Paper-Cut test

[pathwinder14]

I have seen lots of people us the paper-cut test to determine a knife's sharpness. While I agree that this is a good test I disagree with the method people use.

Holding a peice of paper in one hand and gently slicing with the other is a demonstration in cutting technique, not sharpness. It only cuts off a small corner of the paper. This does not give you a good sharpness profile of the entire blade length.

I prefer to hold the paper in one hand pinched between several fingers and thumb. This allows me to rest the blade edge between my fingers on the top edge of the paper. Then I gently push the knife through allowing the edge and weight of the blade to perform the cut. This lets the entire edge perform the cut so I can get a good profile of the sharp and dull areas of the whole blade. Fom here I can touch up the dull spots and then hone the entire edge so it is uniform.

Comments? Corrections?

[kutkota]

I have never understood the paper cut test. If I wanted to cut paper I would buy some scissors. There has to be a better way, but I am not the expert on how to identify problem areas on a knife.

[Lawdog2705]

Personally, we've always shaved a small section of hair off the arm.

[wtrfwlr]

The test that I always use is shave some hair off of the rump of a Mastodon.

[Lawdog2705]

Aug 23, 2012 17:05:02 GMT -7 wtrfwlr said:

The test that I always use is shave some hair off of the rump of a Mastodon.

You got mastodons around? I'm staying away from your house!

[wtrfwlr]

Aug 23, 2012 17:38:15 GMT -7 Lawdog2705 said:

Aug 23, 2012 17:05:02 GMT -7 wtrfwlr said:

The test that I always use is shave some hair off of the rump of a Mastodon.

You got mastodons around? I'm staying away from your house!

Why sure I do, they don't have much rump hair on them anymore though!

[Lawdog2705]

Aug 23, 2012 17:52:44 GMT -7 wtrfwlr said:

Aug 23, 2012 17:38:15 GMT -7 Lawdog2705 said:

You got mastodons around? I'm staying away from your house!

Why sure I do, they don't have much rump hair on the anymore though!

LMAO!!!

[angelhelp]

Aren't those mastodons protected from knife-testers? They're going to get mighty chilly this winter with their bald backsides! Cruelty, I say! ;D

[sirderrin]

I always knew you was an old rascal.....

Aug 23, 2012 17:05:02 GMT -7 wtrfwlr said:

The test that I always use is shave some hair off of the rump of a Mastodon.

[pathwinder14]

Aug 23, 2012 14:40:12 GMT -7 kutkota said:

I have never understood the paper cut test. If I wanted to cut paper I would buy some scissors. There has to be a better way, but I am not the expert on how to identify problem areas on a knife.

The Paper-Cut test is easy to read which is why a lot of people use it. Where the paper leaves clean and crisp cuts, the knife is sharp. Where it leaves fuzzy/slightly torn paper, it is dull.