Thread: Perfect edge

I have just purchased a pocket microscope. Could someone please tell me what a perfect edge should look like?

Regards Alan

Microscopes are mainly used for detecting certain problem conditions like microchipping, wire edges, and bad bevels.

Originally Posted by Webro

I have just purchased a pocket microscope. Could someone please tell me what a perfect edge should look like?

Regards Alan

Hi Alan,

Another new member recently asked a similar question. It is very important to learn to judge the feel of your razors edge as opposed to the look.

Scott

Scott is correct, The feel is much more important, as you collect more razors and put them into your collection, you will find that each one is different. Each one has it's own personality. Feel is much more accurate.
Phil

Phil has a point about Scott's point

My limited experience tells me that once I learned how to perform the thumb pad test with accuracy, I have been able to better maintain the edge. The result is that I can't even find my microscope anymore.

I'm learning that feeling is much more necessary (in razors at least).

Take some time and search for thumb pad and thumb nail tests. The former is used to test the edge after stropping, the latter is to test the edge after honing.

Alan,

This thread has some good descriptions of what an edge should look like.

A microscope is a very useful diagnostic tool when you're learning to hone. Once you figure it out, there are better ways to assess an edge.

Good luck,
Josh

The question should be not what a perfect edge looks like but what a perfect edge shaves like. An edge may look perfect under the scope but may in fact be a terrible shaver but once it hits your beard you'll know instantly if its perfect.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The question should be not what a perfect edge looks like but what a perfect edge shaves like. An edge may look perfect under the scope but may in fact be a terrible shaver but once it hits your beard you'll know instantly if its perfect.

No those words are real pearls of wisdom...

Not sure if they are still there (I can't log in to the Yahoo SRP forum from work) but if you go to the yahoo groups straightrazorplace I think there are still some pictures in there of honed and stropped edges, compared to edges of a DE blade, and various magnifications. It was a great help to me; I agree that an edge that looks nice may or may not shave like it, but one that looks rough under magnification will almost ALWAYS not shave well....
Here's a link to the yahoo SRP (where we came from!)
Hope this helps. I would have given a link right to the pictures, but I can't even look for them myself right now...
John P.