@Backyarddog
- Paper cutting knife is indeed more than sharp enough for kitchen use.
- Please research more about correct use of steel. Steels are meant to straighten a folding edge. Yes, it will rip off a burr too, but you do not want it to do that, because you want to thin out the burr during the sharpening process first. A large burr will rip off an edge with it.
- Not all steels are created equal. Modern manufacturers of steels try to make an all in one tool and make them somewhat abrasive. The finish, which these abrasive steels leave is very rough and will dull very fast.
- I have cut through paper with a knife straight off of 220 grit DMT plate, because the edge is very toothy and teeth themselves have very sharp edges. But guess what? Using a knife with an edge off 220 DMT plate will dull it in 10 minutes.
Look here at how edge properly develops: Sharpening Process
and look here for example of burr: Wire edge formed on a stainless
Steel would basically do what “cutting into wood” did on the pictures, but of course size of burr depends on final grit.