Thread: Idea for measuring "honing pressure" in order to communicate it ...

Originally Posted by Utopian

I work in science too, but I consider my goal to be simplification. I choose not to complicate things for people who don't have the same level of understanding. A razor, a hone, and a postal or kitchen scale are the tools readily available to most people, so pressure measurements probably should not be complicated beyond their use.

Let's imagine the bevel setting (heavy) pressure is 5 lbs, sharpening (light) pressure is 1 lb, and no (weight of the blade) pressure is just a couple ounces. Then all a beginner needs is a thumb and a scale to get a sense of the appropriate pressures at each step.

That said, if you can come up with something more elaborate that can better help beginners, I'm all for it.

Of course, I was just kidding about purposefully complicating things as a scientist. I'm also an educator - as I posted in response to Glenn's excellent feedback.

As other's have pointed out (BobH, eKtretz and Glenn), and I suspect they are correct - there are likely too many variables to the process that will make the simple measurement of pressure an ineffective metric to explain that portion of the process. The hone, the condition of the blade, the experience of the honer will all translate to uncontrollable variables. If I created a "pressure guide" it would invariably be used incorrectly with a blade for which it was not intended, on a hone for which it was not intended, and a condition for which it was not appropriate. The end result would likely be higher frustration because a beginner might see it as a silver bullet and expectations would be higher. I could control most of those things in a classroom - but certainly not over the web.

Good discussion - thanks all.

Adam