Thread: Toothpick Test??

Originally Posted by cwrighta70

I definitely would not veer from the TNT/TPT/HHT, but the description just confused me. I just wanted to know if anyone has every heard of this, or if the seller had the wrong words.

Your best option would be to contact the seller , and find out what they mean . I would bet that the seller knows nothing about straight razors . If the edge has been used to cut a toothpick , it could be chipped . A razors edge is very delicate , and should never be used to cut anything but hair .

Bill Ellis of Billy's Blades wrote this review for eBay sellers in which he states, "Tell them if there is ANY damage to the blade. That includes chips, cracks, or pitting. (take a toothpick and lightly run it across the cutting edge to see if it "snags" anywhere.)" http://reviews.ebay.com/Selling-Stra...00000001456052

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Bill Ellis of Billy's Blades wrote this review for eBay sellers in which he states, "Tell them if there is ANY damage to the blade. That includes chips, cracks, or pitting. (take a toothpick and lightly run it across the cutting edge to see if it "snags" anywhere.)" http://reviews.ebay.com/Selling-Stra...00000001456052

Nice catch hoglahoo, I know I just read that somewhere. Sure enough you beat me to it.

I just run the blade across my eyeball. If I can still see, there's more honing to be done...

The hoped for toothpick test: Same as thumbnail test, but with a toothpick.

The hard truth:
*The toothpick is placed on a hard horizontal surfacr.
*The blade is rested vertically, edge down, purpendicular to the toothpick, on top.
*The spine is struck with the ball of the hand.

If it goes through in one stricke, the axe is ready. Otherwise, more grinding is necessary.

cwrighta, it appears that your seller has indeed read Billy Ellis' review. The seller states in the auction that, "It [the razor] shows nice evenly tapered hone wear and has a couple of 'snags' from the 'toothpick test'."

I think it's time to shoot Bill an email!