Thread: Stropping and a Loupe

I was considering buying a loupe (10-20x) to take a look at the edge of my straights after stropping so I can learn adjustments to my technique and ensure I get the desired result. I do have a couple of questions, however...

1. Is this even worthwhile? The cost is low, so there won't be any financial harm....
2. I have no idea exactly what to look for...pictures of a well honed and stropped shave-ready razor are hard to find (or I am not looking in the right place which is also probable).

Any advice or guidance would be welcome.

Thanks in Advance,
Ted

Ted, ,,,I could be mistaken, but I don't see a loupe giving you any input on the edge, post a stropping. I use the loupe all the time when moving through the stones in the honing progressions.

I can see the loupe indicating a flaw/nick in the edge, that might mark the strop,,

hey Ted,
Most of the guys seem to have two loupes, a 30x and a 60x. There of course is no hard fast rules on that. For your purposes I would expect that the 30x will work just fine. You could also use a bright light, not to be confused with a light brite. What you are looking for is a rolled edge. There have been a couple of threads with good pictures in them. Glen had some up somewhat recently but after a quick search I did not find the thread. It will be a change in the usually very straight looking edge and as you slightly turn the edge more towards the lens you will see a tiny flat area in the vortex. Under a bright light you will see white flashes. There is a you tube video by toxic waste that shows it quite well. You simple hold you razor under a lamp and turn the blade slowly back and forth looking at the edge. the edge will be a line of light when it is in the right angle to the light and the white spots or flashes will be easy to see.

Do a search. There are many threads on examining the edge with loupes and digital microscopes.

I was reading a post just today where Neil Miller says he always checks an edge after stropping to see if a razor has deteriorated. It was in connection with poor quality blades and he was describing how an edge that looks fine after honing can develop saw teeth after stropping. So go ahead and see what you can find - it certainly can't do any harm.

Here is an exaggerated photo of a rolled edge. Doubt if you will do this much damage with a strop.

This ding is from knocking the edge into a faucet when my phone suddenly rang.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...ding-edge.html

Some more info for Ya

I just ordered a digital microscope. $40 isn't too bad. I just want to be able to view the progression of my blade through the shaving and stropping... Eventually I will start honing, so it should be helpful then too.

Originally Posted by ChopperDave

I just ordered a digital microscope. $40 isn't too bad. I just want to be able to view the progression of my blade through the shaving and stropping... Eventually I will start honing, so it should be helpful then too.

I really like my USB scope. I should use it more than I do.

Keeping pics of your work will let you see your progress.

Dave

Do you know, since I started using my roo strop I don't think I've had a folded edge. Sure, I had passed from newbie to awesome by that stage but I wonder whether what Alan (AFDavis) was saying in the thread Glen linked to might also have something to do with it - even when you pull a roo strop very taut it has some give. Anyway, food for thought.

Magnification to examine the edge is always useful IMO, whether it is during honing, after stropping, after shaving, whenever. Anything you can do to get a better view of what is happening to your edge at the various stages is knowledge, and knowledge is a good thing.

James.