Thread: I'm new....

Originally Posted by xman

There is, of course, the infamous hanging hair test.
Take your freshly stropped razor and a clean hair from your head and SLOWLY bring the hair down onto the razor's edge to try and cut it. If it pops in half at all points up the blade you're good to go. If not, you need a honing.

X

Let me add that unless you have thick hair this doesn't always work. I found I had bought a cheap boars hair brush that I pull bristles out of to use for testing. The hair from my head is nowhere comparable to my beard.

Tried the hanging hair test after my shave tonight. It wouldn't cut the hair from my head, or the boars hair from my brush. Any suggestions who to send it to? Don't know if it matters, but it does seem to be sharp along the blade (if I apply too much presure to the blade while I am shaving it does create a cut similar to that caused by a paper cut (you know, no blood, except for when I start to move the blade)

Originally Posted by The Dragon Master

Tried the hanging hair test after my shave tonight. It wouldn't cut . . .

The Hanging Hair test must be done immediately after stropping, before shaving. By the end of the shave the cutting teeth are too bunched up on the edge to clip the hair.

X

Thanks for the advise. Still haven't picked up a strope yet, but I get my tips tomorrow morning, so mabey then.

Hello,

My signature shows the hanging hair test. Keep the blade stationary, don't move it. Just bring the hair, root end out, 3/4 inch, down over the edge of the blade. When the blade cuts the hair, without any sensation of tugging, then you have a good indicator that the blade is ready for a shave test.

I use this test BEFORE using either an abrasive pasted paddle strop or a plain leather strop. This has been the best INDICATOR that the blade is ready for a shave test.

BTW, you really need to strop a razor before you shave with it. If you don't have a strop use an old wide leather belt.

Check out the Archives> Honing> stropping gif for the proper stropping motion.

Originally Posted by randydance062449

I use this test BEFORE using either an abrasive pasted paddle strop or a plain leather strop. This has been the best INDICATOR that the blade is ready for a shave test.

That's interesting. I've only ever been able to pop hairs AFTER the final strop. Might be my fine hair. Also perhaps an indicator that my honing still has room to grow.

X

Originally Posted by randydance062449

Hello,


I use this test BEFORE using either an abrasive pasted paddle strop or a plain leather strop. This has been the best INDICATOR that the blade is ready for a shave test.

That is just what I did Friday night with great results. I knew when it cut the hanging hair, using the pasted strop and then the plain strop would make it even better.

I tried it this time before shaving and it still wasn't able to cut the hair. Just got my tips from work though, so I'll be picking up a stop tomorrow before my shave.

Also, I was looking at my blade after my shave today and noticed black flecks on it. I am pretty sure they weren't there when I bought it, but don't really know what they are. They seen to be raised above the surface because I can feel them when I run my thumbnail across them. I have been cleaning the oil off it before my shave with rubbing alcohol, as well as using it to clean the blade off after a shave. I follow that with an application of mineral oil. Does anyone know what the flecks might be or how to get rid of them? (haven't had a chance to try a scrub brush on it yet)

Mr. Master,

Welcome to our humble board!

Welcome. I hope you feel at home. Someone here can probably answer most questions.

Steven