Lately I have been using a 40X loupe to check the bevel during the honing progression and to make sure I don't see any reflection of light on the edge and once I finish a razor I use a 60x-100x microscope perpendicular to the edge to make sure it is smooth and no chips or imperfections that I don't want to see. Well I made the mistake of checking a razor that was one of the first razors I honed. It was before I got my current finishers, the microscope or my current techniques and it looked awful. Looked like a hacksaw blade. It was honed to 8k and 30 laps on my PHIG without slurry. I couldn't believe it because it is one of my best shavers. I decided to shave with it to see how it shaved thinking maybe I needed to touch it up and to my surprise it shaved flawlessly, but I still couldn't get over how that edge looked so I decided to go back to the stones. I am scared to even use the microscope to look at some of my other razors that I first honed, but most of the razors after that one I started to work more on my finishers. Wish I never used it. Heres hoping it just looked like that after continued use. I am liking the looks of my current edges, but they don't seem to shave any better than this razor. I am really glad I don't use anything higher 100x.