Replies

1. 
   MarkRoderick | Mar 21, 2004 07:03pm | #1

   Two possibilities:

   1.  Take a thin slice from the end grain of a pine board. If the edge cuts cleanly and smoothly, it's sharp enough.

   2. Shave the hair off your arm. If it works, the edge is sharp. Warning: I've drawn blood many times.

2. 
   joinerswork | Mar 21, 2004 08:40pm | #2

   jacksa,

   Lots of different ways. 

   (1) See if it'll shave the hair off the back of your arm. (I quit this method after my wife told me how stupid a bald spot looked on the back of my arm)

   (2) GENTLY draw the edge across your thumbnail. Sharp edge will drag as it tries to cut, less than sharp will slide like it's on glass.  This gives me the creeps, like fingernails on a blackboard.

   (3)  Look directly at the edge under a strong light.  If you can see the edge as a shiny line, it's not sharp. A sharp edge thins down to nothing, you won't see it at all as there is nothing there to reflect light.

   (4) GENTLY rub the ball of your thumb across (NOT along!) the edge.  You'll feel it try to cut into the skin if it's sharp, less resistance will be felt from a dull blade as it slides across the skin.  Careful!!It's sharp!!

   (5)  Moe on the three stooges used this method.  Pull a hair out of Larry's head.  Lick it, and see if that double bitted ax is sharp by splitting the hair.  Check for rockwell hardness by bending the edge across Curly's skull.  (Caution don't try this method if you are not a professional...NUMBSKULL!)

   Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk,

   Ray

1. 
   UncleDunc | Mar 22, 2004 01:35am | #5

   >> (3) Look directly at the edge under a strong light. If you can see the edge as a shiny line, it's not sharp.

   My experience with this one is that it's only a negative indicator. If you can see the edge as a shiny line, it's not sharp. If you can't see the edge, maybe it's sharp or maybe you need new glasses or a brighter light or ...

1. 
   joinerswork | Mar 22, 2004 05:13am | #6

   Uncle,

   I've felt like I need both stronger glasses AND brighter lights, ever since I turned 50!  Like a friend told me the other day, just when the good Lord gives us the patience to do good work, He takes away our eyesight.

   Cheers,

   Ray

3. 
   SawdustSteve | Mar 21, 2004 09:19pm | #3

   I use the law of 'inverse proportion'. The law states that ..... the sharper the tool, the greater chance of it falling, sharp end down, onto a concrete surface.

   SawdustSteve

4. 
   YesMaam27577 | Mar 22, 2004 01:31am | #4

   If the cutting tool that you are asking about is a plane or a chisel, then I firmly agree with the other replies.

   On the other hand, if it's your bandsaw, table saw, or circular saw, then please don't try shaving your arm.

   Unless you're the lead dog, the view just never changes.

1. 
   bakesale1 | Mar 22, 2004 09:25pm | #8

   I love your tag line.

1. 
   YesMaam27577 | Mar 22, 2004 10:39pm | #9

    

   I love your tag line.

   .....the view just never changes.....

   I picked that one up when I lived in the north. Every few years, a group of dogsledders would stage a race somewhere near enough that I could go.

   And I once was lucky enough to find a small window sticker with that printed on it. Had it on my S-10 side window for a few years.

   Unless you're the lead dog, the view just never changes.

5. 
   robkelly | Mar 22, 2004 05:38am | #7

   They are sharp enough if they do the job without gouging, tearing, skipping or having to apply undue pressure. If the job is shaving hair off your arm, try it. If you're doing a hinge mortise, hair shaving is really irrevelant.