Thread: Can you see a stropping error on the blade under magnification?

A question for you stropmeisters. Can you see under magnification when a blade is stropped well vs. poorly? Or do I need a 3D electron microscope for that?

Interesting question. I don't know for sure, but I imagine it would have to be one heck of an error to be noticeable. I suppose the best way to go about it would be to use a high magnification scope/camera and post photos of the edge on your computer before stropping, and then after.

Heavy handedness & rolled edges are visible at magnification.

I wonder if you could tell the difference, with magnification, of a good stropping? Before and after?

The difference between what ? The final stone & the strop or a previuosly used edge?

There's some pics etc here:
WONDER PHOTOS REVEAL UNSUSPECTED FACTS ABOUT Razor Blades and Shaving (Oct, 1931) | Modern Mechanix

Yes, you can see the damage, as Onimaru’s photos show, but why?

What is it, you want to know?

Clearly the edge is damaged, and if it was not prior to stropping then stropping was the cause. Too much pressure or the spine was lifted.

Not sure what you are asking?

You cannot see an edge at 400X, so you need more. You can see damage with the naked eye and easily with 10 or 20X.

Originally Posted by ChopperDave

I wonder if you could tell the difference, with magnification, of a good stropping? Before and after?

I am still pretty new to this (1yr). I'm hoping to develop a visual reference too. Been using 80x and it is easy to see dirty blade (lint, oil droplets, marker ink) even after wiping. After stropping, blade edge and bevel was clean as a whistle. With my poor stropping/over stropping/micro chipping for a few months and then having them honed it is easy to see the new clean straight edge and bevel compared to what I had sent out. Using before and after images of my known razors I can tell. I am watching my razors like a hawk now for the slightest change in image and the feel of shave. I have had one that start feeling hash on the toe and sure enough the toe was not a clean line but a bit ruff. Now I'm checking my stropping and being more critical of to much weight on the toe end of the spin. Time will tell.

Keeping a tight enough grip on the razor to control it but be able to lightly touch with it has been a challenge for me. I got micro chipping down if anyone needs help with that.