How sharp is it? Laser Edge Goniometer Lite from Gritomatic

This is a Laser Edge Goniometer Lite from Gritomatic. If you are interested you can buy one here.
www.gritomatic...
In the process of using this goniometer the batter housing came loose and needed to be repaired. I was able to soldier it back on but it was not a repair that should have been needed. Apart from that it did well enough. I have not used a tool like this before and found it to be pretty straightforward. It is a little tricky to keep straight, particularly on blades with large bellies or curves.
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[@TopLob]

I think it's a useful detail to add to the reviews. It's great to see how even it is, and how the edge is shaped, but it's useful to note that the sharper a sword is, the more fragile is the edge. So the level of sharpness should be adapted to the sword's intended use. I think this tool may help people judge how suitable the sword is for their practice, although I'm not sure there are many like me who don't necessarily prefer the sharpest edges.

[@Ivanofkoshinkaisokanryu]

Knowing the edge is cool so if I get something you review I can sharpen it more easily

[@raydrexler5868]

That’s a really important piece of information to me. I am constantly changing the angle of my knives’ edges to something I like and I don’t really know what that is.

[@TheGoldenBear79]

I think it’s great information to have needed or not! Thanks Matthew I appreciate you wanting to add any information that might help someone out. I vote to include a mention of the edge angle and consistency of angle. I find it interesting. Thanks again and have an awesome day buddy!

[@Tacklebox3000]

I think it’s worth the effort for your reviews, even if it’s just another data point. It’s possible patterns might develop

[@tacticalcenter8658]

Edge angle and behind the edge thickness are both very important as it will be data that helps them choose the correct tool for a task. BTE aka behind the edge thickness can be checked with a digital caliper right where the edge angle ends and the blade angle begins. This can vary side to side and differ along the whole edge of the blade.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I measure this from time to time for my own interests. It does make a big difference in how well they hold up to the most abusive stuff. At the same time delicate edges tend to cut better. For sword what thickness do you prefer about 1mm behind the edge?

[@tacticalcenter8658]

@@Matthew_Jensen I'm a knife user, big and small. I watch your content for more information about swords in the market. I don't own any swords. But the concepts between them are the same. Like you have said, the thinner swords will slice through stuff much better (like the green mats) but may not last so long when abusing them. The thicker edges tend to last longer with the abusive tasks. Geometry matters greatly. Heat treat also matters just as much, as they go hand in hand when designing steel for a particular function or task. Too brittle and it will break, too soft and it will mush. I know a lot about steel and cutting instruments big and small.

[@Fatespinner]

The evenness of the angle, to me, speaks to the effort and skill put into crafting them. The precise angle doesn't matter, but if the grind is even all the way along, it shows more build quality than someone just whacking on an edge that varies in angle along the length of the blade and calling it a day. If they cut corners on the edge, who knows where else corners might be cut? Obviously for a 200 dollar wall hanger where you're just happy it has a tang it's not so much an issue, but when people want 5-600 for a weapon and the edge angle looks like an EKG, it's a problem.

[@shawnclifford362]

Agreed. I have different edges on different blades. Cool piece of equipment. Slan ☘️

[@Matthew_Jensen]

now I just need to use it correctly.

[@shawnclifford362]

@@Matthew_Jensen I'm lazy, I'll stick to a sharpie and line of sight. Still use stones. Take care Sir. Slan leat ☘️

[@t.michaelbodine4341]

That's very cool. I'm enough of a sharpening weirdo to want one but I don't have one yet.

[@Venderra]

Nice. Skallagrims recommendation is very interesting. :) Nice Gadget. It's kinda sad that the controlls and the case are more on the flimsy side. But to be honest till now I trial and error until I find the angle wich is, well lets say not optimal. I can see why this is interesting for sword reviews to give some additional information about the blade. But to be totally honest, since very few reviewer are even able to give that kind of information, I would not dare to say that it is a must have information or even a disservice. It's interesting that you can give that information about a blade and in my mind fits perfectly in your very detailed sword reviews. Thanks for showing that thing, and nice video :)

[@augiedad54]

Your thought process is very much like my own, which is why I really enjoy your reviews. I really wanted one of these tools about a year ago, but after watching several videos on sharpening, I decided that the proof of the edge was in the cutting and I moved on. After watching this review, I am beginning to wonder if I too am a “poopy” sharpener. How do you know if this tool is accurate? Is there some way to calibrate it? Also, does an appleseed edge confuse the laser? I’d think the the curvature of an appleseed edge would de-focus the laser and screw up the reading.

[@MrBrokenwrenches]

This will be a useful tool as a knife maker.

[@airpower7692]

Yeah I sharpen my own blades and the angle I put on I'm not sure but it works and that's all that matters to me

[@jamesfrankiewicz5768]

To help minimize the rattle, tut some blue loc-tite inside the stripped screw hole (I'm presuming it was the plastic screw hole itself that stripped), letting the drop you put in the screw hole set a tiny bit before you put the screw in (also put a bit of loc-tite on the screw).

[@RockModeNick]

While I generally keep my kitchen knives with consistent edge angles, I intentionally change the angle of sword edges, and sometimes even certain knives in different places on the edge. Making the cutting edge on certain swords more robust near the tip, but narrower/keener closer to the center of percussion, would be inconsistent edge geometry, but a good thing depending on the sword.

[@dancing_odie]

Im new to your channel and I liked the video. I always say things are poopy when they are bad so I found it funny when you said it lol

[@Matthew_Jensen]

It is among my most frequently used descriptors.

[@ridgemannikko1045]

Honestly I don't mind too much in a knife/sword review, but this would be super useful for tracking my own progress!

[@Matthew_Jensen]

Fair enough!

[@dirtyscavanger]

That's nice, i would like one for arrow heads.

[@KF1]

Cool tool. Might be useful for flat-ground blades, though given that niku is the critical factor for katana, I wonder how it could be applied there? Maybe in combination with using a straight-edge like a ruler to show blade shape curvature / niku distribution. Seems like it would be much more applicable to kitchen knives and the like. Cool stuff

[@Matthew_Jensen]

Its another thing to ponder. To an extent the tool will show a convex edge but not quite niku a few millimeters past the edge.

[@messerlittle6166]

I would be very interested to know consistency of edge angle as part of swords reviews. Sharpening is something that a lot of sword makers seem to be unable to do well. If getting the measurement in camera is slow and fiddly, then by means do it off camera - I don't need to see footage of you measuring an edge to accept your measurements.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

thank you.

[@hachimanjiro]

Sharp is sharp but I'm definitely curious

[@colin4545]

i def would like to know and find it interesting. esp on things like kult of athenas sharpening service to see how consistent it is.

[@ssjronin3972]

I definitely want to know because it's very important with Japanese style blades and niku is talked about a lot and can make or break a blades success.

[@javaman2022]

Interesting!

[@droolhd]

Edge angle is interesting in general. So it would be nice if you mentioned it quickly during your reviews.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

thank you

[@JCOwens-zq6fd]

For what its worth I do care about edge angles. However usually its only going to be someone who is into cutting/using their blades etc that will care the most. Edge angle changes performance but if you arent using your blades much then you prob wont care.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

thank you

[@richardlynch5632]

Very cool😎👍

[@JoeSteel1]

oh I need that...im that yahoo..that you speak of

[@WhatIfBrigade]

I would forget the angle mentioned in a review and need to measure again before sharpening. Unless an angle was particularly unusual I wouldn't find that information useful in a review. Although I might buy a $70 angle measure!

[@Matthew_Jensen]

Is it helpful knowing the vendor makes a consistent edge?

[@WhatIfBrigade]

@@Matthew_Jensen Yes, definitely. Especially if there are significant changes along the blade, either through deliberate design or quality issues I think that would be harder to sharpen.

[@sattercaster1]

I have a bag full of those little switches. One of my guitar pedals uses them and it was broken. When I looked for a replacement, it was cheaper to buy 20 of them from China than to get one here in the states. I replaced it about 6yrs ago and no problems. I'd be happy to mail you a few spares. Let me know if you're interested.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

This one is holding up for the moment. I appreciate the offer though.

[@erichusayn]

I am also a yahoo like that.

[@jonc3118]

Pretty cool tool, I will stick with paper though

[@samuraibyrd]

Website says its sold out☹️

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I am guessing they will have more.

[@xerr0n]

on the soldering- do you cut tomatoes with a katana in your kitchen? if it works it works, a tool is a tool. Another yahoo here!

[@Matthew_Jensen]

Yahooo!!!!!

[@sexy4ssninja]

Yes please, ur reviews are awesome keep the good shit up

[@Matthew_Jensen]

thank you

[@regulus6773]

Combine this with the work sharp pro that Skallagrim did a review on and you'll be good.

[@melissastanton84]

To the knife reviewer that says that you do your viewers a disservice, what makes them such an authority?

[@Matthew_Jensen]

Everyone has an opinion, that was theirs. Perhaps they said it with thunder to stir the pot a little.

[@robertjensen1438]

Just a comment for the algorithm

[@beepboop204]

yeee thats why i leave upside down smilie faces

[@andrewsock1608]

Try a sliding t bevel and a magnifying glass

[@Matthew_Jensen]

thats an idea. sometimes the edge is very fine and hard to see.

[@andrewsock1608]

@@Matthew_Jensen I suppose if a person really cared about creating a perfect aligned edge they would use a sharpening guide that was set to the angle they wanted and that measurement would be set on the jig and there would be no reason to measure it again with a fidgety easily misread device 😉👍👍

[@beepboop204]

🙃

[@huldu]

I like the idea of this device but the price tag is something else. It's just a laser in a cheap plastic casing(was it 3D printed by any chance?) with a strip of numbers. I wouldn't be surprised to see a similar device made in china for under 5 bucks.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

There may be options to print something online and use a laserpointer. I could find one similar on Amazon for $30. Then there are fancier ones or more money.

[@LancelotChan]

I just come here to write this comment. I no longer watch ANY sword reviews at all, since I found the reviewers often can't even tell if their sword was sharp or not, not able to tell that as long as there's light reflection on the edge apex, it was not sharp, and often gives misleading review because of their lack of knowledge / insights / experiences. I gave up and stop, left SBG and many sword places altogether and just mind my own business since then. One of the things was I bought a hanwei practical that you like, and found it was too thick to deal with my kind of target (way more difficult than tatami). So I had to sell it. It took me a big effort to acquire one only ending up selling it at discounted price. It was a very disappointing journey. So when you brought up you never care about sharpening angle, I knew it. I care, and I differentiate swords' abilities at which angle they could hold against my kind of targets (simulated limbs). You see this is one of the reasons why I no longer watch reviews. The reviewers dun even know what kind of stuff I cut and how much attention I put on an edge, and thus their comments could be very misleading for me.

[@beepboop204]

too long did not read

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I'm not sure the detail this tool will provide will give much helpful information. In a sense it outlines edge angle but it will not clearly show niku or tell if it will hold up to your rolled paper. Though I am a bit surprised the Practical XL was a failure. I have had good experiences with them cutting thicker targets. Which swords have worked the best for that?

[@diomedes39]

This is great copypasta

[@LancelotChan]

@@Matthew_Jensen If we're talking about "absolute best" then definitely my longship custom swords. They can hold against PPR pipe with 30 degree angles, while all other chinese-made swords would take 40 degree to hold against them, due to hardness difference. Plus the longship swords have excellent "automatic" traits, which meant they take minimal effort to start the motion and will then carry out the attack on their own, cutting through the targets without much input. Fire and forget, you can say. In addition, they have lateral movement synchronization, which meant the tip moves as much side way as my hand moves, and stops when my hand stop. No lagging behind or over movement. This is very important for defense and aiming for a thrust. Finally, their tip can be "felt" without eyesight, which meant I can tell were my sword tip is without looking at it. It is very important for gauging distance, that even with my sword pointing backward, I can tell how far I can reach if I strike out intuitively. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWXWh5inj9yXrNk This was the challenge I put my best longship swords through, using "short power" to cut through thigh targets. Only swords with high automatic traits would manage this.

[@beepboop204]

@@LancelotChan turn your comments on i want to leave you 🙃 faces!

[@8thsinner]

Maybe no one has asked because you don't care about it and so don't ever talk about it. You are by your own statement a poopy sharpener and don't seem to have much interest in the past towards that side of things. Me, I do care, as someone who took a 440c wall hanger and turned it into a convexed tatami cutter, edge performance relative to steel type, maker (tempering), angles of variance (how curved the edge is) (niku) and cutting expectations are very important. It maybe doesn't matter too much for messing around back yard cutters. But for diy types and sharpening enthusiasts it's a different story. Pretty sure kingfisher would agree as someone who reshapes his own quite often. Now that you have a consistent measuring tool though you can talk about it and gather data on that. How could you not care, it's a three foot razor blade, you kinda have to know how good an edge that razor has right.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

That is a very fair point. It may be silly of me to assume people don't care. I don't get asked about a lot of things and that does not mean they don't matter. I will make an effort to include data on factory edges in the future. I'm not sure how many data points I will consistently include but a footnote about the edge being consistent or not and general angle are easy enough. Not caring might be the wrong way to put it. I care if a sword is sharp and functions as intended out of the box. Though that much can be identified by cutting some materials like pool noodles. The specifics of the edge, angle and consistency are not important to me on their own but how they manifest in use is important. One likely leads to the other, and measurements are more objective than me cutting a pool noodle and saying I like it.

[@8thsinner]

@@Matthew_Jensen Seeing and hearing how it cuts anything is still a lot of information if you know how to read the cut, but you can't know how to read the cut if you haven't cut with at least a few different types of edges to begin with, so for the most part it can be extrapolated. I'm just saying like I for one with sharpening as a hobby prefer more than that. There are many different types of sharp, and that curve graph with sharp / durable and sharp and durable is just a whole other level. Same reason I have asked you in the past to compare the sound of cutting the air, cause you do talk about that, but only very briefly to say it's nice, or its not but you haven't shown them in a direct comparison either. Eric said a few months ago he was going to do something in that direction but not sure how much progress he has made with it.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I find the sound a sword makes is mostly determined by geometry or blade features like bohi or reinforced kissaki. There are some blades sharp or dull that I don't hear when I move through the air. I will try to listen to sharp vs dull vs medium sharp and see if I can hear anything.

[@8thsinner]

@@Matthew_Jensen Yeah, I am not sure how much difference the sound makes in the cutting itself, but I do think it is a definite indicator of quality and cleanness of workmanship.

[@meFatuations]

Didn't get anything useful out of this review except maybe the device used is poor quality.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

what should I have included to make it more useful?

[@88997799]

Made in china right? 😂

[@TheGoldenBear79]

I think it’s great information to have needed or not! Thanks Matthew I appreciate you wanting to add any information that might help someone out. I vote to include a mention of the edge angle and consistency of angle. I find it interesting. Thanks again and have an awesome day buddy!