Polishing is actually pretty decent exercise

[bermuda_chub]

After a 3.5ish hour session, I glanced at my Apple watch and was shocked to see that I had burned almost 1K active calories! The reason? My heartbeat, which is usually in the low 60s resting rate, was around 110-115 for almost the entire window. I try to polish for an entire song before taking a quick break, but other than that, I put no thought into it. Felt like others might appreciate that there is a health benefit to this hobby.

 

[Just a DK]

After a 3.5ish hour session, I glanced at my Apple watch and was shocked to see that I had burned almost 1K active calories! The reason? My heartbeat, which is usually in the low 60s resting rate, was around 110-115 for almost the entire window. I try to polish for an entire song before taking a quick break, but other than that, I put no thought into it. Felt like others might appreciate that there is a health benefit to this hobby.

Yeah I think I did that yesterday too… but than proceeded to boil a ramen and egg right after….

 

[jedy617]

Anyone else's back and neck kill after a polishing session?

@milangravier how do you do it for a living? Good shoes and posture?

 

[Dan-]

I’m more of an intervals guy. 30 minutes on, 30 days off

 

[aporigine]

After a 3.5ish hour session, I glanced at my Apple watch and was shocked to see that I had burned almost 1K active calories! The reason? My heartbeat, which is usually in the low 60s resting rate, was around 110-115 for almost the entire window. I try to polish for an entire song before taking a quick break, but other than that, I put no thought into it. Felt like others might appreciate that there is a health benefit to this hobby.

It might have to do with what and how loudly you’re singing.

 

[bermuda_chub]

Anyone else's back and neck kill after a polishing session?

@milangravier how do you do it for a living? Good shoes and posture?

Yes. I try to stretch a bit beforehand. I stand on a padded mat and try to keep an athletic posture. I keep the stone as close to my body as possible. Reaching is a killer.

 

[Frosty]

I've also found that getting your stone high enough that you're not slouching terribly is a big help. I've been trying to make sure my forearms are nearly parallel with the floor as I work on any given stone, and it's helped a ton.

 

[ethompson]

I've also found that getting your stone high enough that you're not slouching terribly is a big help. I've been trying to make sure my forearms are nearly parallel with the floor as I work on any given stone, and it's helped a ton.

This. I use a sink bridge and a stone holder to get the stone up so I can work in a neutral posture

 

[blokey]

My back can’t let me do more than one hour of polishing, but it is definitely a sweaty activity

 

[Chasingsharpness]

Exercise in frustration?

 

[stringer]

I don't polish. But I have reground many blades on stones. Cleavers are the worst. So heavy. But regardless. Two minutes grinding. Two minutes rest. I use a timer. Never for more than one hour at a time and never more than two hours per day. I'm more effective when I'm fresh. And I'm hard on my back and shoulders at work already. Knife grinding is my relaxation.

 

[ethompson]

Exercise in frustration?

Usually

 

[The Forest Ninja]

Polishing is almost like playing Snakes & Ladders.

Just when You think it's done You end up seeing scratches You missed 3 stones ago.

 

[milangravier]

Anyone else's back and neck kill after a polishing session?

@milangravier how do you do it for a living? Good shoes and posture?

Hey,
I have talked about it here : https://www.kitchenknifeforums.com/threads/hand-position-for-thinning.69342/post-1066311

Strechting and warming the body is important. Body position is most important : if you stand you need to stand well and straight, stone should not be in a position where you need to lower your body. Anti-fatigue carpet and often bare foot really helped me personnaly.

 

[ModRQC]

Hey,
I have talked about it here : https://www.kitchenknifeforums.com/threads/hand-position-for-thinning.69342/post-1066311

Strechting and warming the body is important. Body position is most important : if you stand you need to stand well and straight, stone should not be in a position where you need to lower your body. Anti-fatigue carpet and often bare foot really helped me personnaly.

I do not have anything close to your abilities but second this entirely. Getting stiff or pain in the back or shoulder indicates a bad posture but also the wrong part of the body is strained when it should not be so much.

Hunching is bad but another thing that’s bad IME is a stone too far below natural elbow level. It should be a back and forth only and not imply leveling down, which will happen when you’re going at the far end of the stone. You may not need to hunch so much but your arms will need to compensate and this hits the shoulders pretty fast. It will also force you to bend your head even lower which puts strain in neck and shoulder. One hour will be bad and more than two almost paralytic.

Just doing it « in the air » proves the point. Imagine something level to elbows, imagine looking at it and go back and forth, then imagine it six inches under elbow level and do the same.