Thread: Thumb Pad Test

I know it's been done to death elsewhere but I cannot make head nor tail or what I am supposed to be looking for in there!

So I run my thumb along the blade and it feels definitely sticky. Am I close to shave ready or far far away?!?

Simon

That means that you are close to shave ready.

I too am curious about this test. I can shave skin off my thumb with my pockect knife, but can't shave with it. Just exactly how does one do that TPT and what phenomena are being looked for by means of this test?

clueless, Bruce

Your thumb should not slide easily along the blade. Instead it should seem to stick to the edge.

I know that some people drag their thumb across the edge of the razor and some drag the edge along the edge. Personally I use the latter method very carefully. If a razor is very sharp and close to being shave ready you will get a smooth dragging sensation along the skin of your thumb when the edge easily bites into the top layer of your skin. By doing this you can even tell when the sharpness of a blade is uneven because different parts of the blade will feel different. I have found that the best way to develop the feel for a correct thumb pad test is to take your best shaving razor and feel the edge. Then take a razor that is fairly dull or not shaving up to your standard and compare it to your shave ready razor. This should give you something to start with.

I honed a Wapienica last night that had an edge so dull I could press it into my thumb... That's a definite "no pass" right there.

Josh

I just want to add that you all should know by now that the real test is the shave test not the thumb pad test. With this said all (as in 100%) of my razors that shave well pass the thumb pad test with the feel that I am looking for. If a razor does not pass the TPT then I will not waste my time shaving with it because I know that it is not close enough yet. For me the TPT is not the "be all end all" of tests, it is simply an effective tool that I use to assess the relative sharpness of the blade and determine if a razor is ready for a shave test. As a general rule if the edge slides across your skin easily without any "stick" then the razor is underhoned. If the edge feels rough against your skin the razor is overhoned in that area or has a jagged edge which will cause irritation while shaving. If the edge has a "smooth stickiness" against your thumb pad the razor is close to being "shave ready" in my experience.

Check This if you haven't already.

X

now thats handy as heck!

Running ALONG the edge it's sticky sticy sticky...shaving...it tugs like hell?

Any thoughts?!?

Si