2654 



Journal of Applied Microscopy 



As to the action of different hones upon the edges of tools, there is a current 

 idea that it differs only or mainly in the amount of serrations produced along the 

 edges, as seen in profile from one side. In evidence of this, figures have 

 appeared in microscopical and other journals, exhibiting irregular saw-like teeth, 

 e. g., along edge of a razor, examined under a low magnifying power. This 

 may be illustrated by a clipping from a recent journal : " A razor is a saw, not 



Fig. 2. 



a knife, and it works like a saw, not like a knife. Under the microscope its 

 edge is seen to have innumerable and fine saw teeth. When these teeth get 

 clogged with dirt, honing and stropping will do no good. Dipping it in hot 

 water dissolves out the debris from between the teeth." 



In this case, with a magnification of 36, on the edge of a tool sharpened 

 by the coarsest hone in this series (I), the results were obtained shown 



Fig. 



in Figs. 1 and 2. Doubtless in ordinary hands the serrations would have 

 been larger and more irregular, but in this tool, after sharpening by an expert, 

 the variations along the edge appear much too small to account for the known 

 inferiority of the edge which can be secured by use of so coarse a hone. Evi- 

 dently a far higher magnification was called for, and examination of the edges 



