I just did my first edges with the mouse pad and finished with a strop. I probably shoud have used an Apex Pro. I am not up to doing belt sander yet as some of the pros on here- but maybe down the road. At any rate-I took the knives out to do some " mild" chopping and I dulled them pretty darn quick <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />. I am thinking I know what I did wrong- so back at it again <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif" alt="" />. Hey- at least I didn't mess them up on a sander <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />. That is why I don't have one yet-I should probably just send them to one of the Sharp Dawgs- but I am learning on some beaters as I don't want to mess up my good steel <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />. Thanks