Thread: HHT failures

Where are the contradictory forum posts? Just curious, cause I'd like to see what they say

I am still using the AHT and it seems to be working pretty well for me anyway..



Lynn




AHT=attached (to face) hair test

Originally Posted by sffone

I would like to know how to correctly do the HHT so that when attempting my own honing I'll be able to judge my progress.

And in this statement lies the problem. Too many people think that if this test is not passed, then their razor is not sharp enough to shave their face.

And if the test is not standard, and you have to figure out your own test, then why not call it the Hanging Hair Check, and just say "find a way to get your razor to cut a hanging hair, and you're good."?

It's like a 5-body blade...sure, the sword could cut through 5 human bodies, but why would you ever need to?

Originally Posted by sffone

I would like to know how to correctly do the HHT so that when attempting my own honing I'll be able to judge my progress.

I would really appreciate any help anyone might be able to provide.

In that Wiki article of Bart's lies the answer to his question, it is a road map to developing an HHT it does not say that an HHT is the end all be all of tests....

The problem is the interpetation....


Trust me here I understand what you mean about it being somewhat mis-leading.... BUT we can't just start ignoring parts of what we do just because it doesn't work the same for everybody either... Sooner or later each person has to learn for themselves what works for them and what doesn't...

For the record, I did not strop the razors -- I tried the HHT as soon as I unwrapped them -- and the razors were from two different honemeisters. And none of the razors passed the HHT -- didn't even come close. From what I've been reading in this thread, I guess I just need to forget about the HHT, at least until I get a bit more experience.

Thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts -- I really appreciate all you folks taking the time to offer input. We newbies need all the help we can get.

Thanks again.

The HHT has to be adapted to each person and their individual hair, and from there even to the different types of hair that a person has. The hair off my head comes in what I think of as extra thick, thick, med and fine, and they all perform differently when tested, going from easy to hard in regards to passing the test.

Also, as Bart pointed out in the wiki, how much oil and milsc crap the hair has on it can make it much harder for the hair to pop. For example, I'm pretty dry skinned and wash my hair alot, but I hadn't done so for a day or two and I got caught in the rain. I tried a HHT test on a razor and the oily, rain gunked hair just refused to cut. I tried some hair I keep around to test, and they popped fine. So, if you have fine and/or oily hair (or maybe use a resilient conditioner) the hair is going to be more difficult to cut. I'd think that you can prolly find a way to adapt the test to your specific hair so you get some useful info about the blades sharpness, but I really can't say how to go about that.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

In that Wiki article of Bart's lies the answer to his question, it is a road map to developing an HHT it does not say that an HHT is the end all be all of tests....

The problem is the interpetation....


Trust me here I understand what you mean about it being somewhat mis-leading.... BUT we can't just start ignoring parts of what we do just because it doesn't work the same for everybody either... Sooner or later each person has to learn for themselves what works for them and what doesn't...

I agree with ya Glen But if a lot of people are misinterpreting what is being said, than the wording needs to be clarified so there is no misunderstanding.

In no way do I mean to say abandon it or to say that other people trials are irrelevant, but it should be clear to everyone reading it, that the test doesn't work for everyone, and is not the ultimate test. Lots of people seem to think it is.

Originally Posted by sffone

For the record, I did not strop the razors -- I tried the HHT as soon as I unwrapped them -- and the razors were from two different honemeisters. And none of the razors passed the HHT -- didn't even come close. From what I've been reading in this thread, I guess I just need to forget about the HHT, at least until I get a bit more experience.

Thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts -- I really appreciate all you folks taking the time to offer input. We newbies need all the help we can get.

Thanks again.

A lot of guys do this and some don't even wipe the oil off. You really do need to strop them before trying the HHT. The biggest problem as previously stated here is that a bunch of guys then feel that they won't get a good shave and with that thought in their heads, guess what.........

Like most tests available other than shaving, at best, the tests are indicative but not the complete answer. The good thing about the shaving test is that it can really give you some good information like......just right, overhoned, not quite there or totally not there...........

Have fun,

Lynn

See if the hairs that you normally use will pass the HHT; on a new DE blade. If they don't, then find a hair that will. Go from there.

I've gotten some that pass and some that didn't but shaved well in either case. I can't recall who said it but a year or so ago one fellow claimed that if a razor didn't pass HHT it wouldn't shave as well as one that did. That may have been the case for him but IME if it will pop hair on my arm it will give me a good shave whether it will pass HHT or not.

Even that test doesn't work for everyone. A fellow at one of the get togethers saw Randydance popping hairs on his arm with a freshly honed razor. He told Randy he had never been able to get a razor to pop hair on his arm and asked Randy if he could try it. He did try it and the razor that would pop hairs on Randy's arm easily would not cut or pop the hair on that fellow's arm. Point being that all hair is not created equal so if the razor will give a good shave that is all that counts.