What's your standard for determining blade sharpness?

Thumbnail for a quick test along with printer paper and then that thermal receipt paper for the final...
 
I usually see how well it cuts either notebook or printer paper and call it serviceable if it easily cuts without snagging anywhere.
 
One of two ways for me to consider a blade sharp, first if it catches on my thumb nail and second a soft tomato. If it is sharp it will slice the through the skin of a soft tomato. I never sharpen my knives to shave hair as this will dull the knives faster if they are razor sharp. I use my knives for cutting boxes , ropes and such and normally use a medium coarse stone as my finishing stone as I want more of a microscopic serrated edge. For specialty knives and my kitchen knives I use finer grit stones and a leather strop for my finishing. The polish edge cuts easily through all vegetables and lessens the chance of cutting yourself.
 
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I bought my brother one of those for Christmas, he’s been a knife sharpening guru for decades now. He loves the thing, I knew he would, his knives were all between 100 & 300 when I gave it to him, his 2 main pocket knives were both below 200. Now he’s playing with different stones and such competing with himself.

If something shaves, it’s good enough for me. I use the little work sharp belt sander, which my brother calls cheating, but it sure is easy.
Once you get under 300 the blade will shave. It’s been interesting playing with. You will get a whole new understanding of what is sharp.
 
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