Thread: Toothpick Test??

Just browsing the Bay and found a pretty nice Wester Bros. The description says whoever used the razor used the "toothpick test"???

What the heck? Am I just ignorant, or does this person not know what they're talking about?

Someone drew the razor across a toothpick and somehow judged from the result that the razor was some level of sharp.

I suppose there is an outside chance though that someone used the razor to remove the beef jerky that was stuck in their teeth for days

The only thing even close to this that I've heard of is the "match stick" trick, whereby you run an over-honed razor over a match stick to dull it back down (i.e. break the foil edge) and restart honing from scratch.

As for what on earth you can glean from running the razor over a toothpick, well, the only thing I think you could conclusively glean is that now the razor definitely needs honing!

Mark

Originally Posted by cwrighta70

"toothpick test"???

Instead of their thumb nail (TNT) they used a toothpick.

I just can't imagine that the TPT () would be a good substitution for the TNT?

I definitely wouldn't use this test in the later stages of
honing as it would certainly dull your edge. If you want
to check the bevel in the early stages of honing better
just stick with the TNT.

- Scott

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.

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.