Press fulcrum, then tester display 5g

[SHARPCO]

https://youtu.be/Z_VJpgCKf98?t=55s

Check this video. PT50B display 5g when Mike press fulcrum of it. 

Does he push only the fulcrum of PT50B? Or did he press all but only the PT50B display it?

[grepper]

I have that happen often.

If the side of the rubber base on the media fixture is touching the metal bracket that the fulcrum sits on, pressing the fulcrum can flex the metal bracket which then presses the media fixture causing a few grams of downward pressure on the media fixture which causes the reading on the display.

If you see that and it bothers you, making sure the media fixture is centered in the hole so it is not touching the metal bracket will eliminate that small reading but you don't need to bother.

It makes no difference to the sharpness reading of the blade because the blade will press much harder. For example, if you are measuring 295 sharpness with your blades, if the PT50B was sitting at 105 before you took a sharpness reading on the blade, you will still get an accurate reading because 295 > 105.

[SHARPCO]

I have that happen often.

If the side of the rubber base on the media fixture is touching the metal bracket that the fulcrum sits on, pressing the fulcrum can flex the metal bracket which then presses the media fixture causing a few grams of downward pressure on the media fixture which causes the reading on the display.

If you see that and it bothers you, making sure the media fixture is centered in the hole so it is not touching the metal bracket will eliminate that small reading but you don't need to bother.

It makes no difference to the sharpness reading of the blade because the blade will press much harder. For example, if you are measuring 295 sharpness with your blades, if the PT50B was sitting at 105 before you took a sharpness reading on the blade, you will still get an accurate reading because 295 > 105.

Thank you for your clear answer, grepper. 

[Bud]

I noticed this same problem as soon as I got my tester. It took me a little bit of time but I figured it out. Its exactly as Mr. Grepper says. I like the tester to start at zero whether it makes any difference or not. That's just me. I also can't remember to center the test media holder in the hole so here is what I did. I removed the plastic cover cap and pulled the test canister out and then stuck a small piece of foam back two faced tape inside. The tape holds the canister in place and I leave the cap off. It only rarely causes me a problem now and I'm on my second test media refill.

Here's another trick I used. The first refill canister I purchased was "sticky" and sometimes didn't want to unreel easily inside the aluminum holder. I had to pull the canister out and a few firm jerks would always free it until a couple of dozen measurements later it would do it again. This was a bigger problem for me because the tape I used is really sticky. I finally just left the canister sitting on the three tab ring and that solved that problem. I didn't have to take things apart to free the canister. I haven't had this problem with my second refill canister. Looks to me like they put the canisters together differently now than they did six months ago. I promise you I'm not complaining about these small issues. I don't know how I would sharpen a knife anymore without my edge tester.

[grepper]

I understand and applaud your attention to detail Mr. Bud.  I suppose that you could take a rotary tool or a hole saw and make the hole in the bracket a little bigger.  Then you wouldn’t have to mess around with the tape thing.  I’m lazy.  I just don’t worry about it anymore.

I believe that Mr. EOU said they have improved the spooling process for test media so hopefully that won’t be a problem going forward.  I’ve been lucky and have not had that happen yet.  I’m sure EOU will clarify.

“I don't know how I would sharpen a knife anymore without my edge tester.”  I sharpened many knives before I got a tester, but now, I don't know how I would sharpen a knife anymore without my edge tester.   Funny how that just seems to happen.

[EOU]

Thank you Bud and Grepper. We don't know how we would sharpen without an edge sharpness tester either. Our thumbs tell our brains that a 150 toothy edge must be the sharpest edge ever created but, of course, its not. It just feels that way.

Thanks to Bud for bringing up "sticky" test media with TM02 refills. Don't worry, we've already been raked over the coals by KG for that problem. It was a "sometimes" problem created by inconsistent tensioning during the spooling process. Our new spooling equipment and a newly designed spool have alleviated, and we hope, eliminated the problem. Thanks for letting us know.