Reply by Bill White

Sharpening has become almost a cult. Exotic oils, stones, diamonds, edges to 4 decimal points, storage in hermetically controled environments, blah, blah.
My advice is to find a method that will give ya an edge that will catch the old fingernail.
Sure, I strop after honing on a waterstone. I can promise you that there is a point of diminishing return.
Kinda like having the tablesaw set to within .0005” and whining ‘cause it isn’t closer.
Do you think that the old masters carried the “chore” of sharpening to some rediculous and infinite point?
NOT!!! They got it sharp and went back to work.
My comments are only a balance point, not a subjective criticism.
There! I feel better.
Bill

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