Thread: Best help to honing.

I just wanted to shout out a big thank you to the person who first suggested to get a microscope for looking at the edge during honing. That cheap little Radio Shack purchase has made the biggest difference in my ability to know what is going on with my razors. I can now see why what I thought was sharp was giving me a painful shave and what the honemeister can do that I wasn't able to. All those tiny little chips that aren't even visible to the naked eye sure do make a difference.

If you don't own one, get one!

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2179604

Yes, in deed! Honing without a scope is sorta like driving without being able to see.

Originally Posted by Wildtim

I just wanted to shout out a big thank you to the person who first suggested to get a microscope for looking at the edge during honing. That cheap little Radio Shack purchase has made the biggest difference in my ability to know what is going on with my razors. I can now see why what I thought was sharp was giving me a painful shave and what the honemeister can do that I wasn't able to. All those tiny little chips that aren't even visible to the naked eye sure do make a difference.

If you don't own one, get one!

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Yes, in deed! Honing without a scope is sorta like driving without being able to see.

I didn't start honing well until I QUIT using the microscope . I've been pretty satisfied with my honing lately and haven't touched the microscope in about a year or more.

I tried some 25x eye loups, but didn't see anything with them and I've never gone the scope route. In contrast, my sensitivity to the Thumb Test has come a long way.

X

Other than actually shaving with a razor, which is the only test I recommend and utilize, the microscope is usually spot on in diagnosing a variety of problems when honing.

Enjoy!!

Lynn

What prompted this outpouring of affection was the particular honing problem I just recently solved. I had and E-bay razor that sharpened up just fine, except for two trouble spots, one was an obvious ding on the edge, but the other was invisible, and resistant to honing as all git out. I just couldn't effect this one area and didn't know why, it looked the same and felt the same to my thumb test, it was just a little area that pulled. I got a scope and low and behold there is a tiny spot of pitting and chipping right on the edge.

The problem would have been honed out eventually, but with the scope I knew to the pass when I had gotten past it and could concentrate on the business of getting a completely sharp edge on this razor. It saved me I don't know how many uncomfortable shave tests and trips back to the hone and it saved my razor some edge and probably some spine as I got the area out in one long taped session instead of ten little quick sessions I wouldn't have bothered taping for. If your thumb test is sensitive enough to find a 2mm section of micro-chipping on an otherwise shave ready blade, congratulations, but I am nowhere near there yet.