The Sharpest Knife On YouTube - HOW TO SHARPEN TO DOUBLE HAIR WHITTLING

[@OUTDOORS55]

Stuff I used⬇ Stone 1 → amzn.to/4bVcLDQ Stone 2 → amzn.to/3xJVpMp 1200 Strop compound I used is my own brand I no longer sell, but will again shortly. In the mean time you can use these⬇ Strop compound 1 micron amzn.to/4fg8JJ9 Strop compound 1/2 micron amzn.to/46bMxvP Strop compound 1/10 micron amzn.to/3y7OQ6s 🛑Affiliated links As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

[@cicero346]

How much will you be selling your compounds for? Also any idea how soon you'll be able to sell them?

[@retardno002]

Can you please try some Belgian blue or Belgian coticule stones at some point? They release these tiny particles called garnets that have very mellow angles on their edges, so they cut well but not deep, which is why they're popular for sharpening straight razors. You might be able to get the same result you got here but just off of one single stone because you control how coarse the slurry is and therefore what effective grit you sharpen with. They range from ~1500 (thick slurry) to 4000 (clean stone) from what I've read but they are natural stones so you might get a smoother or coarser one, this is just an average.

[@ZarlanTheGreen]

The link to the Venev 1200, actually points to the 150. (and as it clearly states that the grit ratings are using FEPA-F, that means the 150, is equivalent of regular... 150. It's not really notably different, at that grit, even though a 1000 is 3000. And 400 is 700-800 ...and a 2000 would be the equivalent to a Japanese 8000. At least according to the grit chart, at Gritomatic)

[@metern]

I want to see if it's possible to get a dubble hair whittling edge on an pice of Obsidian 😁.

[@markfromearth4]

For those of us that do not want to make a strop, what is the next best thing? What strop would you buy?

[@gregblake2764]

I've been sharpening knives, chisels, plane blades, saws, and other stuff for 55 years. Took your advice and bought the Sharpal 3 x 8 two sided stone. It really is the best diamond stone I've ever used. Thanks for the tip. It was great running into you at the Blade Show at the White River booth. Hope you're healing well.

[@retardno002]

Did you try any DMT, Naniwa, or Veneev diamond stones yet? I find it hard to believe that the Sharpal is the top end of diamond stones. CBN and garnet stones are also amazing, did you try any of those?

[@jenrosejenrose7417]

I went from a basic wet whetstone to the sharpal and good golly it's a huge difference, isn't it?

[@norm1124]

​@@jenrosejenrose7417 same here with little experience, not hair widdeling, but "it just works" and all my kitchen knifes are sharp enough for thin slice with everything ❤

[@iamarawn]

I bought the stone as well, super happy with it.

[@jojo32533]

Me too on the Sharpal. WOW!!

[@krazmokramer]

Even more impressive than the crazy sharpness of that blade is your ability to source long hair!

[@sethprice241]

Lol I was just going to say that.

[@SuperMokez]

I need to raid my gfs shower or something

[@trplankowner3323]

It's called a wife. While, I don't recommend them, some men take the chance.

[@LangstonDev]

Yeah if you've got a woman in the house you'll have a hard time *not* finding hair everywhere

[@alextan2465]

On a serious note, some hairs are easier to split than others.

[@grog2027]

I have been a professional sharpener for 14 years, and I've learned a lot of new things from your channel. Or explained things far better then I've been able too. Thank you. I had never heard of double hair whittling sharp, and wasn't sure about hair whittling sharp being a real thing... Now i must achieve both! Because...

[@KevinMn1]

Would be interesting for you to compare that edge under your microscope to other blades like a razor, utility knife, and a scalpel

[@russelldold4827]

My late father was an ophthalmic surgeon and he sharpened his own scalpels. He stopped operating 40 years ago and died 25 years ago. One of my biggest regrets is not learning that skill from him.

[@The_guy_on_the_internet]

Since I started watching this channel I have spent $100 on a sharpening stone, $60 on a high carbon knife and $9 on band aids. Surprisingly therapeutic, but can't let your mind wonder off (ouch)

[@albertosara416]

There's something just crazy about being able to reach this level of sharpness and precision at home

[@hibernate44]

And freehand too

[@TimJohnson-x1o]

@@hibernate44 nah. and nah. literally a child could learn how to do this in a few weeks. and obviously "freehand" because that's the easiest and fastest way to sharpen. but that means actually trying. knife bros are shit talkers. they buy knives then let them collect dust in drawers. they're afraid to use them. afraid to sharpen them. afraid to learn how. so they create all these myths about how it's such a difficult thing to do. no. it's not.

[@huskiefan8950]

The wonders of technology brutha

[@redlock4004]

For my knife chores I have no need for this level of sharpens, BUT, I sure am glad to see that someone out there (you!) is both capable of this kind of skill and willing to share the skill with us. :)

[@jenrosejenrose7417]

Gotta thank you for the rec on the sharpal, I got that, plus some of the leather you recommend and the closest micron count I could find on a diamond paste and took my kitchen knives from grotesquely dull to able to cut a tomato into thin slices over a pizza midair, and impressed the heck out of my 12 year old. I have muscle weakness issues and get fatigued easily so I needed something that didn't require a lot of setup or energy, and was able to get a basic sharp edge, stropping off the burr, without exhausting myself. And now I don't have to fight my knives to slice things either. I didn't worry about doing anything but the courser side, the resulting edge has been durable and functional and I'm very happy. I had some horribly chipped knives (i have no idea what they did with them but they had gouges in the edges) and was able to get those down to the point where they weren't obtrusive, and I'll let them sharpen out over time--it would take too much material away to grind them out completely, but even the chipped knives are like 5000% better than they were before. At some point could you talk about scissors? I have a billionty pairs of cheap-ass kitchen shears I'd like to sharpen but they don't unscrew and I find their angle configuration confusing.

[@kittipatkeetist3575]

scissors? open it to 90 degrees and sharpen the whole angle face ( outside face), like a single bevel knife with no micro bevel. don't touch flat side (inside face), only strop flat side for burr removal. scissors is actually two single bevel knife with flat side held together.

[@magicshon]

I would also add that mostly when people want me to sharpen their scissors they are just dirty. A tiny piece of residue of tape can open them just enough to not cut properly. Go and scrub them well with soap, dry them too and if they are not stainless maybe take a bit of oil to the pivot (often needed with garden scissors) and more often than not, this is enough to fix it. If you want you can do what was said, you dont even need to strop the flat side, simply closing and opening them is the stropping

[@jamesbarisitz4794]

I never tire of your macro photos. The KZbin community here is lucky to have you!👍🎯

[@cchat3491]

Alex could take the gold in knife sharpening Olympics!

[@alexalexxis170]

The most visually detailed videos on yt regarding blade sharpening. Thank you for demystifying extreme sharpness.

[@zionpsyfer]

Beautiful macro shots. The skill involved makes it magic even after you show and explain your process. My sharpal is still going strong after many, many uses.

[@bobmahnamahknob]

Thanks for all of the sharpening tips, tricks, and tutorials.

[@cchat3491]

Amazing you can hold the exact angle and repeat it over and over on alternating passes all by hand. I wud love to know what the BESS score is on that edge.

[@BladeLabMiami]

The BESS score would likely be

[@timwagster9458]

You don't have to be a psychopath to achieve double hair whittling sharp but I bet it helps. 🤔...👍😁😂🤣

[@outdooraddictionpa8218]

Lol

[@jackt4274]

I would think a psychopath prefer something as sharp as a spoon.

[@raimundotorres44]

Where is he getting all these hair from too? I'm getting some Wild Bill from silence of the lambs vives.

[@alexanderthomas2660]

@@raimundotorres44 It rubs the shampoo in its hair or else it gets the hose again.

[@jamessims5240]

Lmaoooo 😂😂😂

[@jamesbarisitz4794]

I never tire of your macro photos. The community is lucky to have you!👍

[@ClintsHobbiesDIY]

I'm glad to see you not using jigs to sharpen. That's the way I learned and at age 71, I still do. Most people these days won't even try to learn hand sharping. Great vid,

[@rvnerd7671]

Your photography on the channel is leaps and bounds ahead of when I found you. I think it was the vid on "how to get scary sharp". Always great info. Hope you're feeling better.

[@keencustomtools]

Your video quality is amazing dude subject matter, duration, explaining ability, and film quality 👌 👏

[@axlaguilar5289]

Tips i have learned along your videos: Before sharpening: 1. The steel matter: it is recomendable to get steel with at lest 61 HRC. 2. Do not be afraid to the low grits: less time on the stone it is equal to less time to commit errors 3. Recomendable sharpeining stones or kits: Sharpal diamond stone, kit of shapton kuromaku with double sided diamond stone. 4. The angle matter: if You need power of cut You can use a angle from 15 to 20 On sharpeining time: 1. Mantain the angle: rise the elbow to arise the tip of the knive and avoid to change the angle. 2. The burr it's really important: get the burr on both sides. 3. Do not forget to deburing on the stone. After sharpeining: 1. Use the strop. 2. Cargue the strop with diamond: use diamond emulsions or sprays to get the Best cutting performance of the strop and cut the bur. 3. Use the same sharpening angle: You have to archive a consitan angle all the time 4. Refining the edge: more refining edge its iqual to a best performance. Use a succession of 1, 0.5 and 0.10 microns to get a refined edge 5. The best way to test the edge is the hair whittling: there's no way to lie on this test

[@turing2376]

Always have been impressed with the simplefication of the sharpening process you present while still achieving outstanding desired results. This has stuck with me from your earlier videos and is a major aspect i have strived toward in my sharpening journey over the years and which has given me some satisfaction. Thank you 🙏

[@chrisflamion2283]

been waiting for months to get the strop compound you recommend on Amazon, will get some from you, I'm still trying to hold an angle, not even close to shaving sharp, but I'm motivated, appreciate your content!

[@SlowerIsFaster139]

Im so glad to see regular videos posted to this channel. The ebay damascus video was one of the funniest things ive seen on youtube and was worried when i hiatus came. Keep on making me laugh! Please! Lol

[@JubeiKibagamiFez]

5:04 Now, with a double whittling edge, how long would an edge like that last for with practical use???

[@drpeemac]

heights ...salute...I achieved it today mate..split the hair into flat curls ...it humbles me what you do ...keep it up bro... Note: Stroping with 0.5 micron , pressure is that much you put your finger on your arm and can feel bone beneath specifically on wrist where you feel for pulse...

[@ZarlanTheGreen]

Hair shaving/popping and hair whittling, would appear to test "push" cutting sharpness. Where the edge pushes through something. Where fine edges are supposed to excel. What are ways of test slicing sharpness? Where the edge slides across the thing it cuts and micro-serrations can be involved with sawing it. Where toothy edges are supposed to perform better.

[@lukeverlennich7992]

I found your channel and taking your tips for sharpening I was finally able to get my bench made 940 in m4 to a hair whittling sharp blade for the first time ever! Thank you!

[@MFD00MTR33]

Whittling a hair requires a sharp edge, technique and a bit of luck. So many times i end up just cutting through it as soon as the edge touches it. I haven't used 0.1 micron much (or anything finer even though I have 0.025 micron). I get same results with 0.5 micron Hand American spray on balsa wood or 3M micropore medical tape on wood. Great stropping surface because its cheap, easy to replace and has great feedback and feel. I love your close up shots, best I've seen on KZbin. Great video as always.

[@KendrasEdge757]

In the next video he sharpens to an extreme sharpness so sharp you can’t see the knife blade! PS where do you get all this hair to whittle….actually, don’t answer that lol Jokes aside, Good to see you loading for videos. Hope the health is improving and you figured things out for ya. Prayin for ya brother 🙏 Soli Deo Gloria~

[@cassking4079]

I’m a hair whittler by trade. This video has changed my life.

[@karikovacs3824]

Thanks!

[@OUTDOORS55]

Thanks my friend 🙏🙏

[@dayannahkali]

Now THAT is scary sharp. And free handing it too. GG man ! In the past, I was obsessed with absolute sharpness, but lately I realized whatever the sharpness or the steel, the absolute apex only last for a few cuts, so now, I am only looking for shaving sharp, it is quicker and I am happy. Or at least I try to be. I may add a lot of steels do better with a rough edge in the long time and keep aggressivity for so long, and that is something.

[@BryonLee]

This man would be good at anything because he makes sure he understands and applies the understanding. He must have constantly monitored himself, constantly strive for excellence, constantly paid attention, constantly had a corrective mechanism and a good attitude internally. What's very important is to try to understand these basics of who he is and how he approaches things. It's his mindset, his process that produces the results I don't give a damn where he is or what he's doing he's going to want to be skillful everywhere. From one ( skill, branch of knowledge, discipline) learn all. This is just an opinion from a psychopath with bad grammar.

[@lindafoxwood9091]

I was watching this video, and I made many knifes sharp from the last video I commented on. You ran a knife on your arm to see what hair would remove! I did the same. My Kabar that I fixed like you said. Well? I have no hair now. Wow.

[@Nebulax123]

If you would like to try this without buying all the strops and pastes on a budget you can get 3M Micro Lapping film for around 20 bucks for an eight and a half by eleven inch sheet down to 0.3 microns. It has a pressure sensitive backing on it and I mount it on a piece of glass shelf that I have. You can get smaller sizes for even less.

[@charlesaderholt9906]

U r the most awesome sharpener I've ever seen! U and Neeves!!! Love the kids, thank u!!! 💯

[@oceanwaves83]

I believe I was the first to suggest this video idea! Love it! Stay sharp 🔪

[@duuuude3208]

You don't have to be a psychopath but it helps ! Thanks for the new hobby of hair whittling, i had no idea it would be so much fun !

[@darkenblade986]

1/10 of a micron is pretty psycho bro 😂 great video!

[@chrisscott7148]

I wonder what some of your blades would score on the BESS tester, would be interesting to see. Keep up the great videos!

[@glockgaston2922]

Great video Alex. Thanks for all the really good information and thanks for the amazing video work and extreme closeups at the edge. Thanks for sharing

[@tombrown4683]

Amazing sharpness ! You are the sharpening guru ! Hope you are doing well & staying healthy.

[@_jocker_games_]

01:20 it's 1200 grid on fepa-f scale, Wich is 3±0,5 microns or 4000 jis.

[@Goochgravysuppliers]

Dude, this helped so much I already had the Dimond compound. Got my maxmet to double whittling. It kinda feels insane when whittling hair.

[@alessiotraverso9201]

Mi sembra quasi fantascienza...la nitidezza del filo è pura arte. Grande Alex sei un ottimo punto di riferimento e un ottimo divulgatore di contenuti sull'affilatura a mano libera. Complimenti spero che le tue condizioni di salute siano in miglioramento. Un caro saluto dell'Italia 👋 👋 👋

[@dante7228]

A firm, steady hand is the most important skill imo

[@josephgonzales9649]

I can't wait to get some of your compound. Hope it comes out soon!

[@harrisquicksilver6595]

U have just reached michael christy level of sharpening! Awesome job

[@crisnevin7934]

Oh! You're going to start selling your compound again? That's great! I don't have to worry about finding top quality stuff!

[@miketyler2513]

I once heard that the sharpest edge can only be one atom at the top of the apex. It seems that you are very close to what I can only imagine .

[@ARAW-__-]

Incredible stropping on leather macro footage

[@lindafoxwood9091]

i know I just posted a comment. Your sharpening skills are a Treasure!!! God loves you. ❤‍🩹

[@Malchus13]

Well done you got some skill with your angle control. I never liked an oversharp blade though, the sharper they are the quicker they dull.

[@kitanisthe]

Thanks, I use the same stone and a progression of 6 micron, 3 micron, and 1 micron strops based on Black Beard Projects recipe.. I believe this makes the blades plenty sharp for me.. recipie

[@mh4392]

Stropping on pure leather with no compound at all should work as well? I do that, and have a Bess meter. The lowest I’ve ever gotten is 29, usually 40-50 on good steel, and 70 is kinda my standard result.

[@therogers4432]

Another amazing video Alex 😊👍 I'd never need a knife to be this sharp, and I don't own any supersteel blades, but my OCD makes me crave this level of expertise. Not looking forward to weeks/months/years of sleepless nights 🥺 while I get there, but that's just the price I guess I'm gonna have to pay... 🙄 Huge respect and admiration for your skill and dedication from the UK 💪😃🇬🇧

[@seekyunbounded9273]

I appreciate the inflax of new videos from you, i am only surprised that there still something you can make video about

[@KnowArt]

cool stuff. I wonder if a jig would be of any benefit, instead of freehanding this

[@FollowTheJohn]

You have mad skills. I can never achieve these results.

[@1988p911]

What would you consider the most key aspect of sharpening to "hair whittling sharp" (assuming the blade is adequate steel)? Based on my sharpening experience, I feel like the stropping at the end is or may be THE key. Watching a lot of your videos, and combining that with my experiences sharpening, it seems like 1 you are able to get hair whittling sharp using just about any "stone" and just about any blade (except really bad stuff) as long as you finish with a good diamond stropping compound and 2 you are able to get hair whittling sharp whether you use a 300, 1000, or 5000 grit stone last as long as you strop afterwards. I've been able to get "shaving" sharp with some pressure against the skin for quite a while. Last Christmas, I got a cheap strop from Amazon with the included cheap green wax stropping compound, and it made a huge difference to how sharp my stuff gets (knives, chisels, plane blades, etc..). I no longer have to apply pressure to shave. My next purchase is going to be some of the stropping compound that you recommend to see if that pushes my sharpening to the next level.

[@jeremyburris4890]

You make it look so easy. I've used a KME for awhile but I want to try freehand sharpening again. I doubt I'll ever get edges like this though.

[@balazsgyorgy6913]

Great stuff as always Alex! Would you be able to do a sharpening video for convex edges using a bench stone?

[@wjalp]

Yoo this is really cool! Keep it up!

[@Morpheus3301]

For those who think that this level of sharpness can be activated only with expensive equipment... You can also do it with the work sharp field sharpener and 7$ diy diamond spray...

[@jds653q]

I would be curious to know what the Bess reading on that would be.

[@JakeSnake-208]

Everything alright? Haven’t seen any new content lately. Love the channel and have learned a lot. 👌👊🏼

[@manjitahzan9577]

I have reached the level of hair whittling sharp, but still not the double hair whittling. From this video I think my problem lies with the stropping technique. I used to apply quite a pressure when using the strop and maybe that changed the blade alignment.

[@vano__]

its 1:30 am... my body is not gonna like it

[@TheRealName7]

It's 3am for me

[@OUTDOORS55]

Lol

[@legendkillerbass01]

It's exactly 1:30 am for me

[@vano__]

@legendkillerbass01 what a match

[@disaster2048]

Good day sir! Have you ever sharpened a regular 440c to hairwhittling?

[@luciusirving5926]

You would need to start with alumina or diamond then finish with an Arkansas. That or a Japanese waterstone. Carborundum or silicon carbide is very messy. Leaving slurry all over the place. Designed for soft metals.

[@pvtcantrell74d]

I’m a land surveyor in KY can you do a video on the best way to sharpen a machete? It would make my life infinitely better. Thanks for all of the videos!

[@kenwienken1396]

Great video young man.

[@metern]

I want to see if it's possible to get a dubble hair whittling edge on an pice of Obsidian 😁.

[@dionpage7948]

impressive edge brother!!

[@stevep7608]

I’m terrible at sharpening, which is funny for a knife-maker, but was finally able to whittle a hair using AEB-L.

[@rafybassilious8390]

Your sharpening keeps getting more extreme!

[@steve_j_grundon]

Super video, as always. 😀

[@EDC_IWB]

Ever since i started on my journey with outdoor55, my wifes hair brush is always clean... 🔪😂

[@Not_So_Weird_in_Austin]

You always learn more with your channel

[@peterlai9018]

Holy cow, that's sharp. Even at that magnification I can still see micro chippings.

[@blankskater1]

I wish i could pay you for an in-person lesson to help me get better. Lol

[@adamsheppard3480]

Watching you try to hold the hair just right is very relatable lol.

[@amosbackstrom5366]

Is that a dick joke? If not, it might have been lost in the weeds...

[@OkieDokieSmokie]

“Babe! Come here so I can pluck some more of your hairs for my youtube videos!” 😂

[@Will7981]

I doubt there is a more skilled free hand knife sharpener on YT, than Outdoors55 here. He has honed his skills to a razor edge…👌🏻

[@OUTDOORS55]

Im not that good. There are far better sharpeners than myself. I just have better camera equipment 😉

[@Will7981]

@@OUTDOORS55 Haha. Well, I still stick with my opinion. I think you are. I’ve watched a lot of YT sharpeners.

[@joelsy8164]

It would be cool to see analysis of Feather DE blades. This brand of DE blade is considered the sharpest in the wet shaving community.

[@jackscuncio5684]

Been following your stuff and learning a ton. My kitchen knives all thank you. Think we could get a video for a straight razor, I feel given the crazy apex they have it might be slightly different and would love your take on it.

[@tamasstanitz]

Great pics again, thanks. Irrelevant question: is it possible to sharpen a serrated knife?

[@tbirdsdign]

Thank you. Can you suggest a nice stone to sharpen my pocket knives please? Or do I need two stones? If you could suggest any items I need please? I don’t mind spending extra money to get good quality. Thank you.

[@richardmather1906]

He links above to the Sharpal 8" x 3" dual sided (325/1200) diamond stone. Sells for $69 bucks. Its what he is using at the beginning of this video. He has a whole video for it. Lots of us have bought it because of that video. It is all the stones a non-hobbyist would need. (I just sharpen my kitchen knives and one pocket knife.)

[@thedarkwolf25]

This is just nuts, I'm new and just trying to get to shaving sharp lol

[@Valk69]

What do you think of sharpening systems like Lansky Diamond etc? Seems easier to hold a correct angle.

[@camerongunn7906]

Dear Lord man! The Edge looks like glass. I would like to see a close-up of an actual piece of glass. Something tells me this is smoother.

[@taiiiz3969]

Not to make you spend more money for a future video still but how does stropping to a finer grit compare to sharpening on a higher grit stone? I know people take straight edge razors to 20k but after seeing this is it at all necessary? Do the micro serrations you show at the end scratch the skin for shaving?

[@格温德琳野兔]

I don't know where you found that hair picture, the "scales" go in the other direction. From the root to the end, exactly like a palm trunk. Which is why, the easy direction is as you said, from the tip to root, as the knife can catch into these "scales"

[@_GOD_HAND_]

Can you explain when you would go with the Sharpal over the Shaptons you recommended previously? Are the Shaptons for softer steels? Thank you for researching this stuff.

[@LovesM855A1]

To the horizon of sharpness

[@philochristos]

That's crazy sharp.

[@tungstenseabass]

Glad to hear I don’t need to be a psychopath! Failing at sharpening has driven me crazy many times though…

[@jdrew500]

Very interesting. It reminds me of an old movie about the Crusades. A negotiation was going on between a Muslim leader and a Christian leader. The Muslim touted that the Christians showed him the strength of his arm not the sharpness of his sword. The Muslim proceeded to throw, what looked like, a thin silk scarf in the air and let it fall across the blade of his sword where in it parted into 2 pieces. Great scene.

[@benwinter2420]

Decades back hunting north Oz old man a Finn & we , through his mates got hold of this Finn brand of knife which apparently had an insert at cutting edge super razor sharp & hard & rest normal knife steel . . always scary sharp , a rather large normal looking knife nothing weird going on in shape with a crimson oval in profile wood handle , can't recall its brand

[@takleung7130]

Excellent info! Are you using a microscope for the edge shots or macro lenses?