What tests must your razor pass before leaving the 1k stone?
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What tests must your razor pass before leaving the 1k stone?
The college entry SAT with a 98 or better.
Dunno what everyone else uses but if it easily cuts a single arm hair at points all along the edge that is good enough for me.
Bob
I think Bob pretty much nailed it. I don't have much arm hair so I have to test sparingly.
I like to do a TNT to check for small nicks before a few more passed and the AHT.
If you are just starting to learn to hone. Doing a 1k shave test is a good idea to teach you where the sharpness starts.
Enjoy the learning curves, and hang in there the rewards are great.
Jonathan
The Eyeball Test… and the Thumb pad test (TPT).
Trouble is it takes some time to calibrate your thumb to know when an edge is sharp. The benefit is you can test the whole edge, something you cannot do with hair. You are only testing the width of the hair. And it is a non-destructive test.
To calibrate your thumb touch every sharp edge you can, eventually you will know what a sharp razor edge feels like, start at the tip and work down to the heel.
Until then look at the edge, straight down with magnification. Any shiny spots are where the bevels do not meet and the edge is not completely sharp.
Once sharp, do 10-20 more weight of the blade laps to straighten the edge and begin the polishing of the bevel. This step pays large dividends at the next stone.
Here is a great video demonstrating the technique.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZYFsOP7rBc
Arm hair. I try to treetop it. Microscope or 60x loupe as well
There are multiple tests the "Trick" is finding the "One " test that is infallible for you, not what works for anyone elseQuote:
Originally Posted by Neckbone
TPT
TNT
AHT
Magnification / Sight test
All these work, but you have to learn which is your perfect test, use them all until you figure it out..
The bevel set is the most essential part of honing, period, it is about 90% of the job, so take nothing for granted, make sure it is set or you are just fooling yourself...
Honestly I learned at the Meets and watching people pass a razor around the table while trying the various tests that there simply are too many variables between people to claim any one test works..
Glen,
Thanks. Definitely, solid advice. For instance, I had never thought about doing AHT or HHT(tree-top) in checking that the bevel is set at the 1K... Hmmm... Gives me pause hoping I'm not "kidding myself". lol.
More on that, a good link to revisit is the "epd" shave test http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...-1k-shave.html
The problem with hair test is… it does not work for everyone and it does not test the whole edge.
If it works for you… go for it.
Yeah. I know. I'd simply been doing the ole Lynn TPT and it seems to be working for me.
Not I'm interested to revisit the bevel set and get a little more out of it. Sticking in my mind on Lynn's Chosera 1K bevel set vid shot by a member was the subtle differences in TPTs between his sets as he tests them and allows SRP member to test.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...;v=yR4DctzQ2kY
I think I'm going to focus on levels on TPT results and when I've gotten to "Oh, Yeah", I'll give the tree tops a buzz. The hair tests will be an aside.
I'm realizing what a slow cutter the King 1K(even with the Nag slurry) is by comparison to the Chosera. I've never spend this time on the bevel setting before. I'm getting pretty good results, but will have to finish up tomorrow.
I use the thumb pad test primarily. If I do too many razors in a row though I have to resort to shaving arm hair because the skin on my thumb will be all shredded up.
Like everyone else has said though, you can easily develop a feel for what sharp is and what "not quite there" feels like.
while finding what works for you I would definitely recommend incorporating the tnt, using the tip of the nail to check for nicks. there can be the slightest nicks that don't show easily under magnification but that the sensitivity of your nail can detect readily. after ensuring there are no nicks the other tests will all tell you that you either have a set bevel or you don't. I tend to not rely on the arm hair too much, not the best test for checking the full cutting edge. a wet thumb nail and lightly drag blade across will show it either "bites" in along the whole length of cutting edge or spots will "skip" across meaning not fully set. just the weight of the blade or you can get a "false reading" from that test however. other than that I love to just use fingertips and thumb pad.
in Charles holtzapfels 1850 book "turning and mechanical manipulation there is discussion of the old timers using what I call the "palm pad test" where they determined the razors keenness by making a small incision in the thick skin covering the inner edge of the palm. he also describes the old timers using the thumb or fingernail to test as well. nowadays some prefer the hht over the palm pad test though!
ouch! no amount of razors should shred your thumb from tpt. maybe an issue with pressure or are you running the thumb along the cutting edge to test? it should just catch the fingerprints using no pressure and you roll the thumb.Quote:
Originally Posted by cosperryan
With callouses such as Lynn has, no prob! In the old days I would do the index finger rub. These days, I cut a hair in about 6 locations down the bevel. The hair should fly. Not just lay over. Just me!
Well I'm not cutting into the flesh just the callous. But after 6 or so razor in a row the callous is kinda gone so I have to resort to other test. There is no pain, I don't cut that deep. And I'm using no pressure just feel for that sticky caramel feeling.and the arm hair test works ok if you test it in multiple spots. I usually check the heel then toe then center.Quote:
Originally Posted by silverloaf
Bob, I think this is an excellent test and I understand that it doesn't work for everyone but I am interested in how YOU do it. Could you elaborate a little more? For instance, I also use this test and try to keep the blade as flat as possible (maybe 10 degrees or less) and "shave" a single hair at skin level. Is this similar to what you do? Just curious and was going to PM you but figured someone else may have the same question.Quote:
Originally Posted by BobH
I also use a TPT and look for the sensation where it seems to be sinking into my thumb. Hard to explain.
I duuno, never really gave much thought to it. Maybe more of an angle than you use and the hair should easily cut from just the weight of the blade is the best I can due. Everyone's arm hair is different and will probably react differently too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steel
The best explanation of what the sensation should feel like during a TPT is "sticky" and I'd go along with that. A light touch to the thumb pad and a sticky feeling as you pull away.
Just a novice speaking still feeling my way around this honing thing too. Sometime I get a decent edge and other times it is back to the hones.
Bob
I also rely on this test more than any other although I find that you get false results if either the edge of the razor or your thumb are wet - that is the edge does not feel as sharp. So I always wipe my hands and the edge, take a look under the loupe and then the TPT. Tree topping hair just does not work for me - I'm fine at skin level so maybe I don't have the right type of hair. Either that or my razors suck.Quote:
Originally Posted by cosperryan
Thanks bob. Although there are many variables there are also many similarities and I learn a lot from how others do it even if it doesn't work the same for me. In this case it sounds very similar. Thanks again.Quote:
Originally Posted by BobH