Thread: 1st Hone

I'm pretty sure the HHT is only supposed to be used after you are done with the 8K side of the hone. I believe it was Randy who made sure to bring that up whenever someone talked about performing the HHT after every set of honing.

Search for the paper towel test by robert williams a.k.a. papabull. It is another test that you can do to determine sharpness of a cutthroat razor.

I dont understand the obbsesion with the hht test nor the paper towel test or the blue moon test...a dull razor will cut body hair and still give a poor shave...the only true test of sharpness is to shave with a newly honed and then stroped razor...

Once again, thanks for the tips guys. I think I agree about the HHT not being entirely reliable (in my experience so far - limited as it is). It seems a little dificult to quantify how well a blade passes the HHT, and as you say, it isn't the 'be all'. After the work I did on the blade last going off it seemed to pass the HHT convincingly, but I still had my doubts, so I decided to give it a shave and the results were very good. I am very pleased with the result, which is as good as I got when I first received the razor. I'll probably try the pyramid system eventually (maybe if I get a razor new or a project), but I'll stay clear for now since the blade seems to be in good condition and just use the 8000 - I know that this is a debated subject so I won't open that can of worms . I guess the most important thing is that I learn from this experience so that I can somehow replicate or apply it somehow the next time. I will look for the paper towel test.

The problem with the hanging hair test is that so many people see it has a binary test unlike all the other "better" tests. What I mean by that is the razor either cuts the hair or it doesn't, test complete. Other tests are thought to produce more "information". Yet this isn't true. With experience the hanging hair test provides lots of valuable information. Its not whether the hair gets cut. Its how easily it gets cut, what sound it makes, how quickly the razor grabs the hair, and whether the hair pops off or collapses down, etc. Just like the other tests it takes time and experience to learn, and it has a valuable standing in your edge evaluation toolbox.

The info you have been given is right on! The only thing I would like to add is that after performing some back honing strokes be sure to follow that with 5 or so normal honing strokes.

With regards to the various tests. None of them is a "proof" of shave readiness, they are just an "indicator" and each of the tests require practice to get maximum value from.

It does sound like you are almost overhoned so stay away from the hones for this razor until you have to.

PS, yesterdayI overhoned a razor that had been shaving very well, I just couldn't leave well enough alone!


Your doing well,

All of us have overhoned a razor...but thats easy to fix! If you have honed a razor and feel you screwed it up lost sharpness ect...get out your4/8 norton do a pyramid no pressure onblade just weight ofblade onstone 5/5 3/5 1/5 1/5 then twenty roundtrip strokes on belgium coticle then 60 trips on leather strop...no linen and walah SHARP RAZOR...

Sometimes that works but not always. Next is the backhoning and/or you can use balsa wood or a wooden matchstick.

Originally Posted by clarman

All of us have overhoned a razor...but thats easy to fix! If you have honed a razor and feel you screwed it up lost sharpness ect...get out your4/8 norton do a pyramid no pressure onblade just weight ofblade onstone 5/5 3/5 1/5 1/5 then twenty roundtrip strokes on belgium coticle then 60 trips on leather strop...no linen and walah SHARP RAZOR...

Originally Posted by randydance062449

or you can use balsa wood or a wooden matchstick.

How is that done exactly?

X

Randy just curious if you backhone then do 5 regular strokes on a hone arent you back where you started?