How Do You Know When You Have Raised a Burr?
Sep 27, 2026
You have raised a burr when a tiny lip of metal can be detected along the opposite side of the edge after sharpening one side.
Why does a burr form?
As abrasion reaches the apex, a small amount of steel can bend over to the opposite side.
How do you feel it safely?
Move a fingertip very lightly from the blade face toward the edge, never along the edge. A burr may feel like a slight catch or wire.
Check the full edge
Heel, middle and tip should all show evidence that the apex has been reached before you move on.
Does the burr need to be large?
No. A small consistent burr is enough. Chasing a large burr wastes steel and can make deburring harder.
What if you cannot feel one?
You may not yet have reached the apex, or the burr may be extremely small. Check your angle, marker pattern and progress before increasing pressure.
What comes next?
Sharpen the other side, then reduce and remove the burr with progressively lighter strokes.
