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Here's a somewhat unusual question; does the hanging hair test work if you have really fine hair? I'm blonde and the hair on my head is extremely fine and flexible. I have my razors sharp enough to cut it unsupported, but they aren't being cleaved perpendicularly. The hair bends a bit, about 45 degrees or so, then the edge digs in and cuts the hair. Does this just mean that my hair is different from average or that the edge still needs a little work?
I've seen it work different ways with different hair types.....and some people say that it doesn't always work on every razor either.....
The HHT is a relative test, not an absolute test IMO.
Try a test shave now that you know what is happening when you do the HHT on your hair. If it shaves well, then you know for next time that for you, the HHT means a 45 degree splice rather than a cut. If it doesn't shave well, go back to the hone, redo the HHT to see what happens, test shave another part of your face etc. Build up a picture of the relationship between what the HHT does and what the shave is like for you for each of your razors. Once you know that, the HHT becomes a useful shave quality indicator.
James.
James has it spot on about the subjectiveness of the HHT. It has never worked consistently for me (I also have fine hair). And it works even less well on curly hair. You can use it as an indicator of getting close to shave ready, but I wouldn't rely on it solely. The only reliable test is the shave test, of course.:)
For example, last night I gave my Dovo Bismarck a touch-up on the Norton, a few passes on a dry coticule, and a few passes on the pasted paddle to finish. Then tried the HHT -- barely passing with difficulty. But over the months, and with my hair type, and that particular razor, I knew it might mean it was shave-ready or, equally, not ready yet. Only way to tell was to shave -- and it was one of the smoothest and closest I'd had for weeks!
You just can't tell off HHT alone, which is why a lot of the guys here use microscopes, and other tests on the way such as TPT. Ultimately though, you're only going to know through shaving your face. (Or if you have a cat... :rolleyes: )
The HHT works a lot better on my wife's hair (which is much longer as well as being less fine) than it does on my own. I don't think that she knows that I collect her hairs for testing my razors, and she might be a bit creeped out if I told her.
Good idea...I have extremely short hair (I haven't used a comb in 10 years), so using my wife's hair would make the HHT a whole lot easier. I don't know why I didn't think of that already.:hmmm:Quote:
Originally Posted by Timeo Danaos
Jim
Nailed it right there, When a wise old man taught me to hone (See if Lynn catches the old comment). I asked him about the different test, his answer was there is only one test that matters, Shave.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roadrunner
Nah, I can't ever get it to work for me, my hair is very fine. I use a bristle from my brush (it occasionally sheds) to test, and if it's sharp enough to effortlessly divide the bristle, it's sharp enough to shave with. (by my standards, anyhow)
I can tell you that my Feather AC with a Pro Super blade NEVER passed a HHT.
I'm a woman with very fine blondish-light brown hair, and none of my razors--including the ones honed by Josh and Mike Ratliff--have ever passed the HHT with MY hair. I've given up on that test...instead, I use the shaving-arm-hair test, I look at the bevel front and back and if all seems well, I shave with it.
Everything I have always passes HHT whether I use the girlfriends hair or mine.
I have even gotten a feel of whether it is sharp or not off how easily and loudly it pops but it is totally subjective and can't quantify it.
I know some people can't get theirs to do it but I would say that it should pop fine hair if it is truely sharp.
Trust me, the Feather AC is as sharp as anything you've ever used, if not a good deal sharper. I think it might be so smooth it doesn't have enough "tooth" to grab a hair.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Topher
OK I will take your word for it.
:roflmao You're just using hair from the wrong area...:roflmaoQuote:
Originally Posted by YesSheDoes!
I usually test on a chest hair, but EVERYBODY has hair on their body coarse enough to do a good HHT...
You just have to work out the kinks :roflmao
So...your animated GIF signature.....is that a PHHT?
There is a version of that test, you know, that has already worked out the kinks - the in situ PHHT: it was discussed, in some detail I might add, here.
:w
James.
For those of us who have rather fine hair which won't pass the HHT and are unwilling to pluck PH's from delicate areas of their own or others, I propose a new test: the HTPT or hanging toilet paper test. I once read that the true test of a Samurai sword, as we all know - the sharpest of all edged devices, was to place a piece of very light, very thin, very delicate paper paper on the blade overnight and find two pieces - one on each side of the blade - the following morning.
We who hone and we who attempt to hone ought to be willing to take the challenge. Each at our own time, but best at dusk, when the moment is right as the edge is right, set a razor opened fully and supported properly with the TP gently placed on the edge and wait until the next dawn to see the miracle of the passed HTPT or alone, suffer silently the realization it's a darn good thing you're suffering this shame alone.:roflmao
HTPT forever:bow