Thread: A Question on Finishing Hones

First, understand that I am very new to all of this. I am waiting on Lynn's DVD to arrive this week (hopefully), and perhaps it will clear up some of my confusion. Until then:

Is a finishing hone really needed? I've read a few threads where people claim to pass the HHT after only the 4k side of the Norton, and many claim to after the 8k side. If so, what is the purpose of polishing the edge on a finisher? Isn't "sharp" the goal?

Assuming that you think finishing is needed, then why is the Coticule so popular for it? It seems as though it has a fairly low grit for the job. Its listed at 8k, according to theperfectedge.com. Why not one of the really high grit stones, like a 15k or a 20k? Are there other options for finishing that I am not aware of?

If this is extremely elementary, I apologise. I still have a lot of learning to do.

First of all welcome to the forum. I would recommend that you use the search function since all of the questions have been discussed before in great detail; however, I'll save you some time and try to give you a quick answer to your questions.

Yes it is possible to pass the HHT of the 4K side of the Norton; however, the purpose of a razor is to comfortably shave your beard, not to pass HHT's. The 4K will not produce a comfortable edge to shave with, the polish of the 8K side of the Norton is needed to produce a comfortable edge. Many people are perfectly happy with the edge that they get off the 8K side of the norton; however, many people including myself prefer the edge a little more sharp and polished. This can be achieved many different ways including using finishing hones, pastes, or fine natural stones like the coticule and escher.

The coticule is listed as a 8K stone; however, the grit ratings that manufacturers use are not standardized. Furthermore, the coticule leaves a more polished edge than the Norton can produce. Most experienced users would rate the coticule between 10-12K in terms of the rating system that Norton uses. I am sure that most of the other questions going through your head right now will be answered in Lynn's DVD. If not there are always experienced members here ready to help.

Don't get hung up on these danged tests. Its the shave that matters and honing is a progression from one grit to another to gradually produce the best edge to give you the most comfortable and closest shave possible.

I would never shave off the 4K. The 8K is the lowest I would ever go. Usually I go 4K, 8K, coticule to give me the shave I want. I really don't give a damn about tests. People worry about tests too much and lose sight of the shave. Don't do that.

bigspendur, thanks for the advice. I was under the impression that the HHT was an important indicator of being shave ready.

If we removed all references to the HHT on this site, and listed it as a swear word to prevent further posting, do you think that newbies would stop becoming confused about a test that means very little in terms of learning to hone.
I never do the HHT any more, it means nothing to my shaving edge, which I find is much better judged using your thumb, or your face. Whilst the HHT does prove your edge is sharp, it doesn't mean you can shave with it, just that it is at the very beginning of becoming sharp.
It took me quite a while as a newbie to figure out that if I rely on this test, then I will never get good at honing. I spent a long time using the other tests to check an edge, and now I think I can judge well how sharp my razor is.
I think the many references on this site to the HHT can confuse newbies to think, as it did me, that if it passes this test it will shave. We see the question asked so many times, and always have to answer the same thing. Maybe we should organise a sticky thread on the subject in the newbie section, to encourage them to take the honing tests with a pinch of salt, and keep in mind that the main aim is to get a good shave.
Do you think it will help?
Nick

Nicky, you imply that HHT is the starting point of being shave ready; ie, that a razor can't shave well unless it passes the HHT. You will find plenty of people who manage to shave, but whose razors never pass the HHT.

The HHT also varies considerably depending on the hair used; thin, light hairs are very hard to cut, whereas thicker hairs are much easier.

I do use the HHT, but the fact that the hair splits is not proof that it will shave.
However, the ease with which the hair splits does tell you when the razor is sharp enough. Since everyone has different hair, this test is highly personal and it takes awhile before you can correlate the HHT with actual shave results.

The shave test is the only conclusive test, but I found that there is no point in trying to shave with a blade that does not pass the test in the way I am used to.

Caveat: the HHT only works reliably (for me) with the Norton. If I do everything with blue or yellow Belgian naturals, it will never pass the HHT but still produce a good shave.

So what is the proper method of shave testing? As I am learnig to hone, I stop to test often. At that rate, I'd run out of face to test with fairly quickly.

Also with regard to the test, should I go through the whole montion of stropping, heating my beard, preparing a lather, etc? Bypassing all of this, even a shave with my DE would feel weird (my current benchmark of shave ready).

Sorry maybe I should clarify. (This is precisely why I don't like the HHT, because of the confusion it causes!)
I myself am one of the fine haired people, and I find the HHT very difficult. Of course it is possible for me to shave with a razor without it passing the test, and most of my razors do not pass with my hair.
Maybe I should have also put it across that this was my particular case.
When a razor passes the test, for me it is only the beginning of being ready. I guess for some people this would mean it is sharp enough, but I think that for the vast majority learning it may not be true.
The fact that you need to be able to tell how easily the hair splits to judge the sharpness is only something that you can tell by loads of experience, due to the differences in peoples hair.
My main point was to stress to newcomers that it is not a test to be relied on by itself. When I started I was looking for answers, and I often saw the HHT mentioned and came to rely on it(with poor results).
There have been many discussions about the validity of the tests, and I just thought it would be good to have them as stickies, so that the same questions do not have to be answered many times.
I don't want people to be blind like I was!

With regard to shave testing, I believe most people use their daily shave as the test. Unfortunately this does mean that progress is slower than is ideal, but it is the most reliable indicator.

Nick

I never use the HHT.