Thread: How sharp do you like it?

OK, here's the skinny. This is the school of thought here regarding edges and honing, sharpness and smoothness.

"Sharp" happens on lower grit hones (say < 4K). "Sharp" is where you bring both sides of the edge together, and to be sharp those sides have to be pretty close together. There is some evidence to suggest that the only real progress that can be made toward this goal is by using a lower grit hone - higher grit hones will continue to bring the sides together, but at an exponentially (or similar) decreasing rate. For all intents and purposes, this rate is considered impracticable.

"Smooth" happens on higher grit hones after "sharp" has been achieved. "Smooth" is where you polish the sides of the edge (the bevel) so that when you rub the razor over the whiskers it doesn't grab. This is the progressive stage of honing - because you are removing exponentially (geometrically, whatever) decreasing amounts of metal as you move up the grits, you need to use a progression of grits to avoid having to sit there all day polishing out, say, 4K gouges with a, say, 16k hone.

Both "sharp" and "smooth" go together (like a horse and carriage) to produce a good-shaving edge. You can shave off sharp but not smooth edges, but you cannot shave off smooth but not sharp edges.

James.