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Anyone use a loupe when honing to get a better look at your edge?
I bought something similar to this Amazon.com: SE 30X Illuminated Jewelers Loupe: Toys & Games a while back not knowing what to use it for and it has come in handy to examine an edge..
Really lets you know if you are done with a grit, just jump to 8k for a couple of passes and if you see deeper grind marks then move back to 4k. It takes the guess work out of it. Also good if you have any very small chips in your blade.
I recently got a 10X loup (non-illuminated) from Amazon. I was wondering if 30x would be too much (too hard to hold steady and too close up).
I do have to use a flashlight with it however. It's helpful while I'm learning the finer points of honing. I don't rely on it all that much for details but do use it to make sure I'm not missing something.
I'm not sure at this point that I could tell the difference between 1k, 4k, or 8k grind marks or marks from the original grinding for the edge.
I bought a cheap LED illuminated loupe on Ebay a few months back and am finding it to be very useful when honing. In addition to small flaws on the edge that would be invisible (to my eyes at least) I find it helps give a better idea of the geometry of the edge. I.e. is the bevel even? Do I need an extra layer of tape? Am I missing any parts of the edge?
Mine says it is 40x, but I'd definitely take that with a grain of salt. I wouldn't worry too much about holding it steady as I generally brace my right hand (holding the loupe) against the blade so it's pretty steady.
My biggest advice would be to get one with an integrated LED light.
To the OP: mine looks pretty much exactly the same as yours and I'd be surprised if they hadn't come off the same production line. The only visible difference is the nominal 40x vs 30x, and as I suggested above I'd be surprised if they weren't actually identical. :)
Cangooner you're right on the money with checking geometry. It lets you know if you are missing an area of the edge. I dont doubt that your loupe came off the same line as mine as when I did a search for it I found 10 different brands selling the same product. Mine was actually marketed by Hydro-farm for use in identifying insects on your marijuana plants, I work at a hardware store it was available for a cheap price, and no I do not grow marihuana.
gcbryan, I have a 10x loupe and while that might help it is nowhere near as good as the 30x-40x range it really makes you work visible. This can also help to prevent over honing.
while searching for this product on amazon I found a pocket microscope that goes from 60x to 100x I bought it as it was only $12 and will be interested to see what that shows of the blade. I bought that out of curiosity I think that with a 30x you can get all the information you need.
I used a similar microscope in the early stages - now I just go by feel, most of the time.
I do use a loupe when setting the bevel just to make sure it is even all the way along the blade.
I find a loupe very useful. I bought mine for around $4 on ebay; it has an led light.
I got the same one as the OP....It really does come in handy when bevel setting...
I use 10X under a study lamp. I don't worry about removing scratch marks from earlier grits although they usually do get removed. I am more concerned with the edge than the smoothness of the bevel. By the time the edge goes through the whisker, the work has been done and any scratch marks on the bevel are so small they cannot be felt. I sure don't feel them.
I hone under a window that receives direct sun. I use a slide viewing lens to check my bevel setting (it's 10x and 2 inch diameter).
More power might be nice but I find its tough to get enough light and field of view to get things done as quickly as I like. After setting the bevel, I basically use a lens only to appreciate what I feel on the hones.
I have a SE-30x illuminated loupe and a BeIOMO 20x. I don't know what kind of math tricks they do at SE because the BeIOMO is wayyyyyyy more powerful. The BeIOMO requires a lot of light but I haven't found one with a LED light. That's why I use the SE-30x.
The led lighted ebay loupe is great! For a couple bucks it really helps spot thos nibbles you can't see with the naked eye... And when no one is looking you can put it up to your eye and pretend your are the terminator....
When I started honing I really liked using my 60 - 100 times illuminated pocket microscope. Now having honed 10 razors, some multiple times, I mostly only use it to check for geometry and chipping problems.
Once you have a decent handle on you hones, a scope or loupe becomes a hassle more than a help. But still quite helpful in evaluating a new razor.
Jonathan
Jonathan,Quote:
Originally Posted by Datsots
Once the bevel is set unless you nick your edge there shouldn't be need to use your loupe, unless you like to admire the keenness of your edge of course. I am using it as a learning tool and also since I just received my Goldedge that needed to be honed it helped setting the bevel and making sure I didn't miss the toe and heel of the blade.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Datsots
Really ???? are you sure maybe that it won't help you at the end of the progression, perhaps looking for a perfect finish to the edge, or maybe after stropping on linen to make sure there isn't a fagile edge that fell apart ???? or even after the leather to make sure that there are no final issues before you take it to your face??? It is after all the last chance you have to see what your honing did, compared to what the strop or your face did to the edge..Quote:
Originally Posted by Endofab
Just a couple of hints in there
GS,Quote:
Originally Posted by gssixgun
This is preposterous, you mean to tell me that the edge can change between the hone and strop? How could a blade that looks like this change...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...C98A0661D0.jpg
Sorry that was a shameless plug of my new beauty. Now stop drooling over the cracked ice..
On a more serious note I have been examining every stage of the blade and I look at it twice or so just to see if there is anything I missed. I find my eye fatigues while looking through the loupe so I take a break to get a better look. I am of the very detail oriented so I do like to examine things every step of the way. I am actually excited to get the pocket microscope to get a better look at the edge. Thanks for the hints I will have to take a look when I get the microscope as the 30x loupe is not powerful enough to discern any difference between hone and strop.
I have that exact Lopue and find it invaluable, the LED's really work well for my eyes
oh I didn't say I didn't find it useful. I was actually pleased I bought it when I was honing and had this ureka moment when I realize I had a better way to examine my edge.. It has proven to be a very valuable item unlike a lot of things purchased. I am still interested to get a closer look.
That is a sure nuff pretty GE what did you use for a finisher ????
I just sent home a Wonderedge and a GE that I ended up using the new Zulu stone on, pretty sweet edges
There it is
http://straightrazorpalace.com/shave...ml#post1057796
All I currently have is a norton 4k/8k combo. I have been contemplating getting a naniwa 12k. I am really new to this whole world. Although I am a fast learner. I shaved with the GE today and I have to get used to the width of the blade as it is about 3/8 taller than the razor I started with. I love the look and heft of the GE though. I wish I could find one of them reapers for a decent price.. there is one of ebay and it is currently at $710, just a lot out of my price range!
Reapers are rare. in good shape they are like Hen's teeth...
They are great shavers but not that great :p
Yeah I thought so.. I really like the style of the ducks and haven't seen many other razors that have the amount of class they seem to. Although I haven't seen every razor that has been made the ducks seem to be popular and they fought my eye.
As I feel that I may have been less than perfectly clear in post #12 here are some clarification's.
"Chipping problems" - on several of the first few times I honed, I used far to much pressure on the edge causing very small chipping.
"Becomes a hassle" - I had been using the scope to check my progress many times sometimes as many as ten times per hone. Now that I have a better handle on my hones I might check my progress as much as twice, but usually only once per hone.
These learning curves can be a real hassle when you jump in the deep end, ignoring some of the great advice to be found here.
Jonathan
I dug out an old 10X loupe when I started honing recently. It is great for spotting the small dings that the eye cannot see.
I am getting an adapter to connect an old Eyeclops toy to my computer. I will then have 200x lighted magnification on my computer screen.
I have a small, cheap 10* loupe. I use it during every honing and after initial stropping.
It helps me see where the magic marker is left after the marker test. Some bits could be missed by the naked eye. Then I check for evenness and polish at every stage.
It's a nice aide to honing. Possible to do without yet valuable.
Michael