How to Create and Detect a Burr

Creating and detecting a burr is one of the most important steps in achieving a Wicked Edge on your knife. A burr—also known as a wire edge—is a small, raised ridge of metal that forms when you've sharpened all the way to the apex of the bevel. It's your assurance that your edge is truly sharp. The burr will always form on the opposite side of where you're sharpening.

What a Burr Looks Like

These cross-section diagrams help illustrate the difference between a dull and properly sharpened edge with a burr:

Cross-Section of a Sharp Knife (with a burr)

Cross-Section of a Dull Knife

Step-by-Step: Creating a Burr

1. Find your angle and sweet spot: Follow the steps in our guide to angle finding and sweet spot detection.
2. Color the bevel: Use a marker to color the edge. Do alternating strokes until the marker is fully removed—this ensures your bevels are even.
3. Use a coarse grit: Start with a 600 grit Diamond Stone (or coarser if you're doing heavy reprofiling). Do 10 strokes on one side of the blade only.
4. Check for a burr: Feel for a burr on the opposite side using:
   • Your fingernail: Drag it gently from spine to edge. It will catch at the apex if a burr is present.
   • A cotton swab: The fibers will catch on the burr.
5. Repeat on the other side: Do 10 strokes on the opposite side and check again. Alternate sides until you detect a burr across the entire length of the blade.

Tips for Better Burr Detection

• Be patient—some areas may require extra time or focused scrubbing motions to raise a burr.
• Never sharpen one side exclusively; this can lead to uneven bevels and reduce cutting performance.
• If no burr forms after a few rounds, drop to a coarser grit and try again.
• Once the burr is formed on the first side, it’s usually easier to draw it on the second side.

Video Walkthroughs

For a visual guide to burr formation and detection, watch the following Wicked Edge videos:

• Understanding Burrs
• How to Create a Burr

Quick Reference: When and How to Start

• First-time sharpening: Start with 600 grit unless damage or dullness requires a coarser stone.
• Touch-ups: Start with the last abrasive used, then drop lower if the burr won’t form easily.
• Stroke count: Alternate 10 strokes per side until a burr forms fully.

Even if you're using a different Wicked Edge sharpener than the one shown in the videos, the process remains the same across all models.

Learn more about burr formation and guided angle sharpening with Wicked Edge sharpeners on our blog.