Thread: HHT

Quick question.
Is it possible that a str8 is sharp but fails on HHT?

happens all the time... the tpt and shave test are much better indicators of shave readyness

Yes. The HHT has some merit, but is no indication of shave readiness. It's possible to pass the HHT, then refine the edge further & it'll fail. It may be that it works best when there are some "teeth" to grab it.

Absolutely. While a positive HHT can indicate a shave-ready razor, a negative HHT doesn't mean it's not shave-ready.

I have several razors that don't quite pass the HHT perfectly but shave fine. My first razor didn't pass it at all and shaved great.

That's why they say the shave test is THE test.

The HHT is a parlor trick that has no value in judging the sharpness of the razor.

I too have had good shaves from razors that don't pass the HHT. OTOH, I have had better shaves from those that do pass. I don't think it is useless in judging how sharp a razor is. Before I could get it on a fairly regular basis I thought that my hair was too fine to get it.

Once I started getting it I knew that my hair wasn't the issue. There are some members who have posted in similar threads that they won't shave with a razor that doesn't pass HHT. I don't take it that far but I do insist that a razor pop hairs easily while suspended above the skin, not touching it. I have found that with the hair popping level of sharpness I get a good shave. If it won't do that it isn't ready IME. YMMV.

So far, I've only had one razor one time pass the HHT test as I've seen it described here (slowly lower a hair onto an upward facing blade and the hair should just fall in two effortlessly). And to be honest, that blade shaved me a little uncomfortably. It felt very sharp but was kind of scratchy and rough feeling, not as smooth as I'd had with other razors. I kind of think maybe it was too sharp for me or something, I'm not sure.

I have another dozen razors or so that will pop my arm and leg hair no problem, above the skin, but won't pass the HHT on that same arm or leg hair or on my fiancee's thin hair from her brush unless I really finagle the test (ie try to cut it very near where I'm pinching the hair, rather than out a 1/2" or so. But all of these razors shave me close and comfortable I'm still a newbie, so it could be that these razors aren't as sharp as they could (should?) be, but even still, I'm getting near BBS shaves that are very comfortable, so I'm not really hung up on exactly how sharp (or not) they are. I still strive to be able to get the HHT to pass reliably, and I try it on every razor after I'm done honing, but I'm not there yet.

The HHT isn't a standardized enough test in general to be definitive. I believe it can be useful if you have very controlled variables. For example, hair type will very significantly affect the HHT performance undoubtably. Also, how far away you hold the hair from the razor when you do the test. Etc. If you can get consistent and reliable results by controlling all of these variables, then it is a valid test.

I use the hair off my head as an indicator of shave-readiness, and so far it's been a great test. I don't have long hair, so the hairs I use are 1" or less. That razor better simply pop that hair along all points on the edge or else it's not ready. Every time the razor didn't "pop" the hairs it didn't shave well. But this is how I do it, and my razor will quite possibly fail the HHT if performed by another member's standards.

It's a highly subjective test, so if it works for you, great, but if it doesn't then no biggy. The only true test, I think we can all agree on, is how well it shaves.

I may be fairly new to this, but a) i know what a hair looks like, b) I know how to hold it between my fingers, 3) I know what a centimeter is, and 4) I know Lynn Abrams knows how to hone.

I now have three razors bought new and honed by Lynn. Not one of them "passed" the HHT at any point along the edge, with any (reasonable) thickness of hair, despite repeated trials.

And, yes, each one shaved beautifully.

The HHT means absolutely nothing, IMHO.

Originally Posted by fccexpert

The HHT is a parlor trick that has no value in judging the sharpness of the razor.

Everyone always agrees that the TPT takes practice and one needs to learn how to interpret it. The same thing counts for probing a razor with a hanging hair.
One has to know the hair. One has to know certain things about the status of the edge. One has to calibrate his way of performing it.
I am currently working on a wiki article that offers a workable method for making the test serviceable while honing razors.

Now, you may not need it, fccexpert, and that is fine.

But it is my most used test for honing a razor, and while I always perform a test shave before sending one out, I can pretty much predict how it will shave, based on how the razor responds to the HHT before and after I strop it.
I am usually alone when I hone razors, with no audience but myself, when I sever a hanging hair. I totally don't get it why, every time this method for probing the keenness of a razor is brought up, someone that obviously doesn't use it, chimes in to dismiss it as a "parlor trick".

I looked up "parlor trick". What is a Parlor Trick?

I still don't get it.

Bart.