[Mike in TN]

I have encountered a peculiar situation and wondered if anyone else has experienced anything similar. On several occasions I have put a final pristine edge on carving tools, tested them against wood, oiled them, placed some them into tool rolls (of different materials) or left loose (in racks) and then into the tool boxes where I store them. Invariably upon retrieving them (normally after about a couple of weeks or so), still oiled and with no evidence of rust or physical damage, the edges just don’t cut as well as they originally did. After simple honing/stropping the edges are restored to the original condition. This seems to happen regardless of the tool type or manufacturer, or age of the tool.

I don’t believe my standards change while the tools are stored and, again, there is no visible evidence of anything affecting the edge. I assume this situation applies to other highly sharpened tools but I haven’t noticed it with any of my other tools yet.

Anyone else every experienced this phenomena and does anyone have any guess as to what is going on? I considered that there might be a minute amount of corrosion, or perhaps the ghost of a previous owner might be sneaking them out for a little work.

Topic

[Mark]

#2032942

Hone or Strop Burr from Edge of Sharpened Tool

When a tool is sharpened, a fine burr forms on the edge.  If you test the tool on wood before removing the burr, it will dull the edge with the burr.  Even light use will cause this to happen.  If you are not already doing so, after sharpening the tool, remove the burr by stropping or honing with a slip stone.

[Mike in TN]

#2032943

Hi Mark,

I always hone my newly sharpened tools either by using a leather, flat MDF charged with honing compound, and or a powered honing wheel (one of several designed for different circumstances). So when I place the tools into storage they are SUPER sharp. “Razor sharp” is the lowest level of sharpness I generally tolerate in most of my edged tools when I begin to use them. The issue is with tools requiring the best of edges such as carving tools and some of my bench chisels that don’t see regular use. They can be stored with the sweetest of edges and two or three weeks later have an edge that is noticeably worse, still sharp but not as good as it was. A few seconds of honing is all it takes and I am back in business. I just find it odd that the edge degrades on it’s own. I have about decided that there it is the result of microscopic oxidation, even though there is no visible rust and the tools are oiled. I just wondered if anyone else in the group has had a similar experience.

Have fun

 

[Author]

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