Scratches showing at 12k mean?

'Working a new blade, which has taken more attention than I've had to use before. The normal appearance at 20x mag is a fairly uniform mirror surface after riding a c12k. On this blade, I continue to see fine scratches. They are NOT leftover from the 8k nani. If I change the stroke, the orientation of the scratches change with it. I don't know if this means the steel is harder than usual (my guess - its a wacker), or softer, and if the next move should be cro2 of try the c12k dry.

What would you consider for next options?

What was the test shave like?

Shave with it. :)

EDIT: Doh. Dylan wins.

'just habit, I guess - used to seeing a smooth mirror. I'll let you know how it feels. Thank you both!

'Just checked one other wacker - scratched also, but shaves wonderfully. I be strop'n

I agree that the appearance after 12k is not an issue as long as the shave is up to your expectations. At our last WNY meet we played with a microscope. I honed up to the c12k and Quicknicker continued on to polish the bevel with as fine as .25 micron (if I remember correctly) diamond paste. QN's bevels were polished. Mine showed scratches. After a few laps with as little pressure as I can manage on 3 micron diamond past all of the previous scratches were gone and new finer scratches were in place. This told us that the scratches were not deep at all.

We can learn a lot from magnification of our edges and we can also fret around issues that do not effect where the rubber meets the road, which is the shave quality.

If the scratches really go hand in hand along with your honing direction, try decreasing the honing pressure little by little with your strokes. That should also decrease the depth of the scratches.
Adding little more water and changing your honing direction after every few strokes would also help :shrug:

GSSixgunner repeatedly says we underestimate stropping. I did 8 on crox/leather, 60 on canvas, 100 on bare leather. Tried HHT, and only the heal performed, 30 more on leather, no change. 50 more on leather, and most of the edge lopped hair convincingly. (note: old fart hair gets really thin, so I test w/ body hair at first. These tests above were w/ the really thin head hair).
I went back to canvas for another 30, focusing on the toe-mid edge, then 30 more on leather. Thin hair fell all along the blade. I'll post again after a full shave.

Thank You, Gents. The noob (me) desperately needs your kind help & you all deliver with gusto. 'Sure appreciate your help!

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Originally Posted by pinklather

'Working a new blade, which has taken more attention than I've had to use before. The normal appearance at 20x mag is a fairly uniform mirror surface after riding a c12k. On this blade, I continue to see fine scratches. They are NOT leftover from the 8k nani. If I change the stroke, the orientation of the scratches change with it. I don't know if this means the steel is harder than usual (my guess - its a wacker), or softer, and if the next move should be cro2 of try the c12k dry.

What would you consider for next options?

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A natural c12k may give you small scratches. Some will
be finer and 'better' than others... mine does not act
like a 12K to me... it is more like a 9+11K mostly 10K
but a little bit of 7 left behind. Yet the grit acts round
and does not cut deep scratches...

Use a light touch and lather... CrOx should
finish and polish the razor nicely for shaving.

As many folk said -- use a shave test -- what you
see with a microscope is informative but the shave
test is definitive. As always it is your face that is
the judge.

It was good. 'Not the best of the 3 wackers, but good. It's a bit diff. in that it's a first large (15/16) blade for me. 'No drag that a light touch & some scything/guillotine stroke didn't overcome. I expect subsequent stroppings will improve further.

After shave - back to little performance on fine hair. So I went back to canvas (20), leather, (50), and it lops thick hair well, fine hair w/ some coaxing.

One thing that has made the wackers a bit more of a challenge is that each one has an almost imperceptible smile. I didn't know when I bought, but set the edge on leather, and sure enough, toe & heel didn't touch. I find I actually like the way this shaves very much. 'Takes some adjustment of stroke to touch up, but worth it.

Again I appreciate your kind help a bunch!