Is It Normal Not to Feel a Burr from a 5000 Grit Stone?
Asked by CraftyChisel123
I'm using a set of 1000/5000 Shapton Kuromaku stones, which should be good quality. I consistently use a honing guide to maintain my angle throughout the process. However, I can only feel a solid burr after using the 1000 stone, but not after the 5000. I notice a nice shine on the bevel after using the 5000, but the burr feels almost nonexistent. Should I be worried about not feeling a burr at this grit level? Are my chisels just not cutting it, or am I doing something wrong?
Answers
The burr can be so fine at 5000 that it’s hard to detect sometimes. Many experienced sharpeners suggest that if you're getting a nice polish and your chisels cut well, then you’re doing great! Get a loupe if you want to inspect your work more closely and see those micro burrs!
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Yeah, it’s common not to notice a burr on finer stones, especially above 5K. If your chisels feel sharp after using the 1000, you can trust that the 5000 is just refining that edge. A good trick is to use a Sharpie to mark the edge; after a few strokes on the 5K, if the marker's gone, you’ve done your job!
DulledBladeDilemma: Thanks for the tip! I’ll definitely remember to use the Sharpie next time!
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You might not actually feel a burr at that grit level. Once you're polishing at such fine grits, the burr can be super tiny or even breaking off. I find it's more about the scratch pattern than feeling a burr, so if you see the polish improving, you're likely good to go!
SharpEdgeGuru: Totally agree. If you notice a better finish, you’re definitely on the right track!
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CuriousCarver: A loupe sounds interesting! I might grab one to check out my polishing progress.