03-26-2017, 09:26 PM
It might help to know you are far from alone. The 3f test doesn't work for everyone. In fact, it hardly works for anyone. 99% of knife users have never heard of it, and if you try to explain it you will be met with looks of horror.
I know you write well and true and honorably, grepper, so by default I'd say you're probably overthinking it.
I don't think an A45 is capable of passing this test, so it's a great learning aid. You called it right when you said the edge feels smooth. That's the entire difference between tooth and no tooth. It either has tooth or it's smooth.
Try a new, inexpensive, A/O belt of approximately 280 grit. It can even be much finer to simplify finding a belt. I would say up to about 400 grit. I almost guarantee you will not describe the edge as "smooth", and that's the difference.
Another great comparison would be CBN vs poly diamond compounds. Ask anyone with a straight razor and compounds. 1 micron CBN is a pretty comfortable shave. Even finer 0.5 micron poly is so opposite it's almost frightening to shave with. You have to be much more careful, because the edge is so much more aggressive. Even an im perceptual amount of slicing motion, and you're cut. After shave will also feel much different!
If it were called, "the slickness test", maybe everyone would understand exactly what it means. There is a very clear difference between slick (or "smooth") and anything else, so simply de-mystify it and call it what it is. Just replace 3f with "slickness".
I know you write well and true and honorably, grepper, so by default I'd say you're probably overthinking it.
I don't think an A45 is capable of passing this test, so it's a great learning aid. You called it right when you said the edge feels smooth. That's the entire difference between tooth and no tooth. It either has tooth or it's smooth.
Try a new, inexpensive, A/O belt of approximately 280 grit. It can even be much finer to simplify finding a belt. I would say up to about 400 grit. I almost guarantee you will not describe the edge as "smooth", and that's the difference.
Another great comparison would be CBN vs poly diamond compounds. Ask anyone with a straight razor and compounds. 1 micron CBN is a pretty comfortable shave. Even finer 0.5 micron poly is so opposite it's almost frightening to shave with. You have to be much more careful, because the edge is so much more aggressive. Even an im perceptual amount of slicing motion, and you're cut. After shave will also feel much different!
If it were called, "the slickness test", maybe everyone would understand exactly what it means. There is a very clear difference between slick (or "smooth") and anything else, so simply de-mystify it and call it what it is. Just replace 3f with "slickness".