Thread: The HHT test

Originally Posted by mparker762

Hear hear! The hair test isn't a pass/fail test, it's more of a grade, and exactly what it means varies from person to person. I use the hair on my arm, and find that the first hair to pop is the stuff on the underside of wrist. Then as the edge gets more refined it will pop armhair closer to my elbow joint. Once it will pop the softest hairs on the inside of my elbow then its ready to shave, and it's rare for a razor to fail to shave well at that point. I figured this out in an hour using a DE blade, a Feather AC blade, a Joe Chandler blade, and a few of my own. Getting my honing skills up to the point where I could get them there myself took somewhat longer :-)

I also find that being able to fillet a hair is a really good sign.
(edit: the "also" comment is indeed seconding honedright's reference to this)

you mean hair, hair. Actually I've never been able to get the hanging hair test to work for me. I usually use the thumb test and do some arm hair shaving and based on how readily those arm hairs are piled up I know when the razor is ready.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

you mean hair, hair. Actually I've never been able to get the hanging hair test to work for me. I usually use the thumb test and do some arm hair shaving and based on how readily those arm hairs are piled up I know when the razor is ready.

I do the same thing (thumb test) and it's working quite well. I just tried to shave some arm hair as mine is very, very fine. I noticed I've never been able to cut them until I tried using the cutting angle described in the barber manuals, namely toe leading. Then they fell easily.

Hey Steve --can you explain a little more about the thumb test --what's the sensation like? Thanks my good fellow from "Little Rhody." Hooroo,

Justin

Originally Posted by jaegerhund

Hey Steve --can you explain a little more about the thumb test --what's the sensation like? Thanks my good fellow from "Little Rhody." Hooroo,

Justin

Justin, et al:

Before and after stropping I check the edge by holding the blade gently with the edge point up. I take a moistened thumb pad (not the nail, that is a different test) and GENTLY run my thumb ACROSS the edge of the blade.

Here's what I'm looking for: an edge that grabs the thumb and/or moves with the thumb as it goes across the edge. I have recently touched up the edge on a Norton 8K and chromium oxide paste and I will say this. I got a hightened sensation on the thumb pad. It actually felt as if the edge was trying to shave my thumb print off. Shaving after that sensation was interesting. The razor went through my stubble like a warm knife through butter (budda for those SNL "Coffee Talk" fans )

This is hard to explain and I'm still learning what the sensation will be for the best possible edge but that's it in a nutshell.

The reason I test before I strop is to establish what the edge feels like and how much stropping I might need. I will do maybe 10 strokes before a shave and retest, I can always immediatley notice the difference in the edge that stropping makes. I keep going in series of 10 strokes until I get that grabbing/shaving sensation. I posted a document on my "Ponderings of a New Shaver" thread that was originally created by Joe Lerch that discusses the thumb and thumbnail tests. I am finding that those tests are all I need to determine if I have a proper edge and procedures for establishing one if I don't . I know others do it differently but this works great for me.

OK, disclaimer time: the thumb test can be very dangerous if not done properly. The key is a very light touch, almost no pressure by the thumb on the edge at all.

I've posted the document here to so you can see it without hunting it down.

Good onya, mate. Bloody good explanation. I'll make sure my thumb's not dryer than a dead dingo's donger. Apples,she'll be. Who needs a thumb pad anyway? Too bad you can't hear my voice --really it's like budda. Any hoot, later

Justin

Originally Posted by jaegerhund

Good onya, mate. Bloody good explanation. I'll make sure my thumb's not dryer than a dingo's donger. Apples,she'll be. Who needs a thumb pad anyway? Too bad you can't hear my voice --really it's like budda. Any hoot, later

Justin

I'll have to go to the colloquism thread to translate this I think

Lynn, I hear ya! I'll have to let the hair on my chinny-chin-chin grow out a bit before I can use them!!! ROTFLMAO

Ah yes, the Holy Grail of Str8 shaving, a standardised test!
Fat chance! Men have been trying for that for over 100 years. Generally speaking you have a choice of the thumbpad test or the hanging hair test as a means of determining if the razor is ready for a shave test.

Most of us use both tests and learn how each translates to a shave. It does take time. I need to use one of my gray hairs because the blond hairs are simply to fine. I have also modified the thumbpad test to suit my purposes. I run mine along the edge for a very short distance, not across the edge.

The most important thing is to be consistent in performing the tests.


Just my two cents,

Originally Posted by randydance062449

Ah yes, the Holy Grail of Str8 shaving, a standardised test!
Fat chance! Men have been trying for that for over 100 years. Generally speaking you have a choice of the thumbpad test or the hanging hair test as a means of determining if the razor is ready for a shave test.

Most of us use both tests and learn how each translates to a shave. It does take time. I need to use one of my gray hairs because the blond hairs are simply to fine. I have also modified the thumbpad test to suit my purposes. I run mine along the edge for a very short distance, not across the edge.

The most important thing is to be consistent in performing the tests.


Just my two cents,

Randy, when you do the thumbpad test and run it along the edge, what sensation do you look for indicating shave-ready status?

Originally Posted by steve

Randy, when you do the thumbpad test and run it along the edge, what sensation do you look for indicating shave-ready status?

Steve ---what do you look for? It might be one of those innate "shiver down the spine -damn that's sharp" sensations that you can't really define. I think if it feels like it is grabbing and about to bite into the skin then it's there. This might be one of those sensations that is hard to define and maybe one you learn to associate with after it gives a good shave. But "dumb ass me, I don't know". Bye Bye now.


Justin