Thread: kasumi question

Originally Posted by sloanwinters

once i start working up a kasumi edge, i find it difficult to see refinement under magnification. synthetic is easy to watch the previous stones scratches be removed, but with jnats/nagura i eventually reach a 'limit' in what i can see. i definitely see the kasumi get tighter and cleaner but eventually i reach a limit on what i can 'see'. even after using a number of finishing stones/nagura. purhaps the edge gets softer/brighter but i cant tell for sure any more. and i dont know if the next nagura is actually improving the edge, or walking it back.

besides the obvious - shaving - is there any other way to tell if an edge is being improved?

Sounds like you're looking at the bevel & not the edge ?
If you have a good loupe & light source, daylight is best I find, you can manipulate the viewing angle on the edge & see if you have a complete bevel, a burr or microchips. To look for improvement at the edge you are looking for no or little reflection at any angle. Stropping or even a few strokes on plain water may alter that picture but I'm talking off a slurry. Of course some kind of calibrated hair cutting test helps at end game to see if you should proceed to the shave test.