Ok. I've tried a lot of practice, but it seems to work for some people, so it must be possible! I. right take a stone and run it across the cutting edge of the blade slightly. It is very, very sharp. A spare came with it. Good to,know about lateral curves. Once again, in the Amati video, a highly practiced presenter uses it on planks bent both round the bow and laterally to fit the sheer and it worked. Also, when I have used it, and it didnt snip through, the plnk didnt curve as it was pinched, which it does in the video demonstrations, but it did become quite malleable and easy to bend.