Knife Sharpening Testing for "Sticky Sharp"

This is just my quick and dirty very simple example of how I show non knife people, or beginning sharpeners etc what my definition of Sticky Sharp is. The hair pull test is always a great visual aid. Usually I like to go past this level of sharpness but I stopped to film the video at this stage in my Sharpening. Thanks for watching!

[@thomaslanders1162]

Just found your channel and subbed.. I'm a big Spyderco fan.. I had over 30 at one time.. Also, have a lot of Benchmades but most are overpriced and the QC still isn't good.. Great videos...

[@rangerjonoutdoors6429]

Thanks Tom! Im a Spyderco addict as well. They just understand what a knife is and what it is supposed to be better than anyone! Benchmade just bothers me every time I pick one up. haha. Thanks for watching and the sub!

[@astrazenica7783]

I thought it was just how it felt on the 3 finger test

[@rangerjonoutdoors6429]

Hey Juan I don’t ever use the three finger test. When the knife gets to hair whittling sharp I don’t think fingers should go near the blade regardless. A hair is a good medium to test and extremely sharp edge. Thanks for watching!

[@John..18]

Hi, just found this video,, don't know how it slipped through my net,!! Anyway, this is great, I've not seen this test before, !! As hair has a directional grain, does this work both ways, ? All the best,, John .

[@rangerjonoutdoors6429]

Hey John thanks ! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes the grain of the hair affects the test. Usually I like to go WITH the grain of the hair to really see how sharp the knife is. If your Apex is super crisp and well sharpened the blade will catch like in this video. If you go against the grain of the hair, you can catch the hair WAY easier and I almost think of it as cheating ;). Sometimes tho depending on the steel you just can't get that clean of an Apex because of the grain structure and you have to go against the grain. Then, if your knife is REALLY sharp, it won't catch at all the hair will just pop in half immediately and almost "jump" away from the blade. I get that sharpness with k390 consistently, as well as cruwear. Thanks for watching!

[@lucacadianalbert]

Very nice. you sharpened it to what grit/strop?

[@rangerjonoutdoors6429]

Luc Albert thanks! This one came off the Spyderco ultra fine and onto a 5 micron, 1.5 micron, and then a 1micron strop which is where I filmed the video at. I then decided after to take it all the way down through my strops to .05 micron. After that it would just blow throw the hair instantly if it even thought about touching the edge haha.

[@jtscustomcutlery317]

Ok now I know what sticky sharp is. I can’t wait to get my KME! Great video!