Thread: Scratches left after final polishing

Visible scratches aren't a big deal as long as everything else is done right.
If you really want to get rid of them, spend a lot more time at the 4K level, or get a stone in the neighborhood of 2k. Even then, you will still probably have some visible scratches. What's interesting is when you look under a microscope, as you go up in grits and especially with stropping - they become softer with a rounded profile even though they are still visible. IME visible scratches don't affect the shave quality.

Thanks for the replies, think I might just be worrying too much about the scratches and need to just stick at it so I can get that next level of sharpness and a more comfortable shave. Sharptonn, a double arrow is a chinese carbon steel razor and I think it may be the equivalent of a gold dollar. All my stones are flat and the ones that require soaking are being soaked. The stones are a 1k/3k tojiro, 8k naniwa superstone and a 12k chinese natrual. My process is to do 40 circles on the 1k, then 10 light strokes, 40 circles on the 3k, then 10 light strokes, 10 light strokes on 8k, 10 light strokes on 12k and then 10 light laps on 0.5 chromium oxide.

I'm probably in the minority here on this, but I don't much believe in looking through loupes and examining scratch marks. Initially I did it, but then decided it wasn't helping me much. It told me that my edge wasn't good but it couldn't improve my technique which is the only thing that will improve edges. Spending time constantly examining scratch patterns can actually be a distraction. Now I tend more towards simply relaxing and refining my technique and not worrying about anything else. That keeps me focused on little details of angle and pressure which is the foundation of good technique.

When I finish honing a razor, I pull a few hairs off my hair brush and see if the razor will pop them off cleanly and regularly. If one hair doesn't work, select a 2nd and 3rd hair. If none of them are cut cleanly, then it is back to honing with even more concentration on proper honing technique. Pretty simple really, but it always works for me and my technique just keeps getting better and better with practice. I've been working at my razor honing for lots of years now, and the more concentrated time I spend with my hone, the better my honing becomes.

Think I got the hang of it now, just had an awesome bbs shave on the sides of my face. This time I honed using extremely light pressure, less strokes on each hone and didn't worry about if there were scratches or not.

Originally Posted by AnthonyD

Think I got the hang of it now, just had an awesome bbs shave on the sides of my face. This time I honed using extremely light pressure, less strokes on each hone and didn't worry about if there were scratches or not.

superb, I used to look at the scratches left after each stage but now I listen to the feedback from the hone and how it travels over the surface and what it sounds like to know when to move on.

If your using heavy pressure your more likely to mess up your stroke especially if your using a narrower hone.

congrats on the edge