Thread: Scratch Patterns

Talk to me about scratches!

I have been working on perfecting the honing of my kami. I have no idea what kind of steel it is.

Anyway, off my 10 K Superstone, the scratches look super light. Off my Phig, way more pronounced. So much so, I thought I might go "back" to my 10K. But I didn't. What shocked me most was that after the same amount of running over crox and stropping, the scratches minimized to the same amount when finishing with either Phig or 10k.

I would have thought the more polished look coming off the ten K would have seen the scratches lessen even more then that of the Phigs considering where they both started from. But no.

This interested me so much, I tried it again. Same results. Hu!! Weird.

Now here's the kicker, though subjective, the shave off the Phig is smoother. Why?

I can only conclude that the more scratches seen after using the Phig was misleading in that they couldn't have been as deep as the 10k's - though after stropping, the blade looked identical... which would mean that the shaves should have been identical too!! No?

ARG!

I guess what I am asking is, can you guys tell how deep the scratches are at this stage using your loops? I can't . Moreover, I am no longer convinced I know what they mean?? Help!!

On a positive note!! I got my kami shaving like a champ!! Love it!!

Scratches/Striations

Honestly,,,, they only mean something to my eyes before the razor touches a strop, after stropping they mean nada to me

I agree with Glen. My PHIG will leave an almost mirror finish, but once I strop the razor I notice more scratches on the bevel. My barber hones will leave alot of scratches, but they are finer than my norton 8k which will leave a decent mirror finish. The only thing I look at now is if the bevel goes all the way to the edge and that the edge is nice and smooth. Don't get me wrong I make sure I remove the scratches from each previous grit, but once the razor is shave ready to my standards I try not to look at them. I used to get frustrated at seeing a mirror bevel all scratched up or not mirror anymore after I go to finishing stones. I find the mirror only lasts as long as the first shave. I got a NOS razor that was shave ready from the factory and it looked like it only hit a 1k stone, but shaved wonderfully. The edge is the important part.

The only scratches I worry about are the ones from my neighbors cat.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The only scratches I worry about are the ones from my neighbors cat.

Sorry - I don't have the whole honing terminology down . I got it after Glen mentioned it !!

Originally Posted by JSmith1983

The edge is the important part.

THIS !.

There is a technical relationship between scratch depth and the edge: other things being equal, if you have deep scratches on the bevel chances are you have a "fat" edge to support the thickness of those scratches or a "ragged" edge as a result of those scratches, or both; though the converse is not necessarily true of course (think polished turd).

But as others have said, it's a pretty poor diagnostic and lots of things can cloud the issue - things like the type of abrasive particulate and the shape of the scratch it leaves, and how that shape reflects light back to your eye. A sharp particulate like diamond chip may leave a "V" shaped scratch, whereas a more obtuse particulate might leave a flatter "U" shaped scratch, both at the same depth say. One may well look worse than the other under reflected light.

I dunno, that's just random thoughts. Sounds pretty good though, right?

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

There is a technical relationship between scratch depth and the edge: other things being equal, if you have deep scratches on the bevel chances are you have a "fat" edge to support the thickness of those scratches or a "ragged" edge as a result of those scratches, or both; though the converse is not necessarily true of course (think polished turd).

But as others have said, it's a pretty poor diagnostic and lots of things can cloud the issue - things like the type of abrasive particulate and the shape of the scratch it leaves, and how that shape reflects light back to your eye. A sharp particulate like diamond chip may leave a "V" shaped scratch, whereas a more obtuse particulate might leave a flatter "U" shaped scratch, both at the same depth say. One may well look worse than the other under reflected light.

I dunno, that's just random thoughts. Sounds pretty good though, right?

James.

Thanks man... that helps.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The only scratches I worry about are the ones from my neighbors cat.

What are you doing with your neighbors cat?? HHT!!!

You can pick up an inexpensive microscope if you want to look closer to your edge, but when it is all said and done it is the shave that counts.

Experiment with your finishing process, but always go with the satisfying shave.