Thread: Do I need to Re Hone my razor

Today when I finished shaving I strop the razor like I normally do after I finish shaving then I did a thumb nail test were you wet your thumb nail and move the blade to check if it dull. As I did this I felt this small stubble like a small bump close to the heel and now in the toe . When I strop before I shave I also did the same test it just glided perfectly no bumps. could this mean I have micro chips in the razor do I need to hone the razor? Could some of the nicks in the Strop damage it.
Thanks in advance

One or two microchips shouldn't be a problem, if you have many more they will be. In that case you can only rehone your razor. If you have nicks on your strop you need to get rid of all the bits that stick out and smooth the leather out with a piece of pumice.

1. strop the razor before shaving and not after!
2. do not thumb nail test a keen razor because this damage the sharp edge! (after the thumb nail test, the razor MUST BE REHONED)
3. I dont believe that these nicks in the strop damage the edge
4. indication for rehoning is how it shaves

Originally Posted by Yannis

2. do not thumb nail test a keen razor because this damage the sharp edge! (after the thumb nail test, the razor MUST BE REHONED)

Wow. I never heard this before.

Originally Posted by Kyle76

Wow. I never heard this before.

Read this report from Mark:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/showt...highlight=test

Viktor

theres no need to do the thumb nail test after you know the razor's sharp. every time you glide/dig that keen edge into your nail you are dulling it slightly.

to do it before shaving then after shaving.. thats alot every day and definitely a way to destroy that edge way faster then normally it would decline.

~J

Dang I didn't see this Thanks for the Info

Originally Posted by jscott

theres no need to do the thumb nail test after you know the razor's sharp. every time you glide/dig that keen edge into your nail you are dulling it slightly.

to do it before shaving then after shaving.. thats alot every day and definitely a way to destroy that edge way faster then normally it would decline.

~J

This is absolutely true. The thumbnail test is too harsh on the microscopic edge and it is only really useful to check if you have a good bevel off the 4K; it will not tell you if you are close to being shave ready. You can do the thumbpad test withouth damaging the edge.

Glad I haven't done the thumbnail test. I've done too many other tests lately, for example, the sharp edge to the cuticle test. That particular test really challenged my first aid methods and the band aid's ability to stop bleeding!

I do a light thumbnail test after I do some rounds on a Norton 4/8k to see where I'm at with setting a beveled edge. It's a little faster than constantly checking a microscope to see progress. When I feel I'm there I'm getting a light tug all the way down the edge. I then will double check with a microscope to see if I have a complete bevel on both sides, and a nice edge. If I got it I then I'll do approx 10-20 laps on a yellow coticule for polishing. At this time I'll test the edge on the pads of my fingers. With a very (I stress, very) light press I look for the feeling you get from touching a very sharp razor (LoL, that's what I'm shooting for) consistently up and down the razor on both sides (I guess I also do this test towards the end of my rounds on the Norton 8k too). I'll then strop and do a hanging hair test if I pass that, then I'm off to shave those pesky whiskers that keep showing up all the time.