Thread: How sharp do you like it?

When you are talking about sides of metal being brought together by the use of abrasive particulates, there can be no such thing as "a" line of zero width, it is more about being within an arbitrary small constant of zero width. There will be variations due to the particulates imparting their "scratches" under various rotations of configuration, and random contributions as well. Whenever I talk about sharp I envisage a maximum or upper bound for the whole edge.

As I said above, I do not disagree that higher grit hones will continue the process of bringing the sides closer together. What finishing grit hones will not do in a practical time-frame is take an edge to the point of being able to shave if it is too far away to start with. That's not to say you cannot do it, just that unless a person has enough experience at honing the common historically observed pattern is that they stop too soon and continue up the grits to produce a highly polished and very smooth dull edge.

I find it difficult to believe that the maximum width between two sides, and the makeup of the sides themselves can be considered by anyone to be an artificial distinction. They are physically different things. While I agree that the names we call these two things may indeed be confusing, I fail to see the problem. You can call them "Ted" and "Bob" if you want. It doesn't change the fact that they are what they are.

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

...the common historically observed pattern is that they stop too soon and continue up the grits to produce a highly polished and very smooth dull edge...

This thread is becoming very informative. So, pray tell, how do we know when a bevel is set? I (probably foolishly) use 800 or 1000 wet and dry. When that shaves leg hair very 'nicely' (I have no arm hair to speak of) I then start my 4/8 pyramids (I generally find pyramids constrain me, without them I 'just do stuff'). I have no loupe, though I am slightly loopy...

I know that's a very fundamental question re. the bevel, just thought I'd get an opinion...

BTW, this is a thought provoking statement, sums up the whole sharp Vs smooth thing really...

Originally Posted by Jimbo

...I find it difficult to believe that the maximum width between two sides, and the makeup of the sides themselves can be considered by anyone to be an artificial distinction.

I have sharpened things since I was around 11 or 12, my grandfather taught me how and I always loved knives and sharp things. I went on to work in a packing house after I got out of the Navy cutting up 4000 hogs a day. Without bravado, I kept one of the sharpest knives in the plant and taught alot of guys how to do that. That being said, a razor takes a completely different skillset to hone. The only advantage is that kinda like Forrest, 'I know what sharp is...'. You know what sharp is, but half the fun is learning how to get there with different hones, strokes, and techniques.