Thread: Hanging hair test a step too far?

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

people can get so fixated on the tests that they lose sight of the fact that its the shave that really matters.

I can vouch for this statement. I noticed it happening to me. I was trying every test under the sun and completely lost sight of the shave both as a true test and as the reason for the razor in the first place. As a result, I got very frustrated and confused.

Let the shave be your guide. Like Lynn says in his video: your face will tell you what needs to be done.

The tests are handy, but you have to know what you're looking for and when. It's not unusual for a blade to pop hairs like mad off the hard arkansas or 4k norton, then pop decreasingly well as I go up the grits and then deliver a great shave. Once I leave the 4k I really don't worry about it much, I just trust to my stones and a light touch to get the razor sharper, and the feel of the razor on the hone to tell me when it's done.

Originally Posted by floridaboy

I can never get the HHT to work for me. The hair on my arms is also very fine, and I don't have alot of hair left on my head. My legs don't have alot of hair ether, wearing boots in the Army. My wife isn't going to let me keep pulling her hair out ether, So shave test works for me.
Phil

I hate to break it to you Phil, but it is time to start a family :-) Kids are an endless supply of fine hair that will definitely challenge a well honed edge.

Bill

Originally Posted by nickyspaghetti

I am wondering, if I hone all my razors so that they can perform a HHT, could I in fact be overhoning them, as my hair is too fine to be HHTed with a properly honed razor?

Yes, it certainly is possible.

Originally Posted by nickyspaghetti

Any ideas?
I have not fully got the TPT down yet ...

Work on developing that one and ...
Pay more attention to the feel and sound of the razor on the hone as you are honing. You can actually hear the fins forming on the 8k and even feel the edge changing if you are attentive enough.

X

Ok, I'm getting frustrated now!
I spent ages the other day honing all my razors without using the HHT, just the TPT and got good results. Shaves were better, i could get the feeling of the blade much better on my thumb than any other way i found so far.
My frustration comes from the fact, that my best shave comes from a crappy shavette copy i just used. It provided me with a great shave, probably the closest i ever had using feather blades.
This has irritated me as it seems all my honing practice has actually got me not too far at all. To even compare the difference between the shaves i get is out of the question.
I guess i must be doing something seriously wrong on the honing side of it.
I have religiously been honing for two months on 9 different razors, and still my shaves fall a little short of great. I love shaving don't get me wrong, but i just feel a little disappointed that the closeness just isn't what i would like.
I guess it will be time for me to send out my razors to a honemeister as it has beaten me for the time being, i am moving abroad in 3 weeks and won't be able to take norton with me so i need them to be sharp before i leave.
Anybody in europe that offer honing services? how much would they want per razor?
Thanks for the advice!
Nick

Try to focus just in one blade and get the better you can from it......

Do you use strop?

Originally Posted by nickyspaghetti

Anybody in europe that offer honing services? how much would they want per razor?
Thanks for the advice!
Nick

PM sent.

(insert some random text here because otherwise the message is too short )

It's probably a good idea to get a honemeister to do a razor or two for you.

But I'd say that if after 2 months of honing you can get a razor to shave off your whiskers without pulling or leaving razor burn or cutting you or giving you a rash, that's pretty good.

Your frustration is understandable, but you need to give yourself a break - I reckon it sounds like you're doing pretty well.

James.

Nicky,
Another SRPer and I are working on a standardized HHT test that will not use hair. We're doing it for the very reason you point. Hair is anything but standard! I agree with Bruno that the HHT is just one data point. The best test for the edge is it's ability to give you a good shave.

I guess its true that i must have made progress at some point. They were all dull as butterknifes when i got them.
I shouldn't have made the error of trying to do this independently, a well honed razor to use as an aiming point would have been the best idead from the start.
Oh well. I shall definately get this beaten one day!
A new standardised HHT? Sounds interesting, i look forward to hearing what you have to say
Nick