Originally Posted by
Prashun Patel
Brian-
We've been through this in person before, and I still struggle to find the burr. I can easily raise, feel, and remove burrs at the very rough grits ( < 1000) when I am establishing the primary bevel. But as soon as I move up to the 1000 grit stone, and hone free hand, I can no longer feel a raised burr.
Last night, I hollow ground two chisels on the grinder. I honed 2ndary bevels at 1000, 5000, and 8000. With one, I free-handed. With the other, I used a guide. On both, I did as you counsel (do the bevel, work the back). I could not see nor feel a wire edge on either. I see the faintest glimmer of something under a loupe at the edge which I swear is just light. But I certainly can't feel it, and when I work the back a little, it doesn't appear to disappear. Both chisels feel sharp and appear to work well.
Is the wire edge raised on the finer grits, by hand, far more subtle than the one raised at the rough grits with power?
Do you other guys have trouble raising/feeling a burr with the finer grits?
Does anyone have a good close up picture of what a burr would look like after say 1000, 5000, and 8000?
The hollow ground blade will be the easiest for this. Go through your regular routine of sharpening, then when you are completed, return back to the finish stone. Work the bevel and before you work the back check for a burr (it is very very light as this point). That should help to improve your thumb gauge for checking since you will know it is there with certainty. Work the back again and see if you can feel the burr.
If you're seeing light reflecting from the edge, then there is still some wear left. When its totally gone you can't see the edge at all.
I'll take some photos next time I sharpen and see if I can highlight the wear, it may be quite difficult to do with an iPhone but it is surprisingly capable on occasion.
Bumbling forward into the unknown.