Thread: Is This Over Honing

Originally Posted by Slurryer

Yesterday I had a look at one of my razors through a loupe, and noticed a few spots that looked like very very small chips. Through a 20X loupe, they were still very small (micro-chips maybe). I did 40 passes on a FeOx pasted webbing strop, wiped the blade down and then had another look through the loupe. I expected to see those micro-chips all gone. What I saw instead were more micro-chips than before. Could this be an example of over honing? My guess at what was happening was that the edge was already so thin that it was fragile and brittle. Has anyone else experienced this. As a fix I did 5 passes on CrOx and then just 5 on the FeOx. That left the edge looking much better. The razor gave a close shave with very little irritation, but the slightest bit of pull. Any recommendations on using FeOx? Can you visually see over honing through a 20X loupe?

You were most likely looking at a different part of the edge, that just happened to have more chips. You can mark a spot with a Sharpie to find the same spot in the scope. This will make your comparison a bit more accurate.

Did you just take if from the hone before stropping? I certainly hope is was a bad section of steel.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I regularly use two microscopes. Should I make an appointment with a therapist?

If you use one for each eye and are hoping for stereo, then yes an appointment may be warranted.