Please explain what the “scary sharp” system is.
Michael Dresdner: It is a system of sharpening which uses a series of finer and finer sandpaper sheets affixed to a flat backing. Since sandpaper comes in all grits and is cheaper than stones, it is a very cost-effective way to get a complete array of sharpening surfaces. Many folks use glass as the backing: it is both inexpensive and dead flat. In most cases, you can simply wet the back of the sandpaper and it will hold fast to the glass, yet it is easy to peel off when you switch papers either to a finer grit, or to create a fresh surface. Unlike stones, this system will never go out of flat.
