Honing Question - Hanging Hair Test

Hi to all,

I am new to straight razor shaving (in fact it was only last week that I bought my first razor), but my first two tries with the blade were an absolute success. I managed to have two full shaves without a nick and so clean that I do not think that I will ever go back to disposable razors. However, I noticed afterwards that my razor (although advertised as shave-ready) cannot in any case the Hanging Hair Test. In fact, it needs quite some pressure to cut the hair in half.

What I would like to ask you is:

1) Is this the case for every shave-ready razor or did I get fooled by the merchant? My razor is a brand new DOVO 5/8 carbon steell half-hollow.

2)I bought a DOVO strop and a Canadian silicone honing stone (my budget could not allow me to buy a Belgian one). Will I be able to sharpen my blade with these tools, so that it will pass the Hair Test or should I send it for sharpening to someone professional?

3)What would you suggest for my 2nd razor and how much would it be sensible for me to spend for it? I am not into the collecting thing, I am just interested in a really good blade. I live in Oxford, UK, so if you have any store here or in London to suggest visiting I would be glad.

Thanks again for your responses.

1 - The shave is what determines if the razor is sharp. The hanging hair test is very subjective depending on the hair, the tester, etc. If it's shaving well, I wouldn't worry.

2 - The strop will work well for your daily stropping before shaving. The stone is questionable. Do you know the grit rating? If it is a normal silicon carbide stone, it is too coarse. keep it for your kitchen knives.

3 - I would suggest finding a razor you like here on the Buy-Sell-Trade forums. You will get a fair deal, and these razors are usually sold shave-ready.

Good luck, let us know how it goes!

It is hard to know whether your particular razor came shave ready from the seller. However, in general, the hanging hair test (HHT), is not a very good indicator of shave readiness. If your razor passes the test, it usually means that it is very sharp but many razors that do not pass his test are very sharp as well. The best test to asses shave readiness is the shave test and I gather from your post that your razor successfully passed that test. Regarding the hones, it is hard to help you without knowing the specific details of the hone that you bought (brand, grit, etc,...). For good razors at a reasonable price the classified section offers a variety of razors to fit any budget. Just make sure that that the razor is advertised to be shave ready. Many members here are from Europe and a lot of people would ship to the UK. I hope that I answered all your questions but if you have others, please do not hesitate to post again. And keep us informed of your experiences in shaving with a straight.

Al raz.

Welcome to SRP. The HHT (hanging hair test) is not a reliable test and should not be used to gauge if the straight razor is shave ready. Since you have a couple of comfortable shaves in already I would say that the razor is what you paid for as far as sharpness.

A good razor and how much? That's subjective and there is more to it than just a brand name like the grind, the scales, the depth of the blade in 8ths of an inch and what works best for you. Read the WIKI on suggested brands and brands to avoid. Look through the gallery and razor clubs and see what you like. A lot of us talk about grinds in posts so read those also. You will have a better idea as to what you may want to buy reading other posts than in just the replies to this thread. The razors in the classified section are reasonably prised and will be shave ready if noted as such. There are also vendors in SRP that can meet you needs so check them out.

In the end you will be the one to judge if it is a good razor and worth the money, we can tell you wat to avoid, and that is in the WIKI as are the brands that most think are good razors.
:gl:

Thanks for the quick response.

1) At its first use the razor seemed to do pretty well (I had a fully grown beard and I was amazed by its results), but the second I shaved I felt like it was pulling my hair and I had a lot of razor burns.

3) That's the stone I bought: Canadian Silicon Sharpening Honing Stone UK. Is it any good?

how much stropping did you do in between the shaves? i always do at least 50 laps on the leather in between, if not more as it does make a big difference. considering you are new to straight shaving i would read up on the stropping techniques and check out the videos on here. if your technique is good then a little extra on the leather won't hurt.

How about the honing stone I have bought? Is it any good?

I've never heard of that kind of stone..... It says it's for razors, but I'd be a little worried that it's too coarse of a hone...

Is there any information as to what grit it might be? Perhaps it is similar to a barber hone.:shrug:

I think that the grit is 1500. What is the optimum grit for a razor honing stone?

Welcome to SRP. There is a lot of info that you will want to read in the SRP Wiki @ the toolbar above. I am not familiar with the stone you have. If it is a 1500 it might be alright for initial bevel setting. Most beginning honers do well with the Norton 4/8 combo stone.

BTW, HHT is great if you get it but I have gotten great shaves without it. Learn the TPT (thumbpad test) and you will have a better indicator to work with as you progress. :gl:

If you have gotten two great shaves already, you did not get cheated by the merchant! Unless hand honed by knowledgeable people, even new high quality razors are not generally ready to shave. Actually, once you have shaved with a perfect edge it is no longer shave ready and needs to be stropped on a plain leather strop. Be careful to learn how to strop and not roll the edge of the razor. You should not need actual honing for a couple of months. Strop before every shave. Just the name of the game! HHT means nothing. From what you describe, you are on the right track with a great razor.

I know nothing of what your stone is. But if I had to guess, a silicon stone is probably much too course for razors. Most people here use water stones that slowly break up as you hone with them. They are in the 4000 to 16,000 grit range. 4000 does actual ‘sharpening’, 8000 is where you hone to maybe shave ready, 12,000 plus is polishing the razor edge. Until you know what you really have, I’d not touch that stone with your razor.

For what it's worth, some of my razors that will cut a hanging hair won't do so until just after stropping. Others will cut the hair at any time.

As others have said, shave with the razor. If the shave is good you don't need to worry. Once the shave quality deteriorates, then you need to figure out how to get the razor back in shape.


Scott

If you got a couple of good shaves but now get pulling and burning. The edge is simply not as sharp as when you got it. How it got that way is another thing. I would mostly suspect too high a shaving angle & pressure. If you cannot restore the edge thru stropping it 50 or 60 X I suggest getting it honed.

A 1500 grit SiC stone is not for edge maintenance no matter what the ad says.

US $30 - $60 will buy you a nice razor from SRP classifieds. It's nice to have a second razor but I would spend that money on a small coticule. 125x 30mm is what I use. If money is an issue a standard grade rather than select or kosher grade is ok. Again that is what I have. I bought a belgian blue & coticule for about US $60 from Rob at Ardennes. I thought that was easily affordable.
If you start learning to hone with small stones you will never need or want a 3" stone and also warped razors will be no challenge.
Here's a vid you may find useful
http://straightrazorpalace.com/video...cule-bout.html

What might be really helpful is if you can get together with one of the UK members and they can really help you...

As for honemiester's in the UK try a PM to Poona and Blue Principle I think both of them still hone razors in the UK.....

Quote "This is a truly superior sharpening system to not only help you sharpen but also maintain the correct angle."
Hey, it helps maintain the angle too!

Hello!
Where are you based around Oxford?
That stone looks very coarse. I'd speak to them about it, as it doesn't look fit for the purpose they sell it.
Unless you paid extra to have it honed by the shop, they're not shave ready. Not far off it, but not good enough.
There are no great shops round here. You can get strops in Oxford, but they're extortionate, & razors, strops & a few other things in Reading.

I got my dovo honed by this guy in the UK...
http://www.razorsharpening.co.uk/

Thank you all for your advice. I will probably not touch the honing stone for the moment and just uses the strop.

Quote:

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Hello!
Where are you based around Oxford?
That stone looks very coarse. I'd speak to them about it, as it doesn't look fit for the purpose they sell it.
Unless you paid extra to have it honed by the shop, they're not shave ready. Not far off it, but not good enough.
There are no great shops round here. You can get strops in Oxford, but they're extortionate, & razors, strops & a few other things in Reading.

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I live almost down town at Cowley place.