Why get hung up?

Why get hung up on microscopic images or level of polish on an edge?

When I was new to sharpening I was easily impressed by the results given by sharpening stones that provided a mirror polish with no scratches when inspected under the microscope. Over time I came to realize that some of these stones weren't as good as I thought and also that a  mirror polish doesn't mean the knife cut better. I was hung up on chasing a flawed concept promoted by people who lacked working knowledge or who were selling goods. Once I let this notion go I was freed to chase a better cutting longer lasting edge. Yes a polished edge can correlate to a sharp edge but it doesn't mean the edge provided is the best for the task at hand and it certainly says nothing for longevity or strength.


Why get hung up on grit rating numbers?

When I was new to sharpening I would seek out the highest level grit available in honing compounds like diamond, cubic boron nitride, silicon carbides, etc. I was easily tricked by the marketing hype, and forum BS, that a higher grit number meant a higher quality cutting edge, this was wrong. I've learned that many of these compounds are valuable to us sharpeners however many make for shorter lived edges and even very poor edges. I've learned that shopping for the highest grit level is a flawed concept as the results have shown that I can, in many cases, get better longer lasting edges from lower grit rated compounds. In fact you must consider each type of compound at each grit rating level as a potential for being better or worse than one another as it's not always a safe bet or wise purchase to go with the finest grit available as you'll likely be buying a lesser edge for your knives. 

In my time as a professional knife sharpener I've taken great lengths to ensure that I have the very best combination of abrasive products at my disposal and this had led to extensive edge testing. In doing so I've found many items and combination of items to not work nearly as well as I would have thought they would. I've learned some expensive lessons over time and with this knowledge I bring to you the suggestion to not get too hung up on these things.