How I hone and set my edge (a cheaters guide to setting the edge)

I occasionally use a loupe on a blade (usually a gouge, not a SR) to see what is going on with it when it doesn't "sound right" on the hone. You can learn a lot about your honing style doing it. Interpreting what you see is a whole other problem. I usually use the magic marker test first, though.
I do know honers that will sit and pour over the bevel with a microscope and do touch ups under the microscope. Maybe their blade cuts 1% better than mine, but is the time to achieve that 1% worth it? They think so, I do not.
After a few hundred hone sessions, you will start to know when the bevel is set by the sound and feel of the blade on the stone. Until then, I'd say do whatever you want/have to do to get the shave you want.

Geeez ,rough Crowd today,honing is not rocket science folks,Besides people charge to much to do it.
I have the tools,Look for my Ad in members Services,any Blade, 99 Cents.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3.../sparks001.jpg

I can see where you are coming from with your up and down hone idea, but even if the surfaces begin to look even this could just mean that the edge was hiting the hone uniformally and the bevel is not yet set. I've tried several tests but have settled on the razor across the back of a damp thumbnail. If it bites the bevel is set and as you slide the blade across the nail any spots where the bevel isn't set will slide.I'm still trying to get my head round how to tell if the scratches from the previous hone have been removed as I'm not sure how you tell which scratches have been made by which hone as they all run in the same direction. That's next on my list to concentrate on.

Lol that grinding wheel reminds me of a time I was in Turkey. There was a little old Turkish man in the market that was "sharpening" knives with one of them run off a small generator. The women were taking their kitchen knives to him. He would takes the knife and just let rip on the stone......sparks galore and no cooling in water for this chap ohhhh noooo sireee just lots of sparks and temper destroying heat. It still makes me cringe but I guess it was good for repeated business, he was there every week and no doubt doing the same knives for the same people as there is no way in hell that after he had his hands on them they would hold an edge :)

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Originally Posted by aa1192

They need to make a sarcasm font at some point lol

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In the past i think i have just typed "sarcasm font" or something similar, i have certainly brought up the same issue, now the question is, is pixels sarcasm being sarcasmed, or is it missed :)?

You guys are nutz!!! I only use a kitchen steel an I can literally take skin of my face. Lol [emoji12]

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

In the past i think i have just typed "sarcasm font" or something similar, i have certainly brought up the same issue, now the question is, is pixels sarcasm being sarcasmed, or is it missed :)?

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Mind blown!

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Originally Posted by criswilson10

I do know honers that will sit and pour over the bevel with a microscope and do touch ups under the microscope. Maybe their blade cuts 1% better than mine, but is the time to achieve that 1% worth it? They think so, I do not.

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Oh well.

Yes, I do sit while honing. I don't "pour [sic] over the bevel." It takes me all of maybe 5-10 seconds to check a bevel under the scope. No matter how the honing sounds or feels, both of which are valuable sources of feedback, the microscope is another invaluable tool to see the EXACT condition of the edge. Even after I hone as many razors as you may have, I will continue to make use of this tool when I evaluate razors and set bevels.

OP - you have found a method that works for you so use it for as long as you deem it necessary - like you I sometimes struggle to interpret what the loupe is divulging. As to those people who consider you can tell with a naked eye - they either have very superior sight or have never handled a razor with a very narrow bevel.

I don't understand why some posts are critical of going up the hones and back down again - this process is used all the time in a pyramid.