Thread: Checking the Bevel: Magic Marker Test

Simple question: After taping the spine and highlighting the bevel with magic marker, on what surface should I make the 1-2 passes, in order to reveal if/where the bevel needs work?

My reasoning tells me to use the highest-grit finishing stone in my arsenal (a lapped Spyderco UF), rather than a 1|2|4|8K surface.

I could be wrong (I was wrong once before).

If setting the bevel, which is when the marker test should be done, I'd do the test on the 1k. While it is true that the 1k is slightly less flat because it has larger sized grit particles, it's still plenty flat enough for this test.

That makes two of us. If I am using the magic marker, I’m trying to get my stroke figure out on a razor with less than perfect geometry. I do not use it for periodic bevel setting anymore. It can certainly make a good contrast to show you what is missing.

Originally Posted by RezDog

That makes two of us. If I am using the magic marker, I’m trying to get my stroke figure out on a razor with less than perfect geometry. I do not use it for periodic bevel setting anymore. It can certainly make a good contrast to show you what is missing.

Exactly! (and what I failed to communicate in my original post; thank you!)

Truth is that most/all of my razors were acquired in various stages of shave-readiness, and my honing efforts were confined to "correctional" activities on Norton 4K and 8K stones. But now I've come to rethink things, and want to make sure that my honing does more than "polish a turd". Ergo, the magic marker test and my question about on which surface to test.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

If setting the bevel, which is when the marker test should be done, I'd do the test on the 1k. While it is true that the 1k is slightly less flat because it has larger sized grit particles, it's still plenty flat enough for this test.

See my reply to RezDog's post.

Just a reminder, that the quality of the magic marker is important. Use the ones which give a thin transparent coat rather than the ones leaving a thick 'paint' type mark. My eye is better at picking up the red than the blue/black.
JMO
~Richard

I use the magic marker to make sure i'm getting the whole edge honed on the 1k and the thumb pad (along with the arm/leg hair cutting test) to make sure the bevel is set. Occasionally i'll use the marker on higher grits just to make sure i'm still using the correct honing "gymnastics" to hone the whole edge.

I still don't really understand... But that's probably just me.

If I'm going to hone up a razor with an unknown honing history, I always go back to the 1k just to be sure it's done right. I've spent too much time trying to start on too high a grit hone and having to go lower and lower and lower... This also means I can use light reflecting off the bevel instead of a marker test, because the fresh cut off the 1k is so different from anything else.

i wish my eyes were still that good!

Originally Posted by tintin

i wish my eyes were still that good!

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/341e1c4...0-a3c26865ba28