cutting paper to test sharpness??

I just read in another post about cutting paper to check a blade's sharpness.

I thought I had read somewhere that slicing paper would actually ruin a razor, but I can't recall. Any thoughts?

DISCLAIMER: I am well aware that you can't equate a sharpness test like HHT to the hallowed "shave test", but I wish there was some repeatable, objective way to be able to compare one razor's quality to another (without waiting to grow a new beard and lather up). I'm trying to compare a blade that i'm honing to a pre-honed blade, but everything i've read seems to suggest the HHT is way too subjective.

:eek: Please dont.:nono:

Don't cut anything but hair or you'll have to re-hone all over again.

Agreed, cutting paper is a sure way to damage a delicate edge. I wouldn't let any of my razors cut paper unless I wanted something to do (i.e. re-hone).

cutting paper is a common test for sharpness of knives.
a shave-sharp razor should most certainly be able to cut paper.
however i'm not so certain it's still shave-sharp after the test.

at the end of the day i like to use my razors for shaving, not as box cutters so the tests that are less destructive to the edge are preferable.

but of course everybody has their own opinion of how to do stuff.

I'd rather use glass if I want to breadknife a razor as it produces a more even dullness

Cutting paper will dull the blade. Long ago, I bought some high quality scissors to give hair cuts to the kids and I was told by the hair professional who sold them to me, "only cut hair, never anything else such as paper as it will ruin the edge"

12 years and counting, the scissors still cut hair well and have never been sharpened. Take care of your tools and they will take care of you.

The shave test is the best way. It doesn't take long to get the "feel" of a sharp blade. Although I have been at this for a short time, (three months) I know the sharpness of a blade and how effective it will be just by very lightly touching the edge of the blade with my thumb pad after stropping it. I moved up the learning curve quickly by diving into straight shaving and reading SRP.

Good Luck!

Pabster

Whittling hair is another test people use to gauge the sharpness of knives. That way the only thing you'll be cutting is hair.

I believe papa bull uses a paper towel to test his edges. I'll see if I can find the thread.

Here it is:http://straightrazorpalace.com/basic...owel-test.html

Now my wife used a few of my DD's about 2 years ago to open some boxes..... So does that count as the paper test?????

I have finally sort of forgiven her for that.... sort of... not completely....


I think Mark might be right I think I remember something about wet tissue paper

That wasn't the thread I was thinking of Mark.... The one I remember was talking about cutting a wet kleenex IIRC....

when i worked in a warehouse, shipping/receiving, i was told that cutting cardboard was one of the quickest ways to dull a razor (short of smashing the blade with a hammer).....my experience has been that this statement is more or less true.....I would imagine paper to have the same effect.

Short of examination under microscope, I think the HHT is about the closest thing we'll get.

cutting paper=dull but thats already been said. through my xperience it will destroy the edge of a knife which is much thicker than that of a razor

The way I look at it is that paper is made from wood. Paper is after all just a bunch of wood fibers smooshed together. So ask yourself, would you like someone to take your razors edge to a lump of wood?

Amen! I too wish there were some objective way to test sharpness. The problem is there are too many variables. They range from the type of steel of the razor to the heat treatment of the steel, the angle of the bevel, the degree of sharpness of the edge, etc. and that's just on the equipment end! The HHT is notoriously subjective as everyone's hair is different in thickness and has different structure. Curly hair, for instance, has little bumps on the side of the hair which take up water differentially to the rest of the hair and make the hair curl. No bumps = straight hair. Problem: the bumps can catch the edge of the bumps and cut differently from the straight hair.

The best test I've found is how your razor cuts your beard.

Howard

This is exactly what my straight razor teacher taught me to do.

MY ZEEpk WILL CUT PAPER, BUT I DO NOT DARE PUT IT TO MY FACE. GOOD FOR CUTTING TAPE TOO.

I think it is for sure subjective between users- you can/I cant- but we both love the shave.

However, for those who do use it- It seems like they take it as an objective measure. To wit -if your control razor will /and the variable wont...then what?

but maybe your asking because neither will- you did not say.

you dont need a whole beard, you should be able to tell with just a little 'stache stubble what's it gonna be:gl:

My fave test I believe is called the "standing hair test": skim the blade above your arm without touching the skin. If the edge catches the hairs & feels very grabby, it's sharp. If the hairs bend out of the way & don't get caught, it's not sharp. Caveat: a blade can be sharp but not polished, in which case it will be very grabby & will shave, but will give you razor burn like you wouldn't believe. This test only tests sharpness.