Thread: Won't pass a basic test but shave fantastic!!

When I started there were some very prominent members who said that if your razor couldn't cut arm hair above skin level the razor wasn't shave ready. I responded by saying that mine (at the time) didn't, yet still gave fantastic shaves. I never did receive a response lol.

Just further proof that tests are guidelines, and the shave test is all that counts....

I would like to thank All Who have replied with their knowledge and experience!!

At least I now know that ‘I’m not needing’ to see a DR. and lay on his couch!!!

As I’ve said and have always said, the shave test is the ultimate ‘test’!!

I’ll keep this experience in mind! I always try to learn from experience!!

I Thank You All Again!!

Roy

This has happened to me on a number of occasions and I just cant explain it, it will drive you nuts trying to figure it out. It is the razor though and not the stones, I am not a HADdict and use the same stones constantly.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

This has happened to me on a number of occasions and I just cant explain it, it will drive you nuts trying to figure it out. It is the razor though and not the stones, I am not a HADdict and use the same stones constantly.

As I said, at least I know that I'm not the only one and I don't need to see a 'Head Dr'!!

Originally Posted by cudarunner

As I said, at least I know that I'm not the only one and I don't need to see a 'Head Dr'!!

Just because you are not the only one does not mean you do not need to see the "Head Dr.".

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Just because you are not the only one does not mean you do not need to see the "Head Dr.".

Funny you should say that! As that's exactly what my shrink told me at my last visit!

As a novice honer, I find that there is some use in the HHT for me to gauge the general sharpness of a blade I am honing. For me, every time a blade failed on the HHT or hair treetopping test I have had pretty rough shaves. My beard is rather coarse and I need a blade that has a good degree of sharpness to it. Especially when I go ATG.

I know some of you guys have been at it a lot longer than I have and don't need to be as careful with your honing style...but I think some of these tests (especially the HHT and the treetopping hair test) have their place, as long as your tests are calibrated and you know what you are looking and testing for. I wouldn't dismiss them outright. They do work for some people. Myself included.

Perhaps I will get to a point in my honing career someday that they will no longer be needed (that would be nice!). But for now, I find them very useful.

I always do a HHT, so I must want it to pass that test. If it doesn't, I do something so that it does. I wish I didn't.

Originally Posted by Berthold

I always do a HHT, so I must want it to pass that test. If it doesn't, I do something so that it does. I wish I didn't.

Does "something" include getting a different hair? A big thick moist hair practically guarantees a "passing" grade

Good one. Thanks for that. If I get frustrated I will resort to that as a last ditch effort. So far, if a good stropping doesn't do the trick that tells me that the razor is due for a honing.