Whats Your favorite cheap knife sharpener? My favorite $20 diamond stone I actually use → amzn.to/3U3IYlv As an amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I bought this with my own money, NOT sponsored. I am free to link to anything I want.

@JohnEdwa

Ай бұрын

Basically the entire country of Finland swears by the Fiskars rollsharp knife sharpener. Would be interesting to know how that works, it uses a ceramic roller stone thingy.

@samueljackson856

Ай бұрын

Lol i love your videos. You're funny af

@RADIOACTIVEMASCULINITY

Ай бұрын

I’d be curious to see what you think of the selectool sharpener. I’ve had good luck with it

@timwagster9458

Ай бұрын

I have the Smith's Tri-hone. It has served me well for years. I need to make some strops now because I never thought about the burr. I just used light passes on the fine stone to remove it. Planning to order the Sharpal as soon as I save enough $. Have wanted some diamond stones for years but until now they were so expensive. Do you have a code for your referal? 😁

@SOLDIER_OF_GOD777

Ай бұрын

I don’t know about cheep but I bought a worksharp hand held that has 2 diamond plates adjustable ceramic round bar with a built on strop and I can put a empty toilet paper roll on the table and slice into it from the side on an angle without touching the roll and complete the cut like it was butter. It’s a great addition to a back pack or camping gear as well and has a built in 20 degree guide as well. Great small investment for someone with bad eyes that can’t seem to keep the same angle on a regular flat stone 🫠

“This is knife sharpening. We’re not splitting atoms here” - we’re splitting hairs.😅❣️

@daemon1143

Ай бұрын

well maybe if we got it really really sharp, and tried it on an extra big soft atom...

@mcbrite

Ай бұрын

@@daemon1143 Obsidian Blade for the win! I heard that edge can be down to a single atom thin!

@daemon1143

Ай бұрын

@@mcbrite they can be made by pressure flaking to one molecule which, from memory, is about 42 angstrom. However, you can get the same performance from ordinary soda glass like coke bottles etc, if you learn the pressure flaking technique. Surgical obsidian scalpels are made by laser oblation and this gives a more even blade, but doesn't make it any sharper.

@Frankie_Fish

Ай бұрын

We're separating atoms.😅

@dontcarejustwatchvid

Ай бұрын

This was a beautiful ending.

I love that you can pick up a random brick off the side of the road and it will still sharpen better than a $10 pull-through sharpener

@robertlawson8572

Ай бұрын

In my home town, the ground floor window sills were all hollowed out from years of having been used for knife sharpening. The upper storey sills? Not so much, if at all...

@dchall8

Ай бұрын

Where's the close up video of brick sharpening? We wanna see how the brick works.

@OUTDOORS55

Ай бұрын

@@dchall8 theres close ups of the brick edge in the video. I forgot to label them on the side by side but it should be easy to tell when listening to the voice over 🙂

@dchall8

Ай бұрын

@@OUTDOORS55 Sorry, I went through it twice more and can't find an ultra closeup of the brick sharpening. I'm thinking of a shot showing removal of blade material like you have with the blade pulling through the carbide. I'm an engineer (oh, God, not another one), and we learned about making tools with carbide treated steel in school. I never used that knowledge again, but the carbide pull through sharpeners always seemed like a pretty good tool. Thank you so much for the explanation of why they are not. I have a lot of sharpeners to throw away, now, and one or two to buy.

@DieCastoms

Ай бұрын

the bottom ring of a ceramic coffee cup will work even better than the brick, if there's a spot of exposed ceramic that is not glazed.

I don't care about knives too much, but I love macro photography. Your work is truly some of the best. Holding the contact points with in such a thin DoF and adding slo-mo, so amazing... You are under appriciated as an artist.

@OUTDOORS55

Ай бұрын

Thank you I appreciated that! It's definitely challenging to say the least. Working on it everyday and still have a lot to learn. Thanks again 🙏

@bmthfan1231

3 күн бұрын

99% of the images were blurry as fuck?

I used a pull through knife sharpener recommended by American Test Kitchen for about 3 years. I stopped shortly after it started chipping the edge off my chef knife. They are garbage. The diamond steel I have now is so much better. I appreciate the videos you made that changed my perspective.

@Djuntas

20 күн бұрын

well i love my cheap ikea one. works on all knifes. its stone still good after 5 years

@tannerl5607

15 күн бұрын

That's what I use too and it's great​@@Djuntas

Baffles me how you just keep getting better and more detailed closeups, at this point I wouldn't be surprised if I see a video titled "Physicists, You're Splitting Atoms Wrong". Great video!

@OUTDOORS55

Ай бұрын

Thanks! My close up video and picture set up is super capable but requires a lot of practice to use. So as I get better i am able to use higher magnification as well as some video shots. 👍

@georgedunkelberg5004

Ай бұрын

@@OUTDOORS55 APPRECIATED, AND MY LUCK OF BIRTH TIMING TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET AS IT IS.

This... Is just a FANTASTIC video! Your editing and composition skills have almost caught up with your knife making and sharpening skills... Your sense of humor while correcting your doubters still reigns supreme though.

@OUTDOORS55

Ай бұрын

Thanks my friend 🙏

@orangetruckman

Ай бұрын

OldTantoGuy-well said!

@Jonathan.D

Ай бұрын

​@@OUTDOORS55You can explain, give proof, and explain even more. However, those who think a pull through sharpener is awesome will never understand. Your videos are just great! Your humor always cracks me up. Keep up the great work!

@alvaroperalta8455

Ай бұрын

Incredible video. Thank you very much. Should be mandatory watching for every knife user.

@ARAW-__-

Ай бұрын

You put it perfectly 👌

It amazes me how some people are simply unable to hear the truth and are unwilling to accept that they unfortunately weren't aware of the big picture behind knife sharpening. The fact that you back up every theory that you bring up and they still can't accept it... it's just mind-boggling. 🤦‍♂🤷‍♂ Amazing work, as always!!!

@roninvictor

Ай бұрын

Plenty of stupid people in the world

@ExtantFrodo2

24 күн бұрын

You haven't spent much time talking to creationists.

@the_expidition427

7 күн бұрын

Or any other rigid type mutants either

@lukegoffkat

6 күн бұрын

He still didn't show us the right way to use a pull-through sharpener and get a good edge. Click bait. That said, I love the micro photography.

@burn64

5 күн бұрын

Brother in Christ, some people don't even want to hear the truth about themselves... Lol crazy world we live in at the moment!

Not only did I get to watch an expert dunk on "experts" without being rude or condescending, but also gained a new interest, learned something new, and got to see some really cool macro photography. W vid.

@lucas23453

5 күн бұрын

I respect your profile picture, the reference is understood.

You know what will happen next: Some will think you recommend sharpening with a brick, the meme will spread and pretty soon bricks will cost $200 a piece. Thanks a lot!

@heni63

Ай бұрын

😂

@mhzprayer

Ай бұрын

And all those reviews will be piling up on Amazon saying IT DOESNT DO ANYTHING!!

@Kregorius

Ай бұрын

Nooo, not the bricks on Amazon graze again.

@e.t.preppin7084

Ай бұрын

SHARPEN WITH ( THE BRICK ) the new innovation in sharpening. Available only at OUTDOOR 55. That’s OUTDOOR 55. Get yours today while supplies last. 29.99 + shipping. Again that’s THE BRICK @ OUTDOOR 55. 😂😂😂. Alex could make fortunes. Free pet rock travel sharpener with every order. I should have sent this to Alex

@GamingtTeeVee

Ай бұрын

That would be the Supreme Brick

Once again: I'm still admiring your macro skills

@OUTDOORS55

Ай бұрын

Working on it🙏

@ruolbu

Ай бұрын

Working IT rather!

@ARAW-__-

Ай бұрын

It shows ! Footage is on a whole new level 😮

@kimball4699

Ай бұрын

Im admiring his patience to debunk silly myths more tho. The amount of time needed to explain something in this way is insane vs the time it takes for ppl to come up with silly/wrong information!

@bearbrawnson717

Ай бұрын

@@OUTDOORS55 You've improved by lightyears, before i couldnt make out what the hell I was looking at, now I'm just mesmerized.

Those that don't understand why the blade is viewed under a microscope can have their entire brain viewed under a microscope. Love that you have patience with these "smart" people. Thanks for the content!

Thank you for finally showing us why and how a knife is properly sharpened. With your explaination i only now at 30 years old understamd how to sharpen my blades correctly

@theseventhammer

9 күн бұрын

The thing is even an incorrectly sharpened blade will cut a tomato better than a dull blade This is why pull through sharpeners are used. 99% of people want something that helps cut their food better not something that is sharpened "correctly" So pull through is 100% fine as it gets the intended result even if it is wrong

"in layman's terms this means it's not doing anything"

@clandestinetactical

Ай бұрын

Lmfao 🤣 I lost it there …. Ugh pull through sharpeners are trash 🗑️ Unless you get the WorkSharp disc - pull through sharpener

@gregmccormack5709

Ай бұрын

😂😂😂

@richardsalinetrojr1957

Ай бұрын

Ya, it is in a way. It's destroying your blade.

Literally no channel but yours manages to get such nice and clean shots of what's actually happening to a knife when it's being sharpened. Your videos are an invaluable resource, thanks for sharing all your knowledge so freely and putting in so much effort to do so

I love the detail of the macro shots. It really shows what's happening where it counts.

"Do not try and cut the paper; that's impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth… there is no paper. Then you'll see that it is not the knife that cuts; it is only yourself."

IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING

@j.d.5262

Ай бұрын

IT DOESN'T DO ANYTH

You make a point my metalworking and technical drawing teacher made nearly six decades ago, in that the striations caused by sharpening a tool (knife in this case) ought to be parallel to the direction of travel of the cutting tool, perpendicular to the cutting edge, and that the "micro serrations" that arose were beneficial. Milling cutters sharpened on a surface grinder, with striations running parallel to the cutting edge will blunt quicker, too...

@reaganharder1480

Ай бұрын

In another one of his videos he did talk about the edge retention of horizontal scratch patterns too.

One of the most important things that I learned about knife sharpness it that it's not about what it's going to cut but about what it should NOT be cutting. It makes easier to do first aid and subsequent medical treatment to a wound that suffered a sharp cut than it is to a wound that suffered a dull cut.

This man’s footage is absolutely stunning

Enhance...enhance...enhance... EXTREME CLOSE UP! We're not worthy! We're not worthy! Listening to you break it down and watching your camera work is too damn good. Impressive work Sir.

Your macro shots are something else

@EnlightenedSavage

Ай бұрын

You mean micro

Awesome video! The detailed analysis and abundant closeup views are amazing. Nicely done!

The only guy talking about such a serious topic in a funny way

Yess, I love these technical detailed vids that clear up confusion!

@OUTDOORS55

Ай бұрын

Im always confused 🙂

Love the slight cut off before finishing "It doesn't do any..." You're awesome, thanks for all this information you find out

I really appreciate the content here. Like a lot of things that I get into; I can't remember how I got started. Here, I am reminded that I once saw a discussion on pull through sharpeners that started me on free hand sharpening. Thanks for the clips. It's hard to understand, at first, what happens on an edge. Knowing how it works and on what sort of scale has been very helpful to me.

Your sense of humor really cracks me up, great video!

You captured some beautiful close ups in this one. Your retorts to the haters were funny too

Very professional reviews I like how you throw in some humor. Plus using magnification that's going above and beyond, keep up the good work.

Another thoroughly enjoyable, edu-muh-cational video endeavor. The micrographic details of what's actually happening are fascinating. Oh, and thanks for your sense of humor. I needed that.

@OUTDOORS55

Ай бұрын

Thanks my friend 🙏

Great photography!

Very thorough, very clearly explained, and very helpful. Thank you

Oh my, I loved literally everything in this video!

You not only provide great explanations, but incredible and breath-taking macro shots. Outstanding quality. About the scratch pattern, in the same manner the roof tiles of a house has that pattern is because it gives it its strength. Same as in the edge of a knife, having a good uniform scratch pattern is important because of that.

Thank you for documenting your slow descent in to madness, it has entertained many of us.

Love the closeup footage. Really nice! And the whole video was great overall

Glad to see your sense of humor is alive and well!

I got the Sharpal on your recommendation and its transformed a few of my problems steels, thanks. Stuff like Rex 121 that i could never get really sharp despite forming burrs etc are now screaming sharp. The angle guide really helps while I'm learning too. Well worth the money.

@alfredopampanga9356

Ай бұрын

Do you diamonds strop after coming off your Sharpal stone?

@rbreiff73

Ай бұрын

@alfredopampanga9356 yes on 3 micron for burr removal then 1 micron to finish. Lightest pressure possible as per Mike Stewarts' (Bark River) recommendations.

@alfredopampanga9356

Ай бұрын

@@rbreiff73 Thanks for your reply. But my question was what grit do you use BEFORE moving to stropping ? 1000 grit? 2000? 8000 grit?

@MegaBuster777

Ай бұрын

@@alfredopampanga9356 I'm not them, but in my personal experience I don't really ever bother going up from 1000 grit to strop, but I'm just using my knives for to much to justify going higher. To give you a better answer though to your question on their finishing grits, 3 micron is 8,000 and 1 micron is 14,000 grit. They finish with 14,000 before stropping by the sounds of it.

@alfredopampanga9356

Ай бұрын

@@MegaBuster777 Thanks. Very helpful. If I understand you correctly you’re saying you sharpen with 1000 grit and don’t strop ?

One of the best video explaining what sharp means. Thank you so much. I finally made use of my cheap sharpening whetstones. I’ll get a new one once I outgrow them. Thank you so much for the video.

Man I have been on a BINGE of all your videos as of lately. Awesome content and I've made recent purchases of the shapton stones based off of your reviews and using your links. It'd be really cool to see you dive into or make videos on sharpening larger items too like machetes and ax and explaining whether or not "sharp" is the true goal for these types. As always love the great work

Fantastic video in any aspect. I now see my pull through sharpener differently and will probably use my sharpening stone more often from now on instead of the pull through. Thanks for all the interesting information and the wonderful makro scenes.

Some of that closeup work is legendary 7:12 is superb churrss mate!

@4saken404

Ай бұрын

I could watch stuff like 8:33 all day. That could be a whole thing. Kind of like ASMR videos.

@qutube100

Ай бұрын

@@4saken404 Yep me too its like when someone peels the film off of a screen of some sort sooo satisfying!

You are getting better and better in close-ups. Good work!

great point to the scratch pattern. makes the use of strops even more important as the refine the edge to be essentially perpendicular to the edge

You are awesome my internet friend! Thanks for all of your productions and test results.

I like how they said you need to get a life. To you know, the dude who makes youtube videos that thousands of people enjoy and learn from. Wonder what they bring to the table, or how many people they make happy or entertain on a weekly basis.

@Lucklaran

Ай бұрын

Not being a d*ck, but you do realize there are a multitude of ways to contribute to society that DO NOT involve youtube. For instance, all the fine people that work so hard to provide you with the power you use to watch these videos and make comments on them? The unappreciated individuals that design the devices you watch them on? I could go on and on, but I hope you get the point.

You have earned your way into notifications being turned on to 'All'. Keep up the good work and debunking myths.

Thanks for doing these. That was really cool to watch and informative.

Its so nice to see the cut on your hand while talking about sharp knifes 😊

Dude you should make a video of "if you can sharpen a knife decently with a river rock", or some other common easily found on the ground rock. It would be interesting to see how sharp a rock you find on the ground can get a knife. And what it looks like under a microscope.

@Old_Sailor85

Ай бұрын

Yes, some people can use a rock. Some can even use a pull-through sharpener.

@ganjalfcreamcorn8438

Ай бұрын

@@Old_Sailor85 we know lol. we want him to make a video like that though. make the brick or a rock the star of the show. i use a rock to sharpen my flooring chopper a few times a month. any flat rock off the ground is fine. then i dont have to remove the blade fully.

@TheShizzlemop

Ай бұрын

rocks are great for sharpening, its one way people used to/still do it. i dont know the details, but rock composition and shape are really all that matter.

@VashStarwind

Ай бұрын

@@TheShizzlemop Yeah I agree. Depends on the rock, but it just would be interesting to see in macro, and i also think it would make a great video.

@Kyle-sr6jm

Ай бұрын

Bottom of ceramic cup, a piece of sandpaper, the edge of a piece of glass (car window), cement steps...the world is full of knife sharpeners.

The constant “ It DOESN’T DOO ANYTHINNG” 😂

Great close ups, wow! Thanks!

WE LOVE THE MICROSCOPIC VIEWS

Well, there ya go. Even a brick is better than a pull through sharpener and the brick is actually a multi tasker. Just think of all the other things that you can do with a brick. + Many of us already have a brick HA HA HA!😃

Great work! One of your best videos. The quality of info was tops and will be helpful to educate the naysayers.

@OUTDOORS55

Ай бұрын

🙏👊

Unbelievable footage dude! The close up on the cutting was ace!

There were some awesome cutting shots in this video, great job!

Watching the edge go through the "sharpener" reminds me of my work as a planer operator. For 7 years I ran a planer making switch points, crossings and frogs for the railroad companies. What an amazing experience watching steel shavings curl and turn cobalt blue. The shavings came off so hot they would nake 30 weight oil burst into flames. 😄😂🤣 Thank you for you videos and don't let the negative folks get to you. I hope your health is improving. 👍🙏❤🤗😁

@krazmokramer

Ай бұрын

The Santa Fe RR had a shop in my town that made switch points, crossings and frogs, too.

@timwagster9458

Ай бұрын

@@krazmokramer we had a few contracts for Santa-Fe RR. Most were for Burlington Northern (later combined to BNSF) and ConRail. We lost Illinois Central due to management's promised delivery dates. Many thousands of miles of tracks are the same but managed by different companies. It has been 29 years and I can still picture the blueprints, machine set-ups, measurements and angles.

@jasonmartin1668

Ай бұрын

So, was that light pressure or heavy pressure? 🤣🤣🤣

@timwagster9458

Ай бұрын

@@jasonmartin1668 😄😂🤣 OMGosh! That was Super Heavy Pressure to shave 1/32 X 3 inch steel. Those machine kept me amazed the whole time I operated them. 👍😁

Dude, some of those shots are just too epic😅 Loved this video (like almost all of yours)

@OUTDOORS55

Ай бұрын

Thanks I appreciate the support 🙏

please stop torturing knives on camera

@mattmarzula

Ай бұрын

He does it so others don't.

@mrsquidly6395

Ай бұрын

I'm going to go torture some knives now.

@kamurashev

Ай бұрын

😂

@abbe6100

Ай бұрын

I agree, do it right like the rest of us, in the privacy of our homes!

@SebaTheHut

Ай бұрын

Knives are people too 😢

I enjoyed this one, thanks!

Thank you very much for this video, it really opened my eyes to how important and useful the correct sharpening is. Especially the close-ups were amazing.

Thank you for these videos. I love expanding my knowledge about knives. Now I can be even more of a knife snob than I already am

Man! I love all of your videos, and have been a fan of your for years! Keep up the amazing work man!

Now that's not fair... You somehow found the world's flattest brick

Amazing macro videos! Thanks for using facts and humor to educate on the truth of pull through sharpeners.

Wow, what an amazing and informative video! Thanks so much!

I was never really happy with my pull through sharpener so I bought a Work Sharp thanks to your videos, and after only a couple uses I can say its a big difference.

@OUTDOORS55

Ай бұрын

Hey great to hear!

I spent a few hours last night trying to cut a cake with some jokes (my wife says I have razor sharp wit. Always with a 'tone', but she still says it), but the cake remained uncut. Tonight, I shall apply more pressure in my attempt to cut the cake by employing sarcasm. If this doesn't work, I may starve. I am taking your advice. Don't let me down 😂

@theKashConnoisseur

Ай бұрын

The key is to eat the entire cake hands-free, starting in the center.

I really like your sense of humor. Right on.

Excellent and informative video. It is fascinating to see the cutting edge(s) microscopically close as they do their work. Thank you for videoing this.

Could you do a test with a Sharpensbest sharpener? Like this test?

Super cool closeup shots ! Do you think would it be possible to include the magnification or some sort of scale on these shots ? I think it woulde be great to better put them in perspective.

@OUTDOORS55

Ай бұрын

Unfortunately I cant really scale them super accurately, since my optical microscope camera set up, and range of magnification optics isnt rated on the same system as traditional microscopes. Plus every image (and video) is processed through photoshop and video editing software so everything is cropped slightly, or a lot, depending on image and optics used.

Great video - great close-up photography! Confirms my suspicions about pull-through sharpeners! Nice work!

What an awesome video... The amount of time you put into your editing style and these camera shots is captivating. Keep it up mister.

Whats up broski!? Hope your doing better man!

Yes. The clif stamp brick sharpen. Yeeeah buddy. Good technique makes huge differences there though. His video basically was that. Good technique can make a huge difference regardless of how expensive your sharpening tools are. But better to start with decent stuff and learn. Vs trying to use these gimick sharpeners

i have to say, this is amazing video footage! keep up the awesome work!

I have watched a lot of your videos over the years, very good and useful stuff, and this one got me subscribed lol have a great day.

I'll take the brick thank you.

Excellent video. You' a great instructor!

Those close-up shots of the sharpening are really neat!

I bet he's paid from band-aid industy trying to force us to sharpen our knifes

@lucas23453

5 күн бұрын

If they did that, Band-Aid would run out of business, a dull knife is always more dangerous than a sharp one.

*iT dOeSnT dO aNyThInG* 🤣

These cutting close ups are so satisfying

Thank you so much, at least someone shows and tells you that it is hard to strip it. But this is the best way

I can't believe you had to explain a bunch of really elementary ideas because there are adults, who've gone through school, who still cannot grasp these concepts...

@teabearchurchill5600

14 күн бұрын

They do not, in fact, teach knife sharpening in school. Not even in High School.

@levonnathan9081

14 күн бұрын

*will not* grasp these concepts...

@blake7124

14 күн бұрын

I missed every single knife sharpening classes in school sorry

@SuperSharpboy

13 күн бұрын

@@teabearchurchill5600 If you feel like you need specialized classes on knife sharpening to understand how varying application of pressure could mean deterioration, or lack thereof, of different materials, I'm not exactly sure if you've ever been to school at all (not you the person I'm replying to, just making a general statement. Apologies if it sounds offensive). These are things we're all taught in physics classes.

@atlast2323

12 күн бұрын

The comments about not having attended knife sharpening classes speaks volumes about their own intelligence skills. Did they attend classes to use their phone? I wonder what mechanisms they employed to accomplish that task without attending formal training? This low level of intellectual engagement is emblematic of a particular political party’s persona today that has thrust its backwardness onto our country. A country that at one time used to reward intellectual engagement instead of denigrating it. Americas intellectual standing worldwide has placed itself outside of the top 20 countries. America has the best educational institutions globally. But if you notice, the student population is increasingly more non-citizen and the result shows right here.

sorry to say that, but my pull through from lansky do work very well! 😅

@patrickgorham4269

Ай бұрын

YES, finally someone else that knows how to use one, I use the Blade Medic, I have MANY different pull throughs and they are basically trash, been using the blade medic for oh,,, about fifteen years, can you get it hair whittling, no, but sharp enough to fillet your fingerprints off, how many how much sharper do you need a knife for everyday use, I just last night put a lengthy comment on this very video explaining how to use and for some reason it didn't show up, figures. I explained that I understand about the micro abrasions and these guys are insanely amazing at what they do BUT the right pull through used the right way works and I can carry it without obstruction in my front pocket, try that with the WORK SHARP FIELD SHARPENER, just takes practice and patience to learn like anything else. Stay safe and God bless.

Man those are some beautiful shots. Well done!

Great video photography. You have really come a long way. Keep up the good work.

In the UK, we can be arrested if our knives are too sharp and they have to be taken by the Ministry of Defence to be destroyed.

@boiledelephant

10 күн бұрын

I know you're half joking but my policeman mate literally had to explain to me that sharpening something more than it was sharpened when new is actually 'adapting' an improvised weapon and places a higher presumption of guilt/malicious intent on us if we're stopped carrying it in public. Amazing country to live in.

@centauri9458

5 күн бұрын

In the US we carry firearms, and use our knives to cut apples

@markkieran1004

5 күн бұрын

@centauri9458 Our knives could possibly cut butter but only on a warm day.

!!! Maybe you are splitting Atoms !! Or are you just pushing them apart ??

Love the close ups shots, great video, cheers :)

I like the explanation of the scratch patterns. The microscope videos are also very interesting! I have tried some macro photography before and it was a lot harder to do than I thought.

Fantastic photography.

I have one of these for garden tools like shears loppers and machetes. Good tool for that stuff

Always found the sandstone backdoor step works for me !!!

Found your channel looking for tips on sharpening. I keep watching because of the cool shots and good humour.