Thread: Scratches left after final polishing

Hi all, still getting started in the world of straight razors after purchasing a double arrow razor from eBay. So far I have managed to set a nice even bevel on it and get a decent but fairly uncomfortable shave from it. The problem I am having with honing is that after I set the bevel with my 1k stone I can't remove the visible scratches although I can get the bevel to be very shiny albeit with scratches on it. I am using a 1k, 3k, 8k, 12k stone and 0.5 micron chromium oxide on balsa strop. The stones have been lapped with 1000 grit wet and dry on a plate of glass. I followed the video on youtube of lynn honing from start to finish but I am still left with visible scratches even after the 12k. Have also ordered a shave ready dovo so I can compare. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

Are these scratches close to the toe or heel? Are they all along the bevel? Are the right next to the cutting edge, or does the cutting edge appear shiny, and then you see visible scratches just before you get to the bevel shoulder before the hollows start??

Practice practice practice

It takes quite a bit of work on 4K to get rid of residual 1K scratches. I have plenty of blades that shave very nicely yet have minimal visible scratches even after 4K-8K-16K and 30K. I don't think it's a problem.

It sounds like your either your moving on to the next stone too quick, that's if your stroke is good. an uneven stroke can leave scratches. if thats the case your better dulling the edge and going back to the 1k to reset the bevel.

a 12k shouldn't leave any scratches or if there is, they're tiny scratches. See how it shaves and if it doesn't, you know you need to reset the bevel again.

good luck

Polishing really doesn't get rid of scratches. it just refines them and makes them smaller and lighter and harder to see. If you looked at some of the most precision mirrors ground for astronomical use and you use enough mag you will see scratches.

The whole bevel from heel to toe is evenly covered in scratches visible to the naked eye which look like they are from the 1k and I can't seem to remove them.

You'll have scratches. Once the bevel is set the higher grits begin to hone away the depth of the scratches and eliminate them as much as posssible on the edge. That's polishing, but you're not going to totally eliminate all the scratches from the bevel to basically have a mirror finish free of any scratch. Trying will bring you to over honing, wire edges, edge breakdown etc.. Here's a link to a thread with some closeups showing different stages and different grits. http://straightrazorpalace.com/advan...sses-pics.html
Hope it helps.

Regards,

Howard

If I may, What is a double arrow razor? It would seem you need to do more strokes in your upper pyramid if the scratches are from the 1000. If you use high magnification, there will be tons of scratching! After 12k the bevel should look like glass to the naked eye or 5X magnification, What hones are they? are you soaking them? Are they flat? It helps to know these things! Keep Working!

You will not remove the scratches completely so do not worry about that. As long as the honing and stropping are done properly you should get good shaves.
Practice will improve your skill.