Thread: took a look at my edge w/microscope

Ouch:

I have 2 problems that I see.

1. I have a small area that curves inward
2. I have a small v-shaped ding from where I mistakenly hit the faucet.

I say small but it looks large under 60x

Do I get a 4000/8000 Norton and go to work on it? How?

I prefer taping the spine and using 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper to work out any nicks. You could do it with the Norton, but why torture yourself?

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

I prefer taping the spine and using 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper to work out any nicks. You could do it with the Norton, but why torture yourself?

Can you give me a little more detail? I've not done this before so I'm not sure how to do it.

1) Protect the spine with electrical tape.
2) Get a flat surface wet (for this I use a 12x12" flat granite tile, but the kitchen countertop should be ok for rough work)
3) Get a sheet of 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper wet on both sides
4) Place the sand paper on top of the flat surface
5) Do 10 circular strokes on one side of the blade, then 10 circular strokes on the other. You can do 20/20 or 30/30 if the nick is really large, but you want to try to keep the circular honing as even as possible.
6) Once the nick disappears, I usually do 10-20 honing motion trips along the sand paper, rinse the blade and take it to the Norton.

Ilija, thanks for the instructions. I don't have a Norton as yet so after I get the nick out, can I use a my pasted paddle (I have 3, 1, and .5 micron sides) or should I go and get the Norton for this?

I'd either get the Norton or the bottom 2 from http://w-u.com/wucatresults.htm?snum=26375. Norton will work faster and leave you with a bit finer edge. In any case do not use the 3 micron once you finish honing with either of the two 8k options. 8k is a bit finer than 3 microns.

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

I'd either get the Norton or the bottom 2 from http://w-u.com/wucatresults.htm?snum=26375. Norton will work faster and leave you with a bit finer edge. In any case do not use the 3 micron once you finish honing with either of the two 8k options. 8k is a bit finer than 3 microns.

Ilija:

Those SunTigers look like wedges, shouldn't they be flat??

When you place one on top of the other, you get a level surface. That's the way I used'em (on top of a wet plastic cutting board). Someone else used them in his hand but one on top of the other and placed on a plastic cutting board is what got me started.

Certainly more affordable right now than the Norton. I think my local woodworking shop has them. So I get the sandpaper thing for the nicks, now I should use the 4k stone first and then the 8k in a pyramid, right? Any suggestions for how many strokes on each?

By the way, many thanks for the advice. I'd be totally lost if I had to figure this out all by my lonesome.

Yes you do a standard pyramid. I just did it the way it was described in the pyramid for Nortons article several times over until I'd finally get the blade shave ready. On a bad note, I only learned about the benefits of sandpaper AFTER I got the Norton. It's extra helpful with these slow-cutting stones because once you already have a bevel established and/or cleaned up, you've done lion's share of the honing work.