Thread: Mixed results from shave test...

I would look for a means other than just a microscope to be sure the bevel is set. Depending on lighting, what the microscope shows can be deceiving, IME.

My honing has improved since I stopped using a microscope. I'll still look at finished edges from time to time as a curiosity, but I don't use the microscope during honing at all any more. My eyes lied to me more often than not.
YMMV.

UPDATE:

I think it's fixed!

Today, the magic marker saved the day. Here's the scoop...I was getting a nice shave on all areas of the face except the chin, right. Well, come to find out, I use the toe and heel almost exclusively in that area and the marker showed me that while the 8k was getting rid of the 3k scratches, neither the toe nor the heel were contacting the hone. As a result, while I did have a good bevel set, the 3k scratches weren't coming off the toe or heel! Sooo...just to go back to basics, I decided to do a full pyramid using a rolling-X. The reason I hadn't thought of it before was that I've never had to do a rolling-X on a hollow ground razor, only on my wedges. After the progression, it was off to the pasted strop and hanging strop. Guess what...it passes the HHT all along the edge now whereas it hadn't before.

Lessons learned today:

1. magic markers rock
2. don't discount a honing stroke because you haven't used it on that kind of razor before today.