Thread: Is my razor sharp enough?

Still all according to who's hair and how you do it I can make a knife cut a hair,, but I can tell you this with my wife's hair or mute the HHT doesn't cut and my razors are done by on of the best out there and they shave with out any effort smooth and clean , don't put faith in much more than the shave test, or maybe look at the edge under magnification. Tc

As someone else on this site (can't remember who) said once,"I've had some bad shaves off razors that passed the HHT test, but I've never had a good shave off one that didn't". Sums it up for me too.

I see Lynn's videos where he is shaving his arm at mid length. I have two professionally shaved razors from two respected sharpeners and neither will shave at mid length? I am going to buy a razor from Lynn to act as a standard. I have Shapton stones 500, 1,2,4,8,16 and 30k and cannot get a razor scary sharp. I am wondering if this is a myth. I am getting razors that cut hair, but not like Lynn's videos.

IME you absolutely must have a proper bevel set. Also you should be able to get great shaves from an 8k, everything beyond that is gravy.

As most have already said, the HHT test, is subjective. For example: I have recently gotten back into using a SR. Having several of my Father's vintage (pre-1900's) SR's I sent to a few reputable SRP members for honing and a couple brand new, 'shave ready' SR's from 2 different retailers, I had a little 'gauge' for my honing and stropping ability.

I first tried the HHT, then shaved with MY honed and stropped razor. Then each one of the razors I sent out to be honed and 'shave ready.' Then each brand new 'shave ready' SR.

The results? Some passed the HHT, some failed the HHT. Some shaved well. Some shaved so-so.

My conclusion? Technique, technique, technique! The more I use a SR, the better my shave results are...regardless of the honer. ((Keep in mind, I'm kinda OCD. So the SR's I personally honed, do pass the HHT as well as the 'other' "tests."))

All I can say is: use a straight razor EVERY single day and really take note of how each shave went (prep of the razor, as well as prep of the face)). It only takes a few weeks to 'figure it out.' (3 weeks = 21 differnent variations.) But you have to really be honest and take note, if you will.

Originally Posted by judgebc

I see Lynn's videos where he is shaving his arm at mid length. I have two professionally shaved razors from two respected sharpeners and neither will shave at mid length? I am going to buy a razor from Lynn to act as a standard. I have Shapton stones 500, 1,2,4,8,16 and 30k and cannot get a razor scary sharp. I am wondering if this is a myth. I am getting razors that cut hair, but not like Lynn's videos.

I know this might come a a huge surprise

"Your hair might not react the same as somebody else's hair"

ALL hair cutting tests must be calibrated to you by you to be of any use, otherwise they mean diddly squat

Many tests using your hair can be Calibrated using a new DE blade, ie: you are calibrating your hair not the edge

Once you have that figured then the Hair Tests "might" actually help you when honing...