04-17-2017, 09:27 PM
Good thoughts grepper, and Ken, that cracked me up 
To share of my background, I have been using and sharpening woodworking tools for a few decades, and I have a lot of experience working with other professional finish carpenters, cabinet men and furniture makers.
I'm certain I've never heard a distinction of toothy edges among woodworkers.
There is a big discrepancy though. It's a relatively new term I've only heard from internet sharpening forums, and more than a little ambiguous besides.
Talking to normal people in knife related jobs, like we here from Max's trusted word, tooth is something like a clean 180 grit edge.
Talking with straight razor guys, you would be talking about tooth in grits from 16,000 grit to half a million.
Talking with knife guys is where This Forum has come up with much of the Total discussion!
Talking to woodworkers, you would simply speak in grit designations, no mention of tooth.
In my estimation of woodworkers, many still use emery or AlO oil stones, and go to Arkansas oil stones after that. More advanced stuff usually means a good bench grinder, water stones/DMTs or a Tormek.
I used a bench grinder and DMTs until I got a 2x72, which was only several years ago. I still use waterstones, but I rarely go over 1K grit.
The reason I don't refine an edge is because it's so short lived. Even with 3V chisels and A2 plane irons, I don't have time for refinement. If it shaves hair, it's definitely sharp enough to cut wood. I know a lot of oldtimers cut a bunch of wood with far less.
Just my two cents.
To share of my background, I have been using and sharpening woodworking tools for a few decades, and I have a lot of experience working with other professional finish carpenters, cabinet men and furniture makers.
I'm certain I've never heard a distinction of toothy edges among woodworkers.
There is a big discrepancy though. It's a relatively new term I've only heard from internet sharpening forums, and more than a little ambiguous besides.
Talking to normal people in knife related jobs, like we here from Max's trusted word, tooth is something like a clean 180 grit edge.
Talking with straight razor guys, you would be talking about tooth in grits from 16,000 grit to half a million.
Talking with knife guys is where This Forum has come up with much of the Total discussion!
Talking to woodworkers, you would simply speak in grit designations, no mention of tooth.
In my estimation of woodworkers, many still use emery or AlO oil stones, and go to Arkansas oil stones after that. More advanced stuff usually means a good bench grinder, water stones/DMTs or a Tormek.
I used a bench grinder and DMTs until I got a 2x72, which was only several years ago. I still use waterstones, but I rarely go over 1K grit.
The reason I don't refine an edge is because it's so short lived. Even with 3V chisels and A2 plane irons, I don't have time for refinement. If it shaves hair, it's definitely sharp enough to cut wood. I know a lot of oldtimers cut a bunch of wood with far less.
Just my two cents.