Thread: scything motion

Nice one, i'm glad your making good progress. I'm hoping my new norton 4k/8k will sort me out a bit!!

Good luck pea -- I haven't got into the honing thing yet --- those nortons can set you back a few quids, dollars or even meals!!

I hope we all understand that the Cutting Angle displayed by Josh and the Scything motion which started the thread are two different things. I've never really had a need for the scything thing because the Cutting Angle works so well. It simply cuts easier. think of trying to cut a loaf of bread with a stright down push vs. a forward sawing action.

X

The bread analogy works in function, but the theory doesn't fit our example. The forward motion engages the serations that make cutting bread so much easier.

Advancing the blade during the stroke is more akin to skewing a hand plane when using it. That skew (or addition of forward motion during the down motion per the example) effectively reduces the cutting angle of the blade, making a blade ground at X-degrees act like a razor ground at less than X degrees.

Just think of it as a abbreviated "slicing" motion, and you'll realize BOTH why it works, AND why the potential danger of "sliced" skin is higher.