Thread: Microscope for honing

Originally Posted by Euclid440

So, I’m learning to drive and just got my first, new car… Do I have to look out the windshield, all the time, or just when I hear a crunching sound?

To the OP, photos would help advise you.

Sorry , is this in reference to my post? and either way what do u mean ..thanks

Originally Posted by JOB15

Scope or not if my blade isn't perfectly flat, which non are , I need a rolling x to set my bevel and to polish .
The scope is really helpful with tiny bevels on full hollows, 1/4 hollow I can see with my naked eye.

Need to? You dont need to do anything. You could just remove steel. I choose to roll if I think the razor would look shit after correctly setting the bevel. It's a choice, I dont need to do it.
Any rolling by definition is not setting the bevel. This is working around a problem.

Originally Posted by bluesman7

Is this what you're calling a warped razor?
Attachment 209931

Nope. If your not being humorous, I will explain myself

Originally Posted by Deckard

Any rolling by definition is not setting the bevel. This is working around a problem.

Huh? Is a smile a problem?

Originally Posted by Deckard

Nope. If your not being humorous, I will explain myself

No need to explain. I meant it to point out that a rolling stroke is the only way to hone a smile and that a rolling stroke is not just a way to work around setting a proper bevel on warped razors. Are you now saying that there is no way to set a bevel on a smile? If so, we have a very different idea of what constitutes a set bevel.

We will have to beg to differ. I'm not against rolling x I use it myself. I don't believe it is necessary to roll on a smiler either not unless the spine is straight in relation to it. A razor is not a knife. The bevel includes the hone wear on the spine.

Respectfully
Joe

Originally Posted by Deckard

We will have to beg to differ.

Fair enough.

Respectfully
Victor

Originally Posted by Deckard

Need to? You dont need to do anything. You could just remove steel. I choose to roll if I think the razor would look shit after correctly setting the bevel. It's a choice, I dont need to do it.
Any rolling by definition is not setting the bevel. This is working around a problem.

So anything other than honing down the edge and the spine flat to set the bevel is technically not setting the bevel.
That's not exactly common knowledge.

Originally Posted by JOB15

So anything other than honing down the edge and the spine flat to set the bevel is technically not setting the bevel.
That's not exactly common knowledge.

I'm not saying I'm right. There is no right and wrong about it. I'm just trying to be helpful to the gentleman's original question.
If I set a bevel (which has to be done with an untapped spine by the way) and a tiny bit of the heel doesn't clean up, do I consider that set? for all practical purposes yes as the bit I'm shaving on is set. Even if I shave on the unset bit it probably would be OK, These things are academic it doesn't matter. Would I consider it technically set? No.
Sometimes to take off to much steel would ruin the geometry and make the shaver nonviable and or ugly so I wont do it. Sometimes part of the bevel cleans up but not on the other side.
How do I know all these things? because I look which is why I recommend using a microscope. You will learn more and become a better honer even without looking eventually (that's where the skill comes into this).
It is simply my experience that most honing issues arise around bevels not being properly set, not all issues. This may not be others experience. I'm merely trying put my answer in the context of the original question.

Joe

Ps to Chet: Make sure your hones are lapped reasonably flat

You don’t need magnification, if you can see that both bevels are fully meeting in a straight edge, from heel to toe and that all chips are removed.

Of course you need to look at the bevel and edge, with some magnification. Otherwise how would you know? Granted if you honed razors all day, every day, you probably get good enough to know when that is, without looking, but that generally is not the novice honer.

Magnification is not that expensive, why would you not use it?

I see everything I need (want) to see through my 10x loupe.