Thread: The Almighty Hanging Hair Test (HHT)...

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

The HHT has more to do with the type of hair. Some people have it so fine that there's nothing they can pass the HHT with. If the hair is too fine it will be more likely to bend instead of providing some resistance for your edge to separate the molecules.

I suggest trying the HHT on a factory sharpened blade first. If you can't pass the HHT this way, then I'll agree. Otherwise it's not the hair, your SR could be sharper.

Scott

Did that with a fresh AC Pro blade and the only hair of sufficient length available to me. It didn't pass the HHT either. Since then I stopped bothering and switched to the maximum progress method. The shaves that I've been getting are a definite proof that it works.

Hi, whats the maximum progress method

All I know about the HHT is that neither my wifes nor my own hair will pass it, not with my honing, Lynn's honing, Joe Chandlers honing, or a new DE blade.

Originally Posted by vcowman

Hi, whats the maximum progress method

If it ain't getting sharper, move onto a higher grit. I still prefer the pyramid for getting the blade shave-ready but this one's the best when dealing with pastes. Just do it in very small steps to avoid overhoning and make sure you have a good consistent sharpness test.

I don't do pastes so I'm not one to talk about them but with hones I think its safe to say and I think Joe will agree with me that any given hone will sharpen blade X to a certain potential and that degree of sharpness will vary with each blade depending on the material, grind and condition its in. After that you will not improve the edge but will continue to remove metal. So you go to the next higher grit to get that next degree of sharpness say X+1 (hey this is starting to look like my old algebra problems) but at what point do you stop. You could go from the 8K to a 12k to a 15K to a 30K and then you could go to extra fine diamond hones. Heck, you could have an edge so keen you could part the Red Sea with it.When you get to X+8 or so you might have a wicked sharp edge but it might be useless for shaving-too brittle an edge, too fragile. I guess this X+ will depend on the metal and all those other variables.

So my point is that personally I don't give a hoot about the HHT, I just shave. I hone to get an edge that gives me a shave of a quality that pleases me and has an edge with good durability which is a balancing act we all must reckon with when we hone our blades no matter the medium used.

The hanging hair test is just a starting point for me. Once I get it to pass on the hone I go to the pasted strop. It still doesn’t mean it’s going to be shave ready. I had two razors I sharpened over this weekend that both passed the HHT I shaved with the first one last night and the shave was horrible so I pulled out the other one and had a great shave. If this had been the first time that this has happened to me I would be worried about the razor but it’s not, from what I’ve found it will probably just take a little more work on the pasted strop and all should be right with the world again.

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

If it ain't getting sharper, move onto a higher grit. I still prefer the pyramid for getting the blade shave-ready but this one's the best when dealing with pastes. Just do it in very small steps to avoid overhoning and make sure you have a good consistent sharpness test.

I'm just getting into the sharpening phase (I started with a Feather A/C [in retrospect, I would have trouble recomending that system as a starter set]), grabbed a bunch of eBay straights (some good, most not) and a Dovo loom strop, and, just recently, treated myself to one of Tony's excellent strops and a pasted paddle strop (what a difference quality tools make!)

I now have about 10 razors that consistently pass the HHT, and I thought that it was a consistent sharpness test, but yesterdays hacksaw shave with my newly sharp Henckles sent me scurrying to this thread and now I find that the HHT is just a pile of dreck and only good for finding razors that will pass the HHT and is no indication of whether or not it will give a good shave and my shaky world has just been rocked to the core.

What is a good, consistent sharpness test? or, other than just lathering up and going for it, is there one?

Thanks in advance -

-whatever

-Lou

I use the HHT off teh 8k. How well the razor responds tells me whether I should move on to the finishing stone and pastes. Most razors which pass the HHT will provide a shave for me. Some might want a little more work too though.

X

I notice that the HHT is often discussed without mention of the quality of the HHT. Something like, "my razor passed the HHT."

I think that is like saying a steak is done when it's brown....or is it?

Scott