I wondered if any of you are using loupes or other magnification to assess your sharpening efforts?
As background, I use DMT diamond stones and the Veritas honing guide when appropriate. I usually assess the quality of the sharpening process by how well a sharpening instrument works. I suppose that sharpening of chisels and planes with the Veritas process works with fair uniformity. I may be over-sharpening (i.e. wasting time) or under-sharpening. More of a question for me is the quality of my sharpening for curved blades like landscaping implements, a drawknife, or chainsaw blades. Unfortunately I can't make the sharpening workshop. I've read where some use loupes to assess the blades (and cite over magnification as maddening but some magnification helpful) which leads to my question:
Do you find loupes (or other magnification) helpful, harmful, or unnecessary for sharpening?
If you do find some magnification method helpful, what are the details of your method?
As background, I use DMT diamond stones and the Veritas honing guide when appropriate. I usually assess the quality of the sharpening process by how well a sharpening instrument works. I suppose that sharpening of chisels and planes with the Veritas process works with fair uniformity. I may be over-sharpening (i.e. wasting time) or under-sharpening. More of a question for me is the quality of my sharpening for curved blades like landscaping implements, a drawknife, or chainsaw blades. Unfortunately I can't make the sharpening workshop. I've read where some use loupes to assess the blades (and cite over magnification as maddening but some magnification helpful) which leads to my question:
Do you find loupes (or other magnification) helpful, harmful, or unnecessary for sharpening?
If you do find some magnification method helpful, what are the details of your method?