Thread: Shaptoneers, please confirm something for me...

Originally Posted by randydance062449

Hello ChrisL,

It was a Hess Otto's Special 200 Wedge, 5/8, single concave grind. They are no longer available, all sold out. That razor took the sharpest edge of any razor that I have honed.

Regarding the HHT, this test in no way guarantees a shaving sharp edge, sharp by my definition, not anyone else's. I have learned to use the HHT and standardized it on the 8K Norton. I do not use it for any other hone.
Using the HHT, off the 8K norton, with my hair, can tell me when the razor is ready for a shave test or the next step in my honing progression.
Each person has to develop their own set of tests and learn to correlate the results with whatever they seek.

The HHT is not just a parlor trick. Some guys have learned how to make it useful, just like the TPT, and for some people it simply is not an option. The key is standardization of your tests.

Just my two cents,

Ah yes, a Hess Otto's Special 200 Wedge. That was a very nice looking razor!! Thanks for adding to this post so quickly.

I absolutely agree that the HHT does not guarantee a shaving sharp edge. Others pass HHT off their DMT D8E 1200 grit diamond plates and I can pass the HHT off my Shapton 2000 I've used for bevel setting. I would never shave off those grits.

What I wonder, can a truly wicked sharp (maybe even one so sharp that comfort is compromised) edge fail the HHT? Do Feather blades fail the HHT? Out of curiousity, does your Otto's Special pass or fail the HHT?

To be clear, I do believe an edge that fails the HHT can give a comfortable or at the least an irritation free shave. Since a coarse edge (1200, 2000 grit) can pass the HHT and since an edge can shave and fail the HHT, therein lies the HHT's inability to be a uniform sharpness test. However, and here's where I think I've gone full circle to end up right where Bart started with this post and share his same question:

If an edge that goes from passing HHT on lower grit stones, to failing the HHT on polishing stones but shaving well......would that same edge again pass the HHT if polished at a higher grit or to a keener level?

Chris L

Randy will probably add more to this post, but he did confirm for me in a PM that ALL his razors pass the HHT after stropping and moreover, he will not shave with a razor that does not pass the HHT after stropping. Even though I believe a shaving edge failing the HHT can yield good or great shaves because members over time have said so, I personally have not had comfortable shaves with razors that after stropping fail the HHT.