Thread: Honing Escapades - A beginner's experience

I tried the 15X eyepieces in my stereo microscope:



Which gave me 15x and 45x magnification. But, it wasn't an advantage. The most noticeable difference was field flatness. The straight edge of the razor is only straight from edge to edge of the field of view if it cuts the center of the view. Otherwise, it appears to curve. Annoying. I put the 10x eyepieces back in.

At 30x, the width of the bevel is about one seventh of the entire field of view.

I had a look with my high powered microscope today, at 100x, which I hadn't tried before with an edge I have honed.

The view was good, and the results very similar to what you showed us, Robert. But the problem with such high magnification is that it takes forever to inspect the entire length of each side of the razor.

I think it's most useful in looking for any light reflected off-angle from the edge itself. I could sure see flat spots after the first time I tried honing my razor. The effect was startling. In contrast, an edge with no flat spots is just about invisible.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

One thing I would say that may be taken as criticism .... but isn't really .... why hone on expensive high grit finishers and then go to diamond or chrome-ox ? If I am finishing on a yellow/green Escher or an outstanding coticule I want to feel the results of those stones on my face. Same with the 12k naniwa or the Shapton pro 30k.

Taking it a step further, regarding my personal preferences, I would shave test off of the coticule edge. Then go to the first of those J-nats and shave test off of that and finally to the second J-nat. Rather than honing on them in a progression, one after the other, without assessing the shaving results of each. Different strokes for different folks.

I agree Jimmy. From what I saw of the edges from CrOx (after JNat), I would rather shave after JNat directly. I never shave after CrOx anyway (rarely use it)...The exercise for the stone to stone progression was to observe the patterns each stone leaves behind on the edge, not to make this a typical honing regimen. My typical honing regimen would be exactly as you describe...Coti OR JNat and test.

PS: I never take it to the diamond...what I use is to raise slurry on JNat with DMT325 and use dilution to finish the edge.

As for the test shaves, that is absolutely dead on...The shave today was absolutely fabulous...smooth as butter. That was with the edge after JNat (w/ diamond slurry and then water) + stropping. At some point, I will repeat these tests with each stone/abrasive and test shave to correlate the "edge look" with the shave result (if any). I would like to eliminate my bias from this...so maybe after doing this, I will have someone around me shave test and tell me what they think .

I really enjoyed the shave today. The edge was with Asagi (with diamond slurry with dilution and finally with water) + stropping on premium IV leather.

Smooth as butter . In the next few weeks, I will finish the edge of this blade using each of the stones alone and shave testing.

I really appreciate the microscope photos you guys post. I don't know that much about honing yet, but the pictures help me learn. I think this series was the best one I've seen yet.

I have (and use while honing) scopes at home too, but can't photograph through them. Is there some simple ocular attachment I can use with a fixed-lense camera?

I love doing stuff like this. That must have been a lot of fun, and a learning experience to boot!

Originally Posted by TheMetatron

I tried the 15X eyepieces in my stereo microscope:

I had a look with my high powered microscope today, at 100x, which I hadn't tried before with an edge I have honed.

The view was good, and the results very similar to what you showed us, Robert. But the problem with such high magnification is that it takes forever to inspect the entire length of each side of the razor.

I think it's most useful in looking for any light reflected off-angle from the edge itself. I could sure see flat spots after the first time I tried honing my razor. The effect was startling. In contrast, an edge with no flat spots is just about invisible.

That is for sure...For myself, I don;t waste time inspecting the edge at ~400X (we've got better things to do ). So, I usually carefully scan/inspect the edge with a 30X loupe and nothing jumps out that is worrisome, I just so hi-mag of the edge somewhere from the middle of the blade.

Originally Posted by markevens

I love doing stuff like this. That must have been a lot of fun, and a learning experience to boot!

More than you know . I really enjoyed this exercise as it was a giant leap in learning, but wouldn't do this day in and day out.

Originally Posted by roughkype

I really appreciate the microscope photos you guys post. I don't know that much about honing yet, but the pictures help me learn. I think this series was the best one I've seen yet.

I have (and use while honing) scopes at home too, but can't photograph through them. Is there some simple ocular attachment I can use with a fixed-lense camera?

Thank you and you are welcome . There are attachments, but they are usually costly. If you decide to purchase an attachment bridge (between your DSLR and eyepiece...it would actually replace one of the eyepieces), you'd have to spend a good $400+ on it (I don't know about cheap bridges though...although I would advise against them as the optics are of low quality). This is how scope companies make money too...these types of accessories. That's one of the reasons I decided to use a USB powered scope rather than the stereo I have (with no bridge).

Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

I really enjoyed the shave today. The edge was with Asagi (with diamond slurry with dilution and finally with water) + stropping on premium IV leather.

Smooth as butter . In the next few weeks, I will finish the edge of this blade using each of the stones alone and shave testing.

See? You're on the right track!

Congratulations!

this is very interesting, thanks for posting

I also would like to say thanks for the images. I use a loop and it has helped alot, but nothing like those images.

Now if I have the selection of hones that were used here, If I did have those I would likely be single and living on someone elses couch!