dull edge (My apologies for the run on sentence)?

I received a blade that had a wavey bevel and successfully removed the wave through breadknifing it and putting a new edge on it. It turned out to be a great razor. So, IMO i would say yes but see what the experts say.

I believe breadknifing is Glen's favorite way to make the owner of a straight razor heart stop. I'm not saying he's mean, but that he takes a certain perverse pleasure in it.

For reference, the razor he breadknifes on that video up there happens to be mine... it is still hard to watch, although that razor is my daily shaver and I know it's safe upstairs.

Originally Posted by Snake

I believe breadknifing is Glen's favorite way to make the owner of a straight razor heart stop. I'm not saying he's mean, but that he takes a certain perverse pleasure in it...

If you are going to break a horse, you have to establish dominance. Same with dogs and wome... back that last example out! And, the same applies to straight razors.

Breadknifing is akin to whipping a headstrong horse. Strong medicine! But, breadknifing, maybe, 1/2 inch off the blade width leaves wayward straight razors wimpering in submission.

Obviously, Snake Man, Glen understood the psychology of your razor.

(And, please, guys, the above was jest!)

Larry,

I'll concede that Glen may know a thing or two about razors and honing

Actually, to make this abundantly clear, I've no issue with Glen's course of action and am grateful that he gave my razor new life and returned to me well tamed.

And you should know we are a dead serious gang who does not jest about razors. Ever. Except Glen. He's allowed. And maybe Lynn.

Marcos

PS: Definitely Lynn, and maybe Sham and Gugi.