Zero BESS reading Baloney?

[RickKrung]

...snip...
Watching their technique, I don't see any slicing going on, just a straight push cut, but this still seems suspect to me. ...snip...

I hesitate to give this more air, but...  I had not looked at the video until now. 

One think I can say it the speed at which they push the knife onto the test media is WAY too fast.  It should be slow, deliberate.  I don't know how that might affect the sampling capability of the unit, but I can say it is bogus just due to the speed.  That and IF they have the media stretched really tight, lower readings are possible, but zero is silly to think real.

Rick

[HaioPaio]

I have visited their website http://www.burrbenders.com and could not find such zero Bess claim there.
Non of the videos presented at the website shows zero Bess readings.
However, they show contact information and I feel it would be fair to ask them directly.

[sharpening_weasel]

Talked with the guy- he says that the BESS scale would round down if it reads under .5. I still find this number to be troubling- he states he uses a freehanded belt system.

[3D Anvil]

I was testing a knife yesterday and decided to check the effect of speed on the BESS tester. 

Results, using fulcrum in both cases:
slow test (3-4 seconds): 80g
fast test  (<1s): 25g

The BESS tester is a fantastic tool for improving honing technique, but only if you consistently use it the right way.  Same goes for comparing the results with other sharpeners.

Hans from Schleif Junkies sells a device he invented to ensure accurate, repeatable results.  It's kind of pricey, though.  I can get very repeatable results using the Edge on Up recommended method.  In addition, I think it helps to look straight-down on the media holder while doing the test to ensure that the blade is centered and perpendicular to the media.  My "B" model measures to the nearest 5g, and I consistently get repeatable results within that 5g margin 9/10 times.

[sharpening_weasel]

The fellow insists he's following protocols, and mentioned that he's been in correspondence with the BESS team as well. Interesting.

[3D Anvil]

He's definitely NOT following the procedure recommended by Edge on Up.  He doesn't use the fulcrum (which isn't critical), and he's doing the test way too fast, which is critical.  I can regularly score in the 10-25g range if I do the test the way he's doing it.  Valid readings would be in the 45-80g range.