Thread: Machinist's Ruler?

Is there a consensus among Ye Great and Famous Honers as to whether the flatness of a hone can effectively be checked by placing a known-quantity straightedge against the surface, and looking for any light that's leaking underneath? If a hone should pass that test, would some folks lap it all the same, just to be sure?

many thanks...

There are two reasons to lap a hone:
1) It is not flat
2) To expose new abrasive

Assuming the hone is cutting well, a good straightedge is fine for checking if the hone is dished, cupped, or twisted. However, if your razor is skating across the surface of the hone, even if it is dead flat, you may find its efficacy improved by a light lapping.

Just another data point,
Ed

Gotta agree with Ed on this one.