a quick and easy way to test your edge.

[The Spin Doctor]

If you happen to cut yourself with the tool you just sharpened... The time you bleed is a pretty good indicator of sharpness. Only bleed for a minute or so, you're sharpening needs serious improvement. Bleed for an hour, you and a sharpening wizard! YMMV

Clotting factors and blood thinners may skew your results


Yes, this is tongue and cheek, but it holds true.

I.e. If I cut myself with a Japanese saw, besides that it will hurt like buggery, it'll only bleed for less than a minute. Cut myself with a chisel off the buffer and I can bleed for easily an hour. Cutting appendages off though negates this observation...

[ErrolFlynn]

Some serious research might be required to validate your theory. Not only the location of the cut, depth, ambient air temperature, and gender might be relevant too. Some people are thick-skinned others not so much. Perhaps a call for volunteers is required.

[lovetoride]

Ahhh, I find that the sharper it is, the longer it takes to notice the cut. I usually notice blood on the wood/bench/shirt before I feel the pain.

Jane

[The Spin Doctor]

Ahhh, I find that the sharper it is, the longer it takes to notice the cut. I usually notice blood on the wood/bench/shirt before I feel the pain.

Jane

That's very true. Thankfully blood comes out in the wash or most of my shirts would be covered in blood.

[Pat]

If you don't feel the cut, then your edge is sharp!

DAMHIKT!

[The Spin Doctor]

If you don't feel the cut, then your edge is sharp!

DAMHIKT!

Sort of LOL. Friend had a real and new scalpel that I used to dig out a sliver. I was quite surprised at how easy it was to push and slice into skin and flesh and how deep it went . It was quite the sting it gave as it went. Went back to a relatively dull, though new and sharp, box cutter for the next dig.

[D.W.]

I read that at first as the chisel was bounced by the buffer and cut you!!

So far, I haven't found anyone injured by sharpening things on the buffer, but I can't really vouch for what happens after. the initial reaction to touting the use of the thing (which is already in widespread use buff stropping edges, and for carving tools, anyway) was "it's unsafe". when it catches the tip of a knife or something, presuming one isn't holding the knife by the blade - it feels really unseemly, but I think it feels worse than it is.

Years ago when using the buffer not to sharpen but to buff a straight razor that was really something I should've just dumped on ebay for a couple of bucks - I did have a catch that literally ripped half of the blade off of the straight razor via breakage.