Thread: Scratch Marks???

Hey guys,

In other sharpening that I do, I ultimately end up going from scratches that are perpendicular to the spine for shaping and establishing the edge angles, to scratches that are parallel to the spine (or close to it) for an even width along the edge (I guess this could be considered something similar to the sweeping X).

I've been thinking about the scratch marks on the blade of a SR when sharpening and was wondering if there are any differences to the direction of the scratches and the resulting shave?

For example, if I honed a blade in a striaght pattern on the stone, the scratches would be perpendicular to the spine, but if I did an X or rolling X, the scratches would be askewed to a certain extent, depending on the angle of the blade on the stone.

This also carries over into stropping methods....

Has anyone tried comparing this before? or even cared

Thanks!

When I was playing with sharpening styles I tried the "straight down the hone" method along with the "X" pattern stroke. I did notice a difference in the shave, but couldn't tell you if it was just my honeing. The straight down method didn't seem to give as good a shave.

Again I haven't tried it much past the first few times I tried it.

I wish I could try to experiment with this, but I think I will always sharpen with the blade at an angle on the hone (not a raised angle, still flat BTW). In order to compensate for the smile or whatever, and the razor will ultimately go in an X-ish pattern in order to ensure it is sharpened evenly and consistently.

My razors have been so beat up over the years from my experimenting (before SRP came into my life ) that I think I would need to start on a new blade to really see if it can be done....I like this smiley. I think I'll be using it a lot!

This is something that I have been playing with for quite awhile, I believe the theory to be sound, but I think the difference is very slight....

When honing I keep a constant heel forward angle to the blade, when stropping I switch that to a toe forward angle trying to keep all the striations at a slight angle to the edge... I believe that this gives an almost scything cut on every stroke.... Do I have proof????? Heck no... But it sure seems to work better for me, this also could be due to the fact the every lap is pretty exact.....

I can't remember the threads but this has been brought up with advocates for the X pattern and others saying it is just as well to use parallel strokes on a 3" hone. I favor the X stroke and taking a look at a couple under the 30x they have a scratch pattern of around 70 degrees relative to the spine. I believe it has been established that the edge cuts hair more efficiently if the scratch pattern is skewed rather than @ 90 degrees relative to the spine.

Jimmy,

I was kind of thinking that, too. Under the microscope, it just looks wrong if the teeth are straight. I'm also now thinking you could get more teeth in the same amount of space at an angle than if they were straight on, thus cutting smoother. Also, the angled teeth would perhaps give better support to the edge?

BTW - I just read your post elsewhere about your 7th grade teacher - I love it!

I started leading the heel after looking at scratch patterns.

I'm not sure that the is a difference in my shaves now since all my edges have polished bevels under the scope, but at one point it seemed to make a difference.
Of course I was a horrible honer then.

I sharpen my kitchen knives so that the scratches will point in the direction of the cut.
I found this to be a factor in sharpness when I was doing lots of skinning.
The result does seem to decrease as the size of the micro serrations shrinks.

YMMV as will your sharpening skills.