TF Wabi-Sabi

[bruce8088]

choil shot really only shows you the thickness at the heel itself - people tend to not spend enough time doing the heel or the tip usually when thinning - so I would really base it on actual cutting dense stuff like carrots or things that would tend to wedge knives.

just for reference here is my 240 denka stock ootb - probably only sharpened it 4 times micro bevel method so far since i've gotten it about 4 yrs ago in person at the shop. I don't really use gyutos these days but it's my go to over any other same length or longer gyuto I have.

 

[Rangen]

I am following this thread closely, all the more so because I have not messed with any of my TF knives yet, and I like seeing into the future.

What I can contribute is my ultimate wedging test, which is also a food release test: raw turnips.

Why would you cut, let alone buy, raw turnips? Because a really good Scotch Broth soup cannot be had without them.

 

[ian]

Was it a belt grinder you've been using with the 60 grit, @big_adventure?

Some photos...

Choil before then after:

View attachment 118387 View attachment 118388

Spine eased...

View attachment 118389

Side view, pre-work...

View attachment 118392

And the thinned and de-ku'ed final product...

View attachment 118391

I have to say, rounding spines is kind of a pain to do by hand, but is so utterly trivial on a belt. Was kinda surprised by the difference first time I tried.

 

[bruce8088]

I am following this thread closely, all the more so because I have not messed with any of my TF knives yet, and I like seeing into the future.

What I can contribute is my ultimate wedging test, which is also a food release test: raw turnips.

Why would you cut, let alone buy, raw turnips? Because a really good Scotch Broth soup cannot be had without them.

I find the ultimate wedge test is cutting lotus roots. Even slicing it can be a chore for 99% of all knives, let along halving or chunk cutting them.. however they are extremely good for hotpots as the fibrous nature of it helps cling on to soup broth and dipping sauce .

 

[Rangen]

I find the ultimate wedge test is cutting lotus roots. Even slicing it can be a chore for 99% of all knives, let along halving or chunk cutting them.. however they are extremely good for hotpots as the fibrous nature of it helps cling on to soup broth and dipping sauce .

All of this is true. I will suppress my jealousy about how you seem to have an easy time finding fresh lotus root, which I love, and just say this by way of trying to win this small competition: turnips are taller than lotus roots.

 

[bruce8088]

All of this is true. I will suppress my jealousy about how you seem to have an easy time finding fresh lotus root, which I love, and just say this by way of trying to win this small competition: turnips are taller than lotus roots.

it's pretty easy to get here in canada since we have a sizable chinese population - definitely not the case in other cities. and yes, turnips def could be taller and larger

 

[McMan]

Original (unthinned) choil shots from three Denka's posted in this thread.
Not trying to stir the pot or anything, just thought it was intersting to see:

 

[bruce8088]

here is another one of mine with the ootb geometry and then after i opened it up by going behind the edge - a 195mm ku maboroshi

ootb

after removing the stock micro bevel by going behind edge

and here is how wabi sabi or unwabi sabi it looks now

 

[nyc]

In all honesty, that looks like a bad thinning job. The shoulders have been taken back a bit but overall there’s only a small difference behind the edge. And the ku. Let’s not get into that. This is how you add more wabi sabi to a TF.

 

[bruce8088]

Original (unthinned) choil shots from three Denka's posted in this thread.
Not trying to stir the pot or anything, just thought it was intersting to see:
View attachment 118490

TF grind variations definitely all over the place but they are also extra accommodating when you reach out via email to pick or make you one that fits the grind you are looking for specifically - just be reasonable and not ask for caliper measurements every few mm down the geometry height wise and length wise.

 

[nyc]

To add to @bruce8088 ’s picture of his nicely thinned Denka, here’s mine. And the ku is 100% intact.

 

[bruce8088]

To add to @bruce8088 ’s picture of his nicely thinned Denka, here’s mine. And the ku is 100% intact. View attachment 118491

we gotta stop posting these so the prices don't keep going up

and.... i couldn't refuse posting my tf nakiri as well... @nyc

 

[nyc]

we gotta stop posting these so the prices don't keep going up

and.... i couldn't refuse posting my tf nakiri as well... @nyc

Now that’s what you call a proper thinning job.

 

[bruce8088]

Now that’s what you call a proper thinning job.

it's stock ootb though

now here is my tf nashiji petty that i did work abit more on - it came stock with an obvious shoulder which i removed via thinning just behind edge up to just abit beyond the core steel area.

 

[ModRQC]

Superb work!

Not too thin bte, but it cuts how I like it so I just left it as is.View attachment 118462

View attachment 118464View attachment 118463

 

[Rangen]

Starting to feel bad about doing no work on my TFs and loving them anyway...

 

[GorillaGrunt]

Here’s my Mab, get the Denka tomorrow if there’s no UPS issues.

I swear down one of these days I’m going to drop a knife trying to get the choil shot, I hope it’s not an expensive one.

 

[nakiriknaifuwaifu]

Heres my TF rectangle veggie death needle

 

[Rangen]

What happened to the balance in this thread? We need some TF haters! I agree with Bruce, this sort of one-sided talk will push the price up.

 

[Corradobrit1]

That's right. Stop uptalking TF's. Their grinds suck.
This was worked on by the master himself just for complete transparency. I've only touched up the edge on a high grit Jnat for the past 3 years.

 

[ModRQC]

TF are **** and all that...

Not saying I think so, but balance is of penultimate importance in a world without it.

What happened to the balance in this thread? We need some TF haters! I agree with Bruce, this sort of one-sided talk will push the price up.

 

[ModRQC]

Now I gotta say, as much as I find "them" TF "fanboys" so redundant and blind to the obvious truth of this maker demise...

that they're rather putting up a hell of an argument so far.

 

[nakiriknaifuwaifu]

SUCK MY D*** DIPPED IN SOY SAUCE YOU SONS OF B*CHES
IT'S TF GANG TILL I DIE





@ModRQC am i doing this balance thing right?

 

[Corradobrit1]

Page 13 needs to be stickied for anyone who is contemplating a dodgy TF. So much WINNING.

 

[ModRQC]

SUCK MY D*** DIPPED IN SOY SAUCE YOU SONS OF B*CHES
IT'S TF GANG TILL I DIE





@ModRQC am i doing this balance thing right?

Not counting my ears will ring forever, yes I think this was needed... there are a lot of other TF hate threads and in-passing lashes to cover up around here.

 

[ModRQC]

Sorry for not being into needles, but... for sakes of P.13:

Original (actual unit)

Convexed into...

 

[BillHanna]

i sold my macy’s backstage nordstrom’s rack ollie’s bargain outlet rose art crayon tf

 

[nakiriknaifuwaifu]

@BillHanna She's well...enough

Btw, KU was too fragile for tape so I didn't bother

Just keep thinning just keep thinning...

 

[bruce8088]

time to let page 13 go out with a loud bang

 

[nyc]

I was just chatting with @inzite (Ricky) who’s no longer on KKF. He said to me that people who can’t take their knives to stones properly shouldn’t buy TFs. Because they aren’t doing it justice. I thought it was so true that I decided to share it here.
And the truth is, TFs are “functionally perfectly fine” and can be left the way they are. Because they are intrinsically wicked cutters.