Thread: Microscopic image of an over honed edge?

Greetings,

Since we walk a fine line attempting to create the perfect edge, I was wondering if anyone has a microscopic image of an over honed edge. I'm curious as to its visual characteristics.

Originally Posted by randydance062449

...The perfect edge is just a breath away from overhoned.

Dont have a pic, but a description should hold you over for a day or two. I have so much experience with overhoned edges...lol. Anyway mine looked like a mountain horizon with huge mountains and valleys along the edge, along the mountain 'ranges' would be holes in the mountains and if I studied the edge closely I could even see that half the edge was there and half the edge was sort of gone. It is a pretty obvious picture compared to a good clean straight line and a smoothed edge. It also reminded me of a very old rusted out edge on a knife.

I think the beginning of over honed edge is subtle with a slight raise along parts of the edge or a nick in the tip of the edge.

Originally Posted by Rik

Greetings,

Since we walk a fine line attempting to create the perfect edge, I was wondering if anyone has a microscopic image of an over honed edge. I'm curious as to its visual characteristics.

David and AFDavis11,

Thank you both for the description and images.

Ok, I went to the shack and bought the $10 microscope, so far I haven't seen much of the edge. So what's the technique? I have the blade flat on a table, but that doesn'e get me a very good look at the edge.

Originally Posted by Dick Danger

Ok, I went to the shack and bought the $10 microscope, so far I haven't seen much of the edge. So what's the technique? I have the blade flat on a table, but that doesn'e get me a very good look at the edge.

I've never used the Radio Shack device, but I do use a variety of plain and fancy jewelers loupes. The trick with these things is you need to get close to a good light source, perhaps a desk lamp, and rotate the blade so that the light reflects off the bevel. Be careful. These devices ofter require close working distances and we are looking at a razor, right?

Originally Posted by Dick Danger

Ok, I went to the shack and bought the $10 microscope, so far I haven't seen much of the edge. So what's the technique? I have the blade flat on a table, but that doesn'e get me a very good look at the edge.

I tried the RS microscope without success. I use a triplex 10x jeweler's loupe for general scrutiny that was recommended by David.

I also use a stereo dissection microscope 10x - 160x that I purchased off of eBay. It was an investment, but worth every penny. I keep both at my sharpening station.

Originally Posted by Dick Danger

Ok, I went to the shack and bought the $10 microscope, so far I haven't seen much of the edge. So what's the technique? I have the blade flat on a table, but that doesn'e get me a very good look at the edge.

I hold the bottom of the microscope right against the blade with the blade in the middle of the clear plastic, then focus it.

A good trick is to get some bar magnets from Sears, place qa sheet of white paper oover them and then the blade on top. The magnets hold the blade flat and still, and you can use both hands on the microscope. For better stability place the magnets on a metal surface.

I'll give that a try, thanks.