Thread: Microscopic photos of different edges YG Escher, Coticule, Translucent Arkie and more

Fisrt of all I would like to apologize for the quaulity of the Photos, I use a student type cheap german Microscop it's great and lightweight but it has a very premetive Camara on it


1. King 6k
Progression: King 1k > King 6k



2.Ardennes coticule selected
Progression: King 1k > King 6k > coticule ( Slurry to clear water )



3.Translucent Ark
Progression: King 1k > King 6k > Translucent Ark ( 250+ Laps with water)



4. New 30$ German Thuringain
Progression: King 1k > King 6k > Thuringain ( impressive for cheap underlooked hone ) ( Slurry to clear water )



5. Yellow Green Escher
Progression: King 1k > King 6k > Escher ( Slurry to clear water )

( The picture is reversed left to right, after taking the photo I realized that I have tilted the camera to the opposite angle so I have reversed it for better viewing )


If you can tolerate image quality, I can photograph B BG DB YG Eschers edges, SRD Droeschers Edges, LD LV Coticules, Jnats... and whatever stones I have.

all Photo are of the same razor a filarmonica, all are from the same angle, lighting, camara ( execpt the last photo ), and magnification power is X160.

Note that all photos are off the stones no stropping at all.

Happy honing

I know you were working with a control progression, but that is not a true representation of the Arkansas capabilities. It should be led into at least 10k level and use oil or another honing solution.

Originally Posted by kcb5150

I know you were working with a control progression, but that is not a true representation of the Arkansas capabilities. It should be led into at least 10k level and use oil or another honing solution.

True, I was working with controlled progression, and yes it has affected the dimensions of the translucent Arkansas capabilities... I consider this particular stone my finest finisher. Here is some photos I took using my phone camera for the edge its produce...
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Progression:
Coticule > Thuringain > Translucent Arkansas 500- laps

Using water gives a finer edge than smith honing solution, I have confirmed it myself under the microscope, even using smith honing solution after water will downgrade the edge. I planning the revisit this subject and compares Smith & Dans honing solution vs. Water in another thread later on.


Regards,

Get some plain glycerin, put 4 drops on the hone, water, rub and hone. Works great.

I rate a perfectly done trans ark edge above any thuringian edge, but it is a lot of effort to get there....

Water on a finely polished Ark is burnishing a lot more than with oil, that's why the finish looks so much better. Any stone that mostly burnishes will produce what appears to be a very near perfect mirror finish. I never use water on an Ark myself.

I would pretty much rate a well done Ark edge top of the heap personally. Other good stones can get pretty darn close - almost indistinguishable - but I think my very best edges have been Ark edges.

The only hone I have that soundly defeats it is my vosgienne, but I can't just buy another with identical properties ever so it kind of gets disqualified on those grounds. I still want to find one of the ultrafine charnleys just so I can compare, but they seem few and far between and importing hones that are usually over a foot long is too costly for unknowns...

Originally Posted by eKretz

Water on a finely polished Ark is burnishing a lot more than with oil, that's why the finish looks so much better. Any stone that mostly burnishes will produce what appears to be a very near perfect mirror finish. I never use water on an Ark myself.

I would pretty much rate a well done Ark edge top of the heap personally. Other good stones can get pretty darn close - almost indistinguishable - but I think my very best edges have been Ark edges.

Totally agree with you on the mirror edge of an Arkansas stone, but for me Escher hones are supreme finishers in term of speed, finesse and consistency.

Not all translucent Arkansas are the same, also depending on the steel of the razor Arkansas stones tend to chip the edge microscopiclly due to their hardness, while Eschers refine the edge to a very straight line even under 640x magnification power.

For me all the above edges are comfortable, but consider that I am a trimmer only not I full shaver.

I don't like thuringians with Sheffield steel too much. If I were forced to, I'd use a dark blue, but the softer ones are a really imperfect match imo. For speed, I like my La Lunes. They cut aggressively and you can get an edge a bit keener than a thuri.

Originally Posted by AljuwaiedAK

Totally agree with you on the mirror edge of an Arkansas stone, but for me Escher hones are supreme finishers in term of speed, finesse and consistency.

Not all translucent Arkansas are the same, also depending on the steel of the razor Arkansas stones tend to chip the edge microscopiclly due to their hardness, while Eschers refine the edge to a very straight line even under 640x magnification power.

For me all the above edges are comfortable, but consider that I am a trimmer only not I full shaver.

When I look at your edges, the trans ark (ignore the scratches) edge looks better than any of the other edges. I'm not surprised.

I haven't had any trouble with edge chipping on any razors, except on synthetic stones, no matter how many passes.