Thread: Can not seem to pass a HHT

Originally Posted by Christel

I use a loupe throughout the honing process - it lets me make sure the bevel stays set throughout the honing. I had trouble when I started honing, setting the bevel was fine but I was wiping it out on the higher grits due to too much pressure, although I didn't realise this was the case at the time. Using the loupe I saw that come 4k I had trashed the edge and although I was polishing it very nicely in the higher grit stage, without a set bevel I got very poor results. I'd wager that you never set the bevel in the first place - look through the microscope at the bevel setting stage to be sure.

in.

Great advice. It would be helpful for me to know what you saw after the 4k stone that indicated you had damaged the bevel. Did you see light reflection indicating a unwanted facet? My bevel/edge looked good, be being new, I wan't sure what I was looking for.
From watching videos, I take it I should see a finer scratch pattern the whole length of the bevel.
How was too much pressure detrimental to the edge? Maybe a delicate edge tends to bend?

BobH, sorry, that was a touch arrogant about my claiming good strokes. What I experienced was smooth strokes, lacking odd noise, hitches, tics, rough spots or grinding. Just butter smooth. A lot of effort was focused on not lifting the spine and keeping perfect contact with the stone. Feeling I avoided all those nasties, I felt they were good strokes, but probably not up to more experienced fellows.

As you all have been saying, the shave tonight was as good as I have had to date, verifying a decent hone job. Very nice.

I' still searching for that alternate hair to test with, but some are unpleasant to pull. Reason enough to drop the hht. Lol

Originally Posted by Neckbone

I' still searching for that alternate hair to test with, but some are unpleasant to pull. Reason enough to drop the hht. Lol

Yes well you gotta do what you gotta do to pass hht. Lol.

Seriously though don't worry bout it.

Do the hht if you want to see if you can but don't worry about it indicating whether or not your razor is shave ready.

Before shaving tonight with the Dovo, Idid 40 laps on chro ox web, followed by clean web and leather.
WOW....what a difference !!!
Absolutely the sharpest I have felt in razor (in my limited experience). Great shave. I wish now I had tried the hht first.
It has confirmed that I can do a decent hone which is nice to know.
Another step in the right direction.

for me not getting a razorblade to pass the hanging hair test is a clear indication that I hadn't washed my hair a couple of days

Long story ... Don't use the HHT any longer. Most I try on before I use a razor to shave with is a few hairs on the top of my left hand.

Originally Posted by Neckbone

Before shaving tonight with the Dovo, Idid 40 laps on chro ox web, followed by clean web and leather.
WOW....what a difference !!!
Absolutely the sharpest I have felt in razor (in my limited experience). Great shave. I wish now I had tried the hht first.
It has confirmed that I can do a decent hone which is nice to know.
Another step in the right direction.

Funny that's been my experience as well. I will say this though. Next time you do the CrOx try and use fewer laps and see if you get the same edge. Another experienced SR user and restorer told me I was doing to many laps on CrOx and possibly prematurely rounding the bevel. So next time I honed a razor I did maybe 12-15 laps on CrOx then 100 or so laps on leather and it would split atoms after that. Just food for thought.

I've had some mighty fine shaves with an edge that never passed any test other than the shave itself.

Originally Posted by Brenngun

I've had some mighty fine shaves with an edge that never passed any test other than the shave itself.

Still the test I enjoy doing the most ,
just did one tonight with a friends blade I had to take to the hones.

Here is my 2 cents worth
I gave up the HHT test because i find it pointless.
I check that the edge is sticky sharp on my thumb pad after bevel setting and after honing and stropping i check if it pops mid level arm or leg hair.. sweet

I do not find the HHT all that definitive. One thing is the hair dynamic. I have scary fine hair; accomplishing a successful HHT with it is nigh on impossible, blade sharpness notwithstanding. So...I use badger hair. Pretty consistent results. For the most part (using badger hair) HHT 2-3
equates to a pretty decent shave.