Thread: Bevel test on 1k

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

Originally Posted by BobH

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

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.

I also use a TPT and look for the sensation where it seems to be sinking into my thumb. Hard to explain.

Originally Posted by Steel

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.

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.

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

Originally Posted by BobH

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.

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

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.