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

...I have a theory. Help me with this. My theory is the hanging hair is cut when there are microscopic "teeth" or a very sharp but rough surface on a blade (something to "grab" it), but will not be cut when there is a sharp but smooth surface. And that is why you can still get a good shave even though a razor does not pass the HHT. Am I right on this or full of sh8# ? Thanks for your comments.

Tom

F.... knows

PuFF

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.

Makes sense to me.

Tom

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 straightman

...I have a theory. Help me with this. My theory is the hanging hair is cut when there are microscopic "teeth" or a very sharp but rough surface on a blade (something to "grab" it), but will not be cut when there is a sharp but smooth surface. And that is why you can still get a good shave even though a razor does not pass the HHT. Am I right on this or full of sh8# ? Thanks for your comments.

Tom

I have tried the HHT with my hair with razors received fresh from all the best honesmen I know, and I've never been able to do it.

Now, your theory. Every edge has microscopic teeth. Unless there's a limit created by the crystalline structure of steel, I would expect the teeth to get finer as the edge gets sharper. So, an edge that does NOT pass the HHT would have larger teeth than one that does. In other words, the effect is opposite to what you're proposing- smaller teeth pass the HHT.

I don't know what would happen with a perfectly smooth edge, because I don't think it exists. But if you called an edge produced by a 15K hone smooth and one produced by a 4K hone as toothy, the smooth edge would pass the HHT.

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.