Thread: Thumb Pad Test After Stropping

Sorry gang I'll stay quiet

Originally Posted by steve

Sorry gang I'll stay quiet

No, Steve. I'm just saying I'm satisfied for now. Keep on keeping on.


Justin

P.S. And I emphasize satisfied for now.

Originally Posted by jaegerhund

No, Steve. I'm just saying I'm satisfied for now. Keep on keeping on.


Justin

P.S. And I emphasize satisfied for now.

Yeah, that wasn't it though. No worries

Hi everyone

the way i see it this. The input of slight lateral motion WHILST running the thumb pad along the edge of the blade (heel to nose) allows the edge to bite, and not slip at all from it's line of travel.

You could run a blunt blade in a dead straight line along the thumb pad and it may feel perfectly smooth, but the minute you added that lateral input, it would slide laterally. It's the bite we like!

How about this:

Imagine an ice skate with a blade that isn't sharp, rounded even, just to exagerate.

Now your friend pushes you dead straight. You cruise nicely, with a smooth sensation. Now you try to add a turn. NO SHARP EDGE = NO GRIP IN ICE = BRUISING TO FACE.

Now do this again. But with SHARP BLADES. As soon as you add a turn to your direction (the slight lateral input on the razor edge) , the blade can bite into the ice, no bruising, lovely.

I'll be awaiting my physics degree certificate in the post anytime.

pea

by the way this could be completely wrong, i don't want to sound like i'm preaching to you guys, and anyways, by the time i figured out my way of explaining it, you guys will have moved on to bigger better things!!!!!

Originally Posted by pea

NO SHARP EDGE = NO GRIP IN ICE = BRUISING TO FACE.

pea

PMSL! I like the analogy Pea B.Sc. (Hons)! I can actually get a biting sensation now!

I have to say that this test really helped me refine my edge. I went to honing after first reading this post. After every pyramid I would do this test, and it really helped to figure out what worked and what didn't. I could easily feel when I had developed a wire edge and knew when to go back to remove it. Very great test and easy to use.

Matt