Thread: The eternal question: is it sharp enough?

Originally Posted by Lt.Arclight

All the razors in my rotation are good shavers.As much as I enjoy having a successful HHT, it really doesn't matter though. I find that through experience, you'll know what is sharp by just touching the edge with your thumb-and even then, the real proof is in the shaving test.

I don't try the shaving test until the edge is so sharp , I'm afriad to touch it with my thumb .

I remember my newbie days, and I also still get the occasional tug on a razor.

If you move the razor wrong, or if you are hesitant, or have the wrong angle, you can get pulling.

Mostly razor burn is from YOU pushing the razor into your face too hard. Light swipes across your face, not down it, prevent this.


My own personal test of a razor's sharpness is WTG on my mustachios. If it easily digs in and slides down my upper lip, giving a smooth finish, with almost no pressure, the razor is perfect.

If it wants to glance off the mustache whiskers, and I have to force it into them, it isn't sharp enough.

I bought a razor from Lynn, and not understanding exactly what I was dealing with (levels of sharpness), and being a first time straight shaver I questioned the edge. After shaving and honing other razors, I realize that was a damn sharp razor! I think after 4 or 5 shaves with your Lynn honed razor, you will find your sweet spot. I usually strop 20 on linen and 25 leather.

I find that hairs are more difficult to cut in one direction than the other. On some hairs for example I touch my razor more than 1 cm away from my fingers and the hair is cut and don't even feel it, sometimes I feel a faint tug and the cut. I turn the hair around and it's very difficult to cut without being maybe an 8th of an inche of my fingers.

This may be because hairs have a bark like surface and this surface has a direction (like scale on a fish). Try it both ways.

On the other hand, I don't think it's possible to learn to use a straight razors without nicks and cuts, since learning is a feedback process of "too much" and "too little" until it's "just right" hopefully. Hence "If at first you faill, try and try again".

McKie



Hair under a microscope : http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2164/...5a2dc63a_o.jpg

My goal is to get better at determining sharpness by using the TPT.
And here also there're several versions of the TPT, so go figure.