Thread: Visual Honing Checks That Don't Require Magnification

Someone asked me if I would put this together...

Here are a few visual checks you can do when honing, that don't need magnification. (these also work with magnification, and it can be easier to see the chips or pitting)


Pitting / microchips:

If you see this, you need to keep working at a low grit until it's all gone.

Small chip:

If it's only part of the way into the bevel, like this one, I just barely lift the spine off the hone and do japanese style strokes or circles until it's gone. If it's bigger I hold the spine up higher.
Once it's gone you need to set the bevel with the spine down.

Rotating the razor into a light source... This is one of the most important, IMO...
What it should look like: (the bevel goes dark)


Bevel not set: (there's a white strip at the edge when the rest of the bevel is dark)

If you see this, your bevel is not set. Don't try to convince yourself that it's a trick due to lighting. Your edge is reflecting light because you don't have a complete bevel. Keep working on your bevel setter, and the strip should keep getting smaller.

That would be a great addition in the honing section of the library,

http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...uide_to_Honing

or in this section,

http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...ochipped_bevel