Originally Posted by
gssixgun
Why is the HHT sooooooo controversial ?????
Here is the rub and why many experienced guys downplay the HHT, simply put the HHT is a (possible) tool for the person honing the blade...
just like every other test....
The problem comes in because every Newb who doesn't know the first thing about Honing, Stropping, Prep, or Shaving comes along picks up a professionally honed razor and tries the HHT and then says "This razor isn't sharp it won't pass the HHT" by the time they ask enough people and get the right answer that the HHT doesn't mean anything, they have already either Mis-stropped, Mis-honed or tried a shave that was doomed from the minute they decided that the edge isn't sharp enough...
This is why so many of us try to downplay the importance of the HHT... to help out the newbies
Now you know and I know that when you are honing a razor there are many tests that each of us uses but most of them it is pretty obvious that they can damage a "Shave Ready" edge if used to test it... This has been spread around quite well, that using a TNT or a TPT, is not really smart on shave ready edge, but somehow we have failed in spreading that message about the HHT...
One reason is that it isn't really damaging, another is our own vanity, because somehow we think it is cool to have a razor that passes the HHT...
At least if you are going to insist on saying how great it is, please mention that it is only useful for the person honing the blade, just like the other tests are...
That is why there is a controversy and why we keep saying the shave test is the only test that matters... :)