Sharp science

1、What’s our end goal, and how do we get there?

Goal: Sharpness
How to achieve：

• Use a whetstone to sharpen and deburr the knife’s edge.

• 

1.2. Remove the burrs on the sharp tip of the knife

 

1.1 How to sharpened on a whetstone？

1.1.1.Hold a fixed angle until you feel a burr on the edge

1.2 How to Remove the burrs on the sharp tip of the knife？

1.2.1. formula=Small diameter + high hardness abrasive + gentle edge grinding = burr removal

 

2. Now, let’s see which questions we should address.

2.1. Why does the compound powder fall off?
2.1.1.We pre-apply a layer of grinding compound to the rough surface of the cowhide. Applying it manually often requires heating, which can cause uneven distribution, solid particle formation, and an uneven grinding surface. This unevenness can make deburring inconsistent, especially along the tip of the knife, resulting in poor sharpness, inefficiency, or even tip damage. Additionally, manual application can leave compound on your hands and work area, requiring more than 10 minutes of cleanup.
By pre-applying the compound, we save users time and increase efficiency, although this does result in some powder falling off during use.

2.2. Why use compound?

2.2.1.Our goal is to deburr the knife tip to achieve a sharper edge. However, the burrs can be as small as 2 microns, making them difficult to see and remove by hand. To effectively remove these tiny burrs, we need an assistant, and that’s where the compound comes in. It helps us achieve precise deburring, which is why we rely on it.

2.3. Why use high hardness abrasive?

2.3.1. Abrasive paste is our tool to help with deburring, but metal burrs are tough to remove. While most burrs are harder than typical materials, they’re usually softer than HRC 66. To effectively remove them, we need an abrasive that’s harder than the burr itself. That’s why we choose abrasives like diamond, SG super ceramics, chromium oxide, and alumina, all of which have a hardness greater than HRC 66. These high-hardness abrasives, combined with the binder in the paste, are powerful enough to defeat the burrs.

2.4. Why use 1 micron diameter compound?

2.4.1.Abrasive paste helps with deburring, but the burr itself is small—usually over 3 microns in diameter. To effectively remove it, we need an abrasive with a smaller diameter. Ideally, the abrasive should be less than 1 micron in size. That’s why we use abrasives like diamond, SG super ceramics, chromium oxide, and aluminum oxide with particle sizes under 1 micron. These fine abrasives, combined with a bonding agent in the paste, are small enough to reach the crevices of the edge and cut through the burr, effectively removing it.

2.5. Why gentle edge grinding?

2.5.1. gentle edge grinding is our assistant's third skill. The goal is to remove the burr at the tip without creating new burrs or affecting the sharpness. It also preserves the fine texture and serration of the edge, ensuring the cutting feel remains intact. The fine, soft powder in the paste can gently move around the burrs, using the push, pull, and vibration from the abrasive particles to carefully remove the burr without forming new ones. This is why gentle edge grinding is essential.

2.6．Why are our leather strops suitable for any grit sharpening stone?

Our leather strops are designed for soft grinding, meaning they don’t create new burrs, but only remove existing ones. As a result, they are compatible with sharpening stones up to 10,000 grit.

2.7. Why doesn’t the grinding paste affect the edge serrations?

2.7.1.Our abrasive paste is soft enough to avoid creating new burrs, ensuring it doesn’t interfere with the fine serrations created by the sharpening stone.

2.8. Why should I use cowhide?

2.8.1. Because the rough surface of cowhide is a naturally soft contact surface that can absorb and carry compounds well, the vertical coarse fibers of cowhide can catch burrs well, thus assisting the abrasive paste in removing large particles of burrs when it is more strenuous to provide a clamp-like function, This makes it easier to remove burrs

2.9. Why should I use cowhide?

2.9.1.Cowhide’s rough surface is naturally soft and effectively absorbs and holds the compound. The vertical coarse fibers help catch and hold burrs, assisting the abrasive paste in removing larger burr particles. This provides a clamp-like grip, making it easier to remove burrs.

2.10. Why should I use a double-sided coarse and fine strop?

2.10.1. The coarse surface of the cowhide, along with the abrasive paste, helps remove the burrs. However, this process may leave sharp, microscopic spikes—less than 2 microns—on the tip and cross-section of the burr. To address this, we use the finer side of the cowhide, which is harder and smoother, to polish and smooth the remaining burrs. This process removes the tiny spikes along the edge, ensuring a smooth, sharp cut without any drag.

 

We focus on delivering an exceptional sharpness experience. The insights shared above come from our own experiments, practical experience, and user feedback. We hope our efforts help you achieve a more enjoyable cutting experience.

We invite users with experience to share their honest feedback and opinions in this post, helping fellow sharpness enthusiasts achieve better sharpening results.

A salute from the Cheefarcuut brand.

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