wdwrx
Well-Known Member
I'm not really sure if this is a question or how to phrase it properly if it is, but I've been looking under the 'scope a lot ever since i embarrassed myself sending a poorly honed razor to Denny and I'm wondering wether I've got general issues with chipping, or wether some "texture" along the very tip of the bevel is somewhat normal.
One thing I observe under the 'scope is something I can only describe as "a string of beads". It looks to be a faint reflection of light coming from the structure of the (aprox.) 0[sup]o[/sup] radius edge. It's present on every blade I look at, no matter who honed it, and varies in degree, sometimes with more occurring in small sections and less in others.
Also, at times there are some "flea-bites" that occur, where it appears that small sections of the very edge are missing. Some razors show this more than others. And, of course, used edges even more so.
I addition, it is common for me to observe a certain undulation of the bevel line. Nothing dramatic, nothing that looks like a mountain range, but more of a slight texture.
I've tried comparing what I see in my scope with various photomicrographs posted here and there on the web, but without knowing that the magnification is of equal degree, it's not of much use. I also don't give a lot of credence to the values of what some claim to get with their USB 'scope as, in my understanding, there are ways to arrive at the so-called magnification value other than multipying the objective element values. It's a marketing scheme IMHO, but TBH, i can't recall how it's arrived at.
The maximum I can magnify is 100x with a 10x ocular piece and a 10x objective piece, and it's at that level that I'm observing these flaws. Under 40x magnification, the edge appears perfect, and none of these features are detectable by TNT, TPT or RW's tissue test. Without fairly high magnification, I would be completely oblivious to their existence.
So, what can I do to further minimize these flaws? Is it a function of crap on the stone, pressure in the honing stroke or just something that happens? Also, is the "string of beads" (which I assume is reflected off the non 0[sup]o[/sup] edge of the bevel) a result of remaining slurry dulling? Is it even possible to eliminate that all together, or is it a function of the structure of the steel? (that .5 micron radius thing)
Or, am I just chasing ghosts?
One thing I observe under the 'scope is something I can only describe as "a string of beads". It looks to be a faint reflection of light coming from the structure of the (aprox.) 0[sup]o[/sup] radius edge. It's present on every blade I look at, no matter who honed it, and varies in degree, sometimes with more occurring in small sections and less in others.
Also, at times there are some "flea-bites" that occur, where it appears that small sections of the very edge are missing. Some razors show this more than others. And, of course, used edges even more so.
I addition, it is common for me to observe a certain undulation of the bevel line. Nothing dramatic, nothing that looks like a mountain range, but more of a slight texture.
I've tried comparing what I see in my scope with various photomicrographs posted here and there on the web, but without knowing that the magnification is of equal degree, it's not of much use. I also don't give a lot of credence to the values of what some claim to get with their USB 'scope as, in my understanding, there are ways to arrive at the so-called magnification value other than multipying the objective element values. It's a marketing scheme IMHO, but TBH, i can't recall how it's arrived at.
The maximum I can magnify is 100x with a 10x ocular piece and a 10x objective piece, and it's at that level that I'm observing these flaws. Under 40x magnification, the edge appears perfect, and none of these features are detectable by TNT, TPT or RW's tissue test. Without fairly high magnification, I would be completely oblivious to their existence.
So, what can I do to further minimize these flaws? Is it a function of crap on the stone, pressure in the honing stroke or just something that happens? Also, is the "string of beads" (which I assume is reflected off the non 0[sup]o[/sup] edge of the bevel) a result of remaining slurry dulling? Is it even possible to eliminate that all together, or is it a function of the structure of the steel? (that .5 micron radius thing)
Or, am I just chasing ghosts?