Thread: New Microscope – Buyer’s remorse?

I set my first bevel by just reflected light alone. More of a tool to learn and get hints than a tool to fix it.

I use a 30x handheld microscope and have found it very useful. What I look for is.......

1. a double bevel which will show up as 2 distinct colors, one color along the edge and another color along the top of the bevel. When only one color is visible then I know have a single angle on the bevel. This is most useful when creating a new bevel.

2. Uneven edge, chips in the edge or rusted/swiss cheese spots on the bevel. This is self explanatory.

3. Scratch pattern. The scratches must go from heel to toe for the full length of the blade and from the top of the bevel to the bottom ( edge). They must be uniform in direction and depth/width. If they are not then continue with the current hone until they are uniform.

4. Overhoning....this will show up as a different color along the very edge at the early stage because the edge is "folding over". With a little more honing small pieces will begin to chip out and appear as a microchip from one side and as a brown/rust colored spot on the other side of the blade due to the difference in the angle of reflected light. With further honing the the microchips multiply and can become longer in length.

At no point does a scope tell me if a razor is ready for a test shave.

Just my $.02,