http://bessex.com/forum/ Thu, 11 Jun 2026 02:02:28 +0000 MyBB http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=603 Fri, 28 Oct 2022 08:55:05 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=603 Good morning,


I am a new member of this group and recently got the BESS sharpness tester (Edge-On-Up PT50A). 
I notice something strange with the BESS sharpness tester

If I put a block of wood on a digital accurate scale, it weighs (for example) 46.5 grams. If I press tara and weigh that same block again, it again weighs 46.5 grams. That's the way it's supposed to be.

But with my BESS sharpness tester (Edge-On-Up PT50A), I measure a much higher value for the same block of wood: 57 grams.

If I repeat the same measurement as described above on the BESS scale, the results vary: 57 grams, 60 grams, 58 grams 74 grams, and so on.

That there is a difference between scales, I can understand, but the difference is substantial. But that the same cube on the BESS scale gives different measurement results, I find strange.

I do have an idea that difference occurs with putting the block of wood on it. If I put it on more forcefully, I get a higher value than if I put it on more subtly.
Maybe I shouldn't think of my BESS sharpness tester as a "scale.
Who can tell me a little more about this?

Thanks in advance for the responses!


Wim]]> Good morning,


I am a new member of this group and recently got the BESS sharpness tester (Edge-On-Up PT50A). 
I notice something strange with the BESS sharpness tester

If I put a block of wood on a digital accurate scale, it weighs (for example) 46.5 grams. If I press tara and weigh that same block again, it again weighs 46.5 grams. That's the way it's supposed to be.

But with my BESS sharpness tester (Edge-On-Up PT50A), I measure a much higher value for the same block of wood: 57 grams.

If I repeat the same measurement as described above on the BESS scale, the results vary: 57 grams, 60 grams, 58 grams 74 grams, and so on.

That there is a difference between scales, I can understand, but the difference is substantial. But that the same cube on the BESS scale gives different measurement results, I find strange.

I do have an idea that difference occurs with putting the block of wood on it. If I put it on more forcefully, I get a higher value than if I put it on more subtly.
Maybe I shouldn't think of my BESS sharpness tester as a "scale.
Who can tell me a little more about this?

Thanks in advance for the responses!


Wim]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=565 Mon, 28 Dec 2020 07:21:04 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=565 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=556 Tue, 06 Oct 2020 00:19:50 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=556
  IMG_2046 (1).jpg (Size: 882.96 KB / Downloads: 15) ]]>
  IMG_2046 (1).jpg (Size: 882.96 KB / Downloads: 15) ]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=550 Wed, 22 Jul 2020 22:28:06 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=550 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=549 Thu, 09 Jul 2020 17:07:31 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=549
                                                               
  Mask.png (Size: 361.98 KB / Downloads: 3) ]]>
                                                               
  Mask.png (Size: 361.98 KB / Downloads: 3) ]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=535 Mon, 16 Mar 2020 17:02:09 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=535 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=529 Thu, 27 Feb 2020 22:05:42 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=529
                                    BeSharp                                             and                                         Sharpest Solutions


                           
  BESS Partner Certificate BeSharp.jpg (Size: 230.63 KB / Downloads: 11)                                                                                            
  BESS Partner Certificate Sharpest Solutions.jpg (Size: 233.3 KB / Downloads: 8)



BESS Partners provide their customers with BESS sharpness numbers thereby contributing to consumer confidence and injecting an extra level of professionalism into their business. Why wouldn't they? As long as they own BESS certified edge testers and are small to medium size concerns - BESS Partnerships are free!]]>
                                    BeSharp                                             and                                         Sharpest Solutions


                           
  BESS Partner Certificate BeSharp.jpg (Size: 230.63 KB / Downloads: 11)                                                                                            
  BESS Partner Certificate Sharpest Solutions.jpg (Size: 233.3 KB / Downloads: 8)



BESS Partners provide their customers with BESS sharpness numbers thereby contributing to consumer confidence and injecting an extra level of professionalism into their business. Why wouldn't they? As long as they own BESS certified edge testers and are small to medium size concerns - BESS Partnerships are free!]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=520 Thu, 30 Jan 2020 04:05:59 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=520  
Using the Aluminum Test Fixture (ATF) produces standard BESS readings.  Unaltered test clips produce 20% lower sharpness readings than when using the ATF.  In other words, sharpness readings when using test clips show 20% too sharp.  To standardize the test clip results add 20%.
 
From: https://www.edgeonup.com/PT50%20Series_Manual_A_B_C.pdf
 
Disposable Clip System – While the EOU Disposable Clip System utilizes BESS Certified test media in its construction, EOU test clips havenot yet received full certification from BESSU. Test Clips are manufactured by EOU and not BESSU. In their unaltered state Test Clips will generatea very reliable20% deviation (lowerand across all measurement ranges) than the BESS Standard. To convert a Test Clip measurement to a BESS measurement simply multiply the test clip result by (1.2). If the test media tension is relieved in the test clip by working one leg of the clip forward and then back test clips match BESS scores perfectly. It is this de-tensioning process and the more limited range of test clips that are the subjects of continued discussions with BESSU. Test Clips are tensioned to meet the needs of our medical and test laboratory customers more fully. Tensioning also makes home kitchen use more simple and safer.]]>  
Using the Aluminum Test Fixture (ATF) produces standard BESS readings.  Unaltered test clips produce 20% lower sharpness readings than when using the ATF.  In other words, sharpness readings when using test clips show 20% too sharp.  To standardize the test clip results add 20%.
 
From: https://www.edgeonup.com/PT50%20Series_Manual_A_B_C.pdf
 
Disposable Clip System – While the EOU Disposable Clip System utilizes BESS Certified test media in its construction, EOU test clips havenot yet received full certification from BESSU. Test Clips are manufactured by EOU and not BESSU. In their unaltered state Test Clips will generatea very reliable20% deviation (lowerand across all measurement ranges) than the BESS Standard. To convert a Test Clip measurement to a BESS measurement simply multiply the test clip result by (1.2). If the test media tension is relieved in the test clip by working one leg of the clip forward and then back test clips match BESS scores perfectly. It is this de-tensioning process and the more limited range of test clips that are the subjects of continued discussions with BESSU. Test Clips are tensioned to meet the needs of our medical and test laboratory customers more fully. Tensioning also makes home kitchen use more simple and safer.]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=519 Wed, 29 Jan 2020 03:43:58 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=519 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=503 Mon, 04 Nov 2019 21:49:42 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=503
                                            
  BESS Partner Certificate Sharpcat.jpg (Size: 233.26 KB / Downloads: 16) ]]>
                                            
  BESS Partner Certificate Sharpcat.jpg (Size: 233.26 KB / Downloads: 16) ]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=501 Thu, 24 Oct 2019 16:28:44 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=501
Just email us at mikeb@edgeonup.com and tell us who you are - where you're at - a little about your business - what type of edge testing instrument you own and how you intend to use your BESS Partnership in your business. Make certain that you indicate in your email how your certificate should be titled.


                          
  BESS Partner Certificate Waterstone.jpg (Size: 234.38 KB / Downloads: 30)                                        
  BESS Partner Certificate NW Florida.jpg (Size: 234.09 KB / Downloads: 25)                                           
  BESS Partner Certificate Edge Doctor.png (Size: 655.08 KB / Downloads: 21) ]]>
Just email us at mikeb@edgeonup.com and tell us who you are - where you're at - a little about your business - what type of edge testing instrument you own and how you intend to use your BESS Partnership in your business. Make certain that you indicate in your email how your certificate should be titled.


                          
  BESS Partner Certificate Waterstone.jpg (Size: 234.38 KB / Downloads: 30)                                        
  BESS Partner Certificate NW Florida.jpg (Size: 234.09 KB / Downloads: 25)                                           
  BESS Partner Certificate Edge Doctor.png (Size: 655.08 KB / Downloads: 21) ]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=494 Tue, 03 Sep 2019 16:06:26 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=494
"Hope everyone had an enjoyable and safe holiday weekend and thank you for your support of BESS and the BESS Exchange!"]]>
"Hope everyone had an enjoyable and safe holiday weekend and thank you for your support of BESS and the BESS Exchange!"]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=473 Mon, 22 Apr 2019 15:22:09 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=473
                                        RAZOR SHARP

                                  
  BESS Partner Certificate Razor Sharp.jpg (Size: 233.22 KB / Downloads: 12)

                                
                                        SHARPCO

                                  
  BESS Partner Certificate SHARPCO2.jpg (Size: 230 KB / Downloads: 9)


                                        Eddo's Edge

                                 
  BESS Partner Certificate Eddo'd Edge2.jpg (Size: 229.93 KB / Downloads: 5)

And since we're doing these today and one more came in late from Germany:

                                          Zukuri  

                          
  BESS Partner Certificate Zukuri.jpg (Size: 230.78 KB / Downloads: 9) ]]>
                                        RAZOR SHARP

                                  
  BESS Partner Certificate Razor Sharp.jpg (Size: 233.22 KB / Downloads: 12)

                                
                                        SHARPCO

                                  
  BESS Partner Certificate SHARPCO2.jpg (Size: 230 KB / Downloads: 9)


                                        Eddo's Edge

                                 
  BESS Partner Certificate Eddo'd Edge2.jpg (Size: 229.93 KB / Downloads: 5)

And since we're doing these today and one more came in late from Germany:

                                          Zukuri  

                          
  BESS Partner Certificate Zukuri.jpg (Size: 230.78 KB / Downloads: 9) ]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=444 Thu, 14 Feb 2019 19:26:21 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=444

---

Sharpest Knife Competition at IWA 2019



This year at IWA, Tactical Reviews is throwing down the gauntlet and asking the knife trade “How sharp can you go?”. OK, it’s actually a lot less formal than that, a ‘just for fun’ competition to see who can create the finest edge on a knife blade, by any means they choose.

Entry is free and open to all exhibitors and visitors to IWA 2019 (see rules below). There is no prize beyond the warm feeling the winner will have, knowing they had the ‘Sharpest Knife at IWA’.
Come and find me with the awesome people at Chris Reeve Knives in hall 5, stand 5-135, on Sunday 10th March between 16:00 and 17:00. Get in early or you might miss out.

How is the sharpness measured? Using a PT50A BESS Certified sharpness tester:
The BESS ‘C’ scale of sharpness, developed by Mike Brubacher (Brubacher Edge Sharpness Scale) will be used to determine how sharp each knife edge is. The ‘Edge on Up’ PT50A tester uses a certified test media fibre and records the force required to cut it. The lower the score the better. As an example, a typical Morakniv factory edge scores around 250. See this guide:

A chart showing where on the BESS scale a blade is.

---

Every knife tested will be given an official sharpness score and certificate. A measurement will be taken initially in the centre of the blade, then the heel, then the tip, and an average value taken. This will test the sharpness over the entire blade, not just the easiest part to sharpen.

‘The Sharpest Knife’ Competition – IWA 2019
Rules:

1. Open to all knives, custom-made or production. – No Razors allowed.
   
2. Kitchen knives, though allowed, are NOT eligible to be overall winner; they have been found to have too much of an advantage, so may be entered for an honourable mention only.
   
3. Any knife deemed not to be in the spirit of the ‘sharpest knife’ contest will be disallowed (surgical/laboratory etc.).
   
4. Open to anyone – Professional / Maker / Amateur / User.
   
5. Knives must be submitted either folded or sheathed, with the cutting edge covered.
   
6. Each knife will initially have a single measurement taken. If the result is within 50 BESS of the leading entry, further measurements may be taken (at the discretion of the tester).
   
7. Subject to the previous rule, each qualifying knife will then have a set of three measurements taken along the blade (centre, heel and tip) with the average BESS score counting as the result.
   
8. In the case of a draw, the lowest individual score will be used for secondary ranking. If there is still a draw, the first one tested will win.
   
9. The tester’s results are final – No knife may be entered twice.
   

The winner will be announced at close of the competition.
IMPORTANT: You undertake the competition at your own risk and your health and safety is your own responsibility. By taking part in this competition, you agree to indemnify the organisers and their agents against all costs, losses, damages, injuries, expenses and liabilities suffered as a result of your participation. No liability can be accepted for damage to any knife entered.


You Might Also Like:








f






…]]>

---

Sharpest Knife Competition at IWA 2019



This year at IWA, Tactical Reviews is throwing down the gauntlet and asking the knife trade “How sharp can you go?”. OK, it’s actually a lot less formal than that, a ‘just for fun’ competition to see who can create the finest edge on a knife blade, by any means they choose.

Entry is free and open to all exhibitors and visitors to IWA 2019 (see rules below). There is no prize beyond the warm feeling the winner will have, knowing they had the ‘Sharpest Knife at IWA’.
Come and find me with the awesome people at Chris Reeve Knives in hall 5, stand 5-135, on Sunday 10th March between 16:00 and 17:00. Get in early or you might miss out.

How is the sharpness measured? Using a PT50A BESS Certified sharpness tester:
The BESS ‘C’ scale of sharpness, developed by Mike Brubacher (Brubacher Edge Sharpness Scale) will be used to determine how sharp each knife edge is. The ‘Edge on Up’ PT50A tester uses a certified test media fibre and records the force required to cut it. The lower the score the better. As an example, a typical Morakniv factory edge scores around 250. See this guide:

A chart showing where on the BESS scale a blade is.

---

Every knife tested will be given an official sharpness score and certificate. A measurement will be taken initially in the centre of the blade, then the heel, then the tip, and an average value taken. This will test the sharpness over the entire blade, not just the easiest part to sharpen.

‘The Sharpest Knife’ Competition – IWA 2019
Rules:

1. Open to all knives, custom-made or production. – No Razors allowed.
   
2. Kitchen knives, though allowed, are NOT eligible to be overall winner; they have been found to have too much of an advantage, so may be entered for an honourable mention only.
   
3. Any knife deemed not to be in the spirit of the ‘sharpest knife’ contest will be disallowed (surgical/laboratory etc.).
   
4. Open to anyone – Professional / Maker / Amateur / User.
   
5. Knives must be submitted either folded or sheathed, with the cutting edge covered.
   
6. Each knife will initially have a single measurement taken. If the result is within 50 BESS of the leading entry, further measurements may be taken (at the discretion of the tester).
   
7. Subject to the previous rule, each qualifying knife will then have a set of three measurements taken along the blade (centre, heel and tip) with the average BESS score counting as the result.
   
8. In the case of a draw, the lowest individual score will be used for secondary ranking. If there is still a draw, the first one tested will win.
   
9. The tester’s results are final – No knife may be entered twice.
   

The winner will be announced at close of the competition.
IMPORTANT: You undertake the competition at your own risk and your health and safety is your own responsibility. By taking part in this competition, you agree to indemnify the organisers and their agents against all costs, losses, damages, injuries, expenses and liabilities suffered as a result of your participation. No liability can be accepted for damage to any knife entered.


You Might Also Like:








f






…]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=443 Thu, 07 Feb 2019 16:17:14 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=443 marketing value of a BESS Partnership. The membership is free to most small sharpeners and includes a certificate and 
membership ID number.

Please welcome Regent Sharpening as one of our latest BESS Partner members!

                                           
  BESS Partner Certificate Regent.jpg (Size: 195.83 KB / Downloads: 11) ]]> marketing value of a BESS Partnership. The membership is free to most small sharpeners and includes a certificate and 
membership ID number.

Please welcome Regent Sharpening as one of our latest BESS Partner members!

                                           
  BESS Partner Certificate Regent.jpg (Size: 195.83 KB / Downloads: 11) ]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=432 Mon, 21 Jan 2019 18:37:35 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=432 Sharpening On Site!  This new BESS Partnership is particularly notable because Don was one of our very first customers years ago. Welcome Don!

Here are some interesting photos and a video link from one of our more recent Partners. Thank you Kent at Tailmotor!



                                 
  Tailmotor 1.JPG (Size: 1.35 MB / Downloads: 15)                                  
  Tailmotor reduced.jpg (Size: 188.59 KB / Downloads: 15) ]]> Sharpening On Site!  This new BESS Partnership is particularly notable because Don was one of our very first customers years ago. Welcome Don!

Here are some interesting photos and a video link from one of our more recent Partners. Thank you Kent at Tailmotor!



                                 
  Tailmotor 1.JPG (Size: 1.35 MB / Downloads: 15)                                  
  Tailmotor reduced.jpg (Size: 188.59 KB / Downloads: 15) ]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=406 Thu, 08 Nov 2018 23:21:23 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=406
                                                                                 
  BESS Partner Certificate Hugosson New.jpg (Size: 240.85 KB / Downloads: 12)

                                          

Below are a couple of screenshots from one of Kent's videos . More can be found on his YouTube channel and the links to two can be found below. We like these two Tail Motor's videos in particular because they demonstrate not only a high level of sharpening acumen but also, exactly, how measurements should be taken using our electronic testers.

                                                       
  Kent 406.JPG (Size: 51.51 KB / Downloads: 12)                                   
  Kent 54.JPG (Size: 50.07 KB / Downloads: 13)

And then the links to two of Kent's videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OMG_qv0CEk&authuser=0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-iEYJo5...authuser=0

Thank you Kent with Tail Motor and welcome as a new Exchange member and a BESS Partner!]]>
                                                                                 
  BESS Partner Certificate Hugosson New.jpg (Size: 240.85 KB / Downloads: 12)

                                          

Below are a couple of screenshots from one of Kent's videos . More can be found on his YouTube channel and the links to two can be found below. We like these two Tail Motor's videos in particular because they demonstrate not only a high level of sharpening acumen but also, exactly, how measurements should be taken using our electronic testers.

                                                       
  Kent 406.JPG (Size: 51.51 KB / Downloads: 12)                                   
  Kent 54.JPG (Size: 50.07 KB / Downloads: 13)

And then the links to two of Kent's videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OMG_qv0CEk&authuser=0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-iEYJo5...authuser=0

Thank you Kent with Tail Motor and welcome as a new Exchange member and a BESS Partner!]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=404 Mon, 05 Nov 2018 21:48:05 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=404

Apparently our knife sharpening friends in Australia and New Zealand aren't the only ones reaching new lows. The Russians  in Murmansk were as well although, unlike our friends on the far side of the equator, they weren't concerned with BESS scores but rather bore holes. The picture above is the cap for the 9" diameter and 40,230' deep bore hole and it only took the Russians 19 years, 1970-89 to finish the job. While the rest of the world was engaged in traveling to the moon and probing space, the Russians were drilling holes. They were successful in drilling the deepest hole...ever. 

One thing we found interesting about this story; the temperature at the bottom of this hole is 356° F. That's about perfect for tempering high HRC blades. Our knifemakers and bladesmiths are just going to need a real long rope to take advantage of it.]]>

Apparently our knife sharpening friends in Australia and New Zealand aren't the only ones reaching new lows. The Russians  in Murmansk were as well although, unlike our friends on the far side of the equator, they weren't concerned with BESS scores but rather bore holes. The picture above is the cap for the 9" diameter and 40,230' deep bore hole and it only took the Russians 19 years, 1970-89 to finish the job. While the rest of the world was engaged in traveling to the moon and probing space, the Russians were drilling holes. They were successful in drilling the deepest hole...ever. 

One thing we found interesting about this story; the temperature at the bottom of this hole is 356° F. That's about perfect for tempering high HRC blades. Our knifemakers and bladesmiths are just going to need a real long rope to take advantage of it.]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=353 Tue, 31 Jul 2018 22:25:31 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=353 ]]> ]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=327 Tue, 22 May 2018 03:35:00 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=327 Meat plants are secretive about everything that gives them a competitive advantage, and as soon as they realize benefits of BESS sharpness testers, they become reluctant to share, especially about the savings.

The article published in the Australian Meat News has about 1/4 of our findings, due to the magazine format and restrictions imposed by the meat company.

The company runs 2 meat plants, an abattoir and training in meat processing, website www.becampbell.com.au

The meat plant in Sydney, Australia processes 2300-2500 pigs a day, from the carcass to ready retail products, portioned and packed.
Knives are used in 3 operations:
- boning;
- dividing cuts; and
- portioning slicing.
This research was on boning knives.

PDF spread >>


]]> Meat plants are secretive about everything that gives them a competitive advantage, and as soon as they realize benefits of BESS sharpness testers, they become reluctant to share, especially about the savings.

The article published in the Australian Meat News has about 1/4 of our findings, due to the magazine format and restrictions imposed by the meat company.

The company runs 2 meat plants, an abattoir and training in meat processing, website www.becampbell.com.au

The meat plant in Sydney, Australia processes 2300-2500 pigs a day, from the carcass to ready retail products, portioned and packed.
Knives are used in 3 operations:
- boning;
- dividing cuts; and
- portioning slicing.
This research was on boning knives.

PDF spread >>


]]>