03-19-2017, 04:38 PM
I've been reading this thread with interest, since it's one of the most common questions. These are JMHOs.
It's not just the size of the "tooth" it's also how "pointy" the teeth are. I can assure you though, 400 grit will out cut 4000 grit. Nothing doesn't cut like a smooth edge.
To have pointy teeth, you must have a cleanly apexed edge and the right sort of abrasive. It's easy to get pointy teeth with a diamond stone or diamond compound, and it's virtually impossible to get tooth from an Arkansas oil stone, or AlOx (green) compound.
The best way to determine what sort of edge you have is the three finger test, but comprehension of it seems low. For whatever reason, it seems most people might not know what it's supposed to feel like. I mean, here we are discussing it yet again.
The key to the three finger test is the angle of the knife in relation to the surface of your skin. If the knife is at a very shallow angle to your fingertips, you can't begin to cut into nerves. You only need to slide your fingers down the edge about 1/8". I think it's best to use both hands, like I always see if a blade shaves on both arms. Normally sorts out wire edges.
As you stop your tiny slicing action, pull the blade away from your skin at a 90* angle. If the edge bit into your fingerprints you will feel the edge pop out of the tiny slice. Otherwise, you repeat this once or twice per second, gradually adding pressure until you determine what the edge feels like.
You can easily do this while talking and looking someone right in the eye. He'll never even see you totally read the edge. This is especially valuable for event sharpening where you want to have interaction with the customer without wasting any time. You can't see "sharp" anyway.
One time I handed my knife to a friend who needed to cut a piece of rope. He started "sawing" on the rope, and to my chagrin, it didn't cut at all! Knowing the edge was shaving sharp, I had to show the difference between push cutting and slicing, but that incidence was a huge lesson.
Tooth is generally much more productive than a polished edge. For this reason, my everyday hone has become 16 micron (1000 grit) poly diamond compound.
YMMV JMHO
It's not just the size of the "tooth" it's also how "pointy" the teeth are. I can assure you though, 400 grit will out cut 4000 grit. Nothing doesn't cut like a smooth edge.
To have pointy teeth, you must have a cleanly apexed edge and the right sort of abrasive. It's easy to get pointy teeth with a diamond stone or diamond compound, and it's virtually impossible to get tooth from an Arkansas oil stone, or AlOx (green) compound.
The best way to determine what sort of edge you have is the three finger test, but comprehension of it seems low. For whatever reason, it seems most people might not know what it's supposed to feel like. I mean, here we are discussing it yet again.
The key to the three finger test is the angle of the knife in relation to the surface of your skin. If the knife is at a very shallow angle to your fingertips, you can't begin to cut into nerves. You only need to slide your fingers down the edge about 1/8". I think it's best to use both hands, like I always see if a blade shaves on both arms. Normally sorts out wire edges.
As you stop your tiny slicing action, pull the blade away from your skin at a 90* angle. If the edge bit into your fingerprints you will feel the edge pop out of the tiny slice. Otherwise, you repeat this once or twice per second, gradually adding pressure until you determine what the edge feels like.
You can easily do this while talking and looking someone right in the eye. He'll never even see you totally read the edge. This is especially valuable for event sharpening where you want to have interaction with the customer without wasting any time. You can't see "sharp" anyway.
One time I handed my knife to a friend who needed to cut a piece of rope. He started "sawing" on the rope, and to my chagrin, it didn't cut at all! Knowing the edge was shaving sharp, I had to show the difference between push cutting and slicing, but that incidence was a huge lesson.
Tooth is generally much more productive than a polished edge. For this reason, my everyday hone has become 16 micron (1000 grit) poly diamond compound.
YMMV JMHO