MYTHS ABOUT KNIFE EDGES

[Ken S]

My present full beard is the latest in a series of beards I have had since 1967. I have had this beard since 1992. I really can no longer claim to be an expert on face shaving.

Ken

[grepper]

When I first decided to seriously learn to sharpen, I ran across all of the myths and mysticism.  I believed and fell for many of them because on the surface some seem common sense.  

I still remember those days, and it was amazing the more I researched the more it seemed apparent that there must be some ancient Chinese wisdom, some special equipment, some secret Zen dust that I could cast about that would produce the keenest, most finely sharpened edge.  There was all the buzz about and from the “grand masters” of sharpening and it seemed that if I could just learn the “great secrets” I’d revel in the satori of the perfectly sharpened edge.

So I wasted a bunch of time and money, just like thousands before me have undoubtedly done.  

What I don’t understand is how much mystery, mystique, misinformation, and general bullsh?t has developed around knife sharpening.  I don’t know if there is really anything comparable.  If you wish to learn welding, nobody tells you that there is some secret electricity that makes for the perfect arc weld.  If you want to finish something, there are many finishes with different attributes, but never have I seen any claims that Egyptian incantations secreted from the pyramids and only known by a few Gods of finishing will help.  Yet, that kind of crap permeates knife sharpening lore.  

I suspect that the apparent multiplicative proclivity of sharpening lore and legend is nourished by those seeking to profit from utter ignorance.  But even so, for something so basically simple that people have been doing in one form or another for literally thousands of years, I the find pervasive permeation of crap misinformation most fascinating.  

Great list Mr. KG!  Apparently, we could all memorize it, go elsewhere, spout it as great learned wisdom and no doubt be revered and worshiped as masters and legends in the sharpening world.

[KnifeGrinders]

Myth - Japanese Sharpening is the most excellent.

Myth - It is best to finish with natural stone.

Mate, you've hit the bull's eye with the "It is best to finish with natural stone." - I hear this nonsense all the time. True that for face shaving and wood carving you better not finish on diamonds/CBN, but "natural stone is the best" is a myth.

As to the "Japanese Sharpening is the most excellent" - they used to be till SHARPCO came in Korea

I've heard one more similar:
Myth - Japanese high carbon knives must be sharpened on Japanese water stones.

I want to be able to destroy these superstitions through BESS 

What do you think is the best way to finish for face shaving and wood carving?

Wood workers don't like diamond/CBN finish because it gives their carving tools a "gritty" feeling, and the same with a straight razor - when finished on diamonds it gives less "smooth" feeling compared to a razor finished on chromium oxide

[KnifeGrinders]

When I first decided to seriously learn to sharpen, I ran across all of the myths and mysticism.  I believed and fell for many of them because on the surface some seem common sense.  

I still remember those days, and it was amazing the more I researched the more it seemed apparent that there must be some ancient Chinese wisdom, some special equipment, some secret Zen dust that I could cast about that would produce the keenest, most finely sharpened edge.  There was all the buzz about and from the “grand masters” of sharpening and it seemed that if I could just learn the “great secrets” I’d revel in the satori of the perfectly sharpened edge.

So I wasted a bunch of time and money, just like thousands before me have undoubtedly done.  

What I don’t understand is how much mystery, mystique, misinformation, and general bullsh?t has developed around knife sharpening.  I don’t know if there is really anything comparable.  If you wish to learn welding, nobody tells you that there is some secret electricity that makes for the perfect arc weld.  If you want to finish something, there are many finishes with different attributes, but never have I seen any claims that Egyptian incantations secreted from the pyramids and only known by a few Gods of finishing will help.  Yet, that kind of crap permeates knife sharpening lore.  

I suspect that the apparent multiplicative proclivity of sharpening lore and legend is nourished by those seeking to profit from utter ignorance.  But even so, for something so basically simple that people have been doing in one form or another for literally thousands of years, I the find pervasive permeation of crap misinformation most fascinating.  

Great list Mr. KG!  Apparently, we could all memorize it, go elsewhere, spout it as great learned wisdom and no doubt be revered and worshiped as masters and legends in the sharpening world.

LOL 

I have to comment though that getting a working edge is simple - it is the fine edge that we stumble over and start looking around for the Zen dust

[grepper]

Well Mr. KG, to be perfectly honest, (we can be honest here, right?), I consider you personally to be part of the overall problem when explaining why the sharpening world is as strange as it is.
 
You’re regular and repeatable results of sub 50 sharpness levels actually give credence to the possibility that there exist little known mysterious secrets of ultimate sharpening, and someone who most certainly must be in possession of magic Zen dust.
 
In all seriousness, I’m impressed.  Congrats!

[Ken S]

My favorite sharpening myth buster was the late Leonard Lee. He is best known as the founder of Lee Valley, a very reputable and innovative tool company. His Sharpening book is a mainstay in my sharpening library. The DVD he did to accompany the book is a real gem. In addition to solid practical information about sharpening, his dry Canadian humor is a real treat. When talking about choosing an effective minimalist sharpening kit, he explains his motive, to "keep you out of the clutches of the tool mongers". I consider both his book and DVD must have items.

Ken

[EOU]

SHARPCO asked "What do you think is the best way to finish for face shaving and wood carving?

Don't know about wood carvers but we've conducted a fair amount of study in the straight edge arena and had a number of conversations with straight edge sharpeners. For the most part, straight edge guys don't like us and at some level, it's understandable. We originally thought that the straight edge market would be a "no brainer" for our product but the "old salts" in that marketplace schooled us on that point. Here's what our takeaway is on the matter. 

There is only one good reason to build a three legged stool with 19th century woodworking tools or to shave with 19th century shaving apparatus and that would be because one has a true appreciation for how things used to be done and then act on that appreciation. There could be other sorts of "farfegnugen" reasons for doing so and we understand those reasons as well. After all, we do have one co-worker here who has been known to take long road trips on a motorcycle while leaving a perfectly good SUV parked in his garage. We found that use of electronic edge testers for straight edge users was akin to running electrical service to Roy Underhills's Woodwright Shop (PBS).

All that said SHARPCO, the most common complaint heard from straight edge users concerned a "harsh edge". The term mystified us for sometime and the people who used the term were unable to explain it better either. Apparently, an edge could be both sharp and harsh at the same time. We believe now that this simply applies to the finish on the edge. Highly polished edges are "smooth" and less polished edges are "harsh". Not to be confused with "tooth" however. A harsh edge to a straight razor guy might be considered "highly polished" and tooth-less by a knife guy. 

Now to sharpness levels. There are those who claim to sharpen straight edges, using traditional methods, to modern day DE razor blade levels but several experienced straight edge sharpeners say, no, they can't. Our all time best here in the shop, using modern methods, is 65 and that number has never been repeated since. We know that our instruments have been used by customers to measure straight edges but apparently, mostly under the cover of darkness with curtains drawn tight. To this day, we have never had a straight edge sharpener report sharpness levels to us. Most every other kind and sort of cutting/slicing/shearing edge, yes...but never a straight edge razor.

[Edgepal]

We must also define "use" and myths about use...

City people type of use depending on city materials and ways of using the knife...
Same for traditionals...
Use of dummies?
Knifes use for chopping and batooning?

What is normal use in US - and Scandinavia?

Thomas

[KnifeGrinders]

Well Mr. KG, to be perfectly honest, (we can be honest here, right?), I consider you personally to be part of the overall problem when explaining why the sharpening world is as strange as it is.
 
You’re regular and repeatable results of sub 50 sharpness levels actually give credence to the possibility that there exist little known mysterious secrets of ultimate sharpening, and someone who most certainly must be in possession of magic Zen dust.
 
In all seriousness, I’m impressed.  Congrats!

Thank you, but we are far from unique.
I am in correspondence with many amateur and professional sharpeners from Europe, USA, Asia and of course Australia who sharpen their knives well under 100 BESS. I remember it was exciting to hear from a Russian sharpener using the BESS PT50A - God knows how he got it despite all the bans.

[KnifeGrinders]

Many thanks to everyone! - to be honest I hoped to harvest ideas for an article in the Australian Knife Magazine, and by your responses I could add a couple of your "myths" and throw out a couple of mine. The next AKM issue is due in August-September and I will then scan the article for our forum.