Thread: Origin of the Verb "Bread-Knifing"?

Originally Posted by EisenFaust

Has to be because it makes the blade as 'dull as a bread knife' right!?!

Here you might say dull as a butter knife.

Bob

Originally Posted by Brontosaurus

Thank you both for your comments. Indeed, I was thinking of any angle up to and including ninety degrees. As for the origin of the term, is it just an Internet forum thing? or was it used in past times? I recall a treatise on microtomes from the early part of the 20th century that advocated running a chipped edge along the side of a black Arkansas to remove the chips, but the term bread-knifing was not used.

I only became acquainted with the term through shaving forums, but if Chris Wilson's grandfather used it in 1980 it obviously has been around awhile. I will add that Harrelson Stanley, the USA representative for Shapton, would do a 90 degree feather light pull across a hone, and called it 'jointing.' He said in a video I once saw that this was a good way to get rid of any microscopic chips along the edge.

Not as large as what we refer to as micro chips. In the video he began with 'jointing' the edge on a coarse hone, like a 1K IIRC, then honed up to 10 or 12k and, to my amazement, jointed again on a 10 or 12k, before finishing the razor. This was done with no more than the weight of the blade, and only one swipe ......... IIRC.

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

I'm just guessing here, but I wonder if the term "Bread knifing" might also refer to removing chips in a razor, as the chips make the blade look like a serrated bread knife?

That was my original premise in starting this thread. Subsequently dismissed. Glad I'm not the only one to come to this conclusion. ;-)

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I will add that Harrelson Stanley, the USA representative for Shapton, would do a 90 degree feather light pull across a hone, and called it 'jointing.' He said in a video I once saw that this was a good way to get rid of any microscopic chips along the edge.

Not as large as what we refer to as micro chips. In the video he began with 'jointing' the edge on a coarse hone, like a 1K IIRC, then honed up to 10 or 12k and, to my amazement, jointed again on a 10 or 12k, before finishing the razor. This was done with no more than the weight of the blade, and only one swipe ......... IIRC.

This is a curious technique. I wonder what the final "jointing" on 10-12k was seeking to achieve: a burr that was subsequently removed in stropping?

Look to History

The old razor hones will often have Cuts in the corners from "Killing the Edge/Jointing/Downstroking" call it what you want seems the new trend on FB is to make up a new term for an old technique and claim it as yer own anyway..


There are all just different "degrees" of the same technique (pun intended)

Originally Posted by Brontosaurus

This is a curious technique. I wonder what the final "jointing" on 10-12k was seeking to achieve: a burr that was subsequently removed in stropping?

When I saw him do it in the video my jaw dropped.

I confess I've tried it, but it is not a technique I've adopted. Different strokes for different folks.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Look to History

The old razor hones will often have Cuts in the corners from "Killing the Edge/Jointing/Downstroking" call it what you want seems the new trend on FB is to make up a new term for an old technique and claim it as yer own anyway..


There are all just different "degrees" of the same technique (pun intended)

Indeed, like the guy who invented a new watch that never needs a new battery you just need to wind it once in a while...

(Old hones have cuts in their edged.)
Old razor often have their spines worn down too.
"If the Pope sins, you don't have to follow him."
Be very careful with the BreadKnifin! In most cases you shouldn't do it!!

Originally Posted by Johnus

Be very careful with the BreadKnifin! In most cases you shouldn't do it!!

+1 ...... I call it "the nuclear option."..........

Originally Posted by Johnus

Be very careful with the BreadKnifin! In most cases you shouldn't do it!!

Why ???

789

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Why ???

789

IME breadknifing ends up being a lot more work to restore the bevel. Of course it depends on the severity of the chip to be removed, but I like lifting the spine, as the honer is sharpening a pocket knife, and working the chip/chips out like that.

This way you are maintaining some semblance of a bevel, and it is less work to finally restore the bevel when you get far enough into the chip.

Not theoretical. I've done my share of the nuclear option and would only rarely resort to it knowing what I know now. I'm not referring to the technique known as 'jointing', that is another kettle of fish. One I don't find necessary, but different strokes for different folks.