Thread: Simple Question: Can a Norton 4K/8K produce a blade capable of passing the HHT?

I have a very simple (almost yes or no) question. That is the following: can a Norton 4K/8K get a razor to a point where it can pass the HHT? I'm only looking for an objective answer. I have a Dovo Best. I have gotten it to a "good shaving" point before, but I won't be satisfied until it passes the hanging hair test. What I want is for a couple of people to positively affirm that indeed they have accomplished such a feat. I simply want to know if the tools at my disposal are capable of doing what I want irrespective of my current abilities as they can become better, but my tools will basically stay the same.
There's no sense in my constantly honing if I'm chasing something impossible.

Welcome to SRP. Depends, my norton 4/8 can with my hair. I was taught that if the razor was not giving a fine shave at the 8k level there was no point in going past that to a higher grit finisher. So getting there with the 8k is part of the trip. Whether you can get HHT with it depends on the hair and the honer.

Sorry, but you are chasing the wrong thing. The HHT is simply one of many tests, all of which are used for the same purpose--to assess the potential of the honed razor to provide a properly effective and comfortable shave. The Norton 4/8 can accomplish THAT task and that is all that matters.

First test your HHT,, take a fresh DE or SE and see if your hair passes with that...

Learn the test first, the Norton 8k is capable, but you don't know if your hair is

I know my shavette with a feather can easily pass the test

The short answer is yes it can. Early on in the piece, around when I first joined SRP, the Norton 4/8 was "the" stone, and a lot of us happily shaved off it, HHT or no.

The longer answer is what everyone else has said about your hair type and so on.

To get the most out of your Norton, check out the JaNorton thread from a while back. There's lots of good info in there (and also around the forum).

James.

Not with my hair
But a fresh DE blade won't do it either.
After a proper stropping it can from 8k up, and the quality of the HHT goes up with a 12k, paste etc. as well.
It is a good tool but only if you are working with known variables.

I used to use my wife's hair until she started putting highlights in it, the processing of the lighter colors changed the game.

I have the norton combos and SWAMBO's hair is just right to do the HHT. Shaving off my 8K edge does me at the moment and I do have a couple honed by senior members to compare against. At the end of the day HHT, TPT etc is an indication, if you shave with the 8K edge and it feels OK then you are hitting the hones fine.

Originally Posted by JohnGalt131

I know my shavette with a feather can easily pass the test

Then you should with proper technique get an HHT off of your SR...

You really want to be careful here though, chasing edges for a goal such as the HHT or a Mirror bevel doesn't always lead to a smooth shave
A Close Comfortable Shave should be the goal, not some stupid arbitrary parlor trick that gives zero indication of how the razor shaves...

Like Jimbo pointed out the JaNorton thread is your friend or in today speak BFF as it will give you tons of tricks to get the most out of the Norton 4/8 check out the Stroptober thread also,,,, remember stropping is a huge part of this game too...

Enjoy the journey

Originally Posted by gssixgun

some stupid arbitrary parlor trick that gives zero indication of how the razor shaves...

This is the best definition of the HHT I have ever encountered!