Thread: looking under the scope....again

I'm just verifying something I see under the microscope. I've been poking away at a Clauss for a few weeks getting really close, but not quite there. Tonight I spent about an hour with a Chinese 12k honing, testing, honing, testing.... I've got it cropping hair off my arm, above the skin. Looking very promising.

Under the scope, I see the scratches really fading away. I'm also starting to see horizontal lines. They dont' really look like scratches, more like the color of the steel itself. Sort of like when you drive through the mountains and you see the layers of sedimentation in the rock layers where they cut through the mountains for the road.

When I compare this to other blades that can shave, but are not seriously ready, I can see the layers like this on some of them. Anybody else see this and use it as an indicator of any type?

Goog

Not me. I look for micro chipping under a microscope. If it pops hair above the skin on my arm I strop and shave. Scratches just aren't something I pay any attention to at all. I look for keenness when I shave followed by smoothness. If I don't get one or both I go back to the hones. YMMV.

I've seen some of this "banding" in some kitchen knives once in a while. And only solid carbon steel ones polished up pretty well. Not that I'm ever going to polish a blade (short of the bevels ) . I haven't heard word that it interferes with the edge though.

I can't recall seeing what you're talking about under my stereo mic.

When using your 12k and checking your results under magnification, is your goal to remove all scratches and end up with a mirror finish on the bevels?

Early on in my razor travels I assumed that scratchless bevels, a near mirror finish translated into the "sharpest" cutting edge and therefore the type of edge worth attaining on all razors at all times.

I've long since changed my outlook. I can't deny that for me it is fun polishing bevels and taking the polish to such extremes. But I know now that for me the edges taken to such extremes don't last as long.

Chris L

Originally Posted by ChrisL

When using your 12k and checking your results under magnification, is your goal to remove all scratches and end up with a mirror finish on the bevels?

More like I'm looking for clues on a good edge. This one is my third hone job and I'm trying to sort out the science from the art. I have seen these lines before, I'm curious if they mean anything, or if it's just .....bacon. mmmmmm

Goog

I think you're worrying too much about the scratches. IMO, they matter when moving up on hone progressions but they're not something to obsess over in your microscope. All you're looking for in the scope is that the scratches from before are being changed by the hone you're now using all the way up the edge.

When you're done working your way up, shave test. That's it, it's pretty simple.

Originally Posted by greatgoogamooga

Under the scope, I see the scratches really fading away. I'm also starting to see horizontal lines. They dont' really look like scratches, more like the color of the steel itself. Sort of like when you drive through the mountains and you see the layers of sedimentation in the rock layers where they cut through the mountains for the road.

When I compare this to other blades that can shave, but are not seriously ready, I can see the layers like this on some of them. Anybody else see this and use it as an indicator of any type?

Goog

Are these lines perfectly horizontal to the edge. Like the lines a tissue would leave on a slightly oily blade after wiping ??? OR are they a fixed pattern like alloy banding.? Neither are a concern really.
Getting rid of deep bevel scratches is ideal as they often end at the edge as a microchip. Other than that don't be overly OCD about a fine even scratch pattern left by your final polish stone.