Thread: Led flashlight shining directly down on the cutting edge?

I would suggest you go back to your bevel setter and try some different tests to figure out if your bevel is set. I personally like to use the thumbnail test. It tells me everything I need to know about my bevel. It's tough when you're starting out because you don't really know what you're feeling for. I would suggest lightly dulling the edge on a glass. Start working on resetting it and keep testing throughout the process. This will help to calibrate your bevel tests. When you think your done, keep going for a bit and see if you don't get better results. You want to get to the point where you know when you're bevel is set 100% of the time. For me this was the biggest obstacle when I was starting out. Once I was good at setting and testing my bevels, everything else kind of fell into place.

Originally Posted by BeJay

I would suggest you go back to your bevel setter and try some different tests to figure out if your bevel is set. I personally like to use the thumbnail test. It tells me everything I need to know about my bevel. It's tough when you're starting out because you don't really know what you're feeling for. I would suggest lightly dulling the edge on a glass. Start working on resetting it and keep testing throughout the process. This will help to calibrate your bevel tests. When you think your done, keep going for a bit and see if you don't get better results. You want to get to the point where you know when you're bevel is set 100% of the time. For me this was the biggest obstacle when I was starting out. Once I was good at setting and testing my bevels, everything else kind of fell into place.

What does the thumbnail test tell you? Any tips? Thanks

I am hoping you will strop it good on some stiff fabric and look again??

What brand is/are the razors?

Are you shaving off a 1k edge?

It does sound as if the bevels are not set, if you do TNT and do not reset the bevels you can be chipping the edge.

What is the rest of your progression?

Photos of the razors, may be helpful.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

What brand is/are the razors?

Are you shaving off a 1k edge?

It does sound as if the bevels are not set, if you do TNT and do not reset the bevels you can be chipping the edge.

What is the rest of your progression?

Photos of the razors, may be helpful.

The razor is Hart steel, no I am not shaving off the 1k. Shapton glass 1k,4k,8k and 16k. I am really looking for advice on what to look out for when setting the bevel correctly with the tnt, tpt, etc. ?

What should one look out for in tnt test when you know for a fact the bevel is set?

Originally Posted by dshaves

What should one look out for in tnt test when you know for a fact the bevel is set?

When the bevel is set the bevel will feel very smooth while running across your nail. You will also feel a little resistance due to the blade slightly cutting into the nail. You will also be able to detect if a very small section is not set or damaged. There have been several times that I have found tiny defects that I had missed with magnification.

Like I said earlier. Dull the blade and do a TNT. Start resetting the bevel and keep doing TNT's throughout the process. You'll be able to feel when it starts to come in. Do some other test when you feel it coming in. Try TPT's, see if/how it shaves arm hair. Will it pop arm hairs above the skin? Once you feel some parts coming in, keep going till the TNT feels perfect from heel to toe. We could write about it all day but you'll only really get it with some experience.

After it passes you want to do another 20-25 light strokes on the 1k before moving on.

The TNT can tell you if the bevel is set, (it will cut into the nail and not slip off), but it is a destructive test. After you perform the test, the chances are very high, you will have ruined/chipped the edge. Remember, we cannot see, the real edge, even with 400X. And it cannot tell you if the whole edge is set or if you have a chip.

So, I do not use or recommend the TNT for razors.

The Thumb pad test, (TPT) can tell you, if the bevels are set, but it takes a while to learn. A TPT should feel like it sticks on the thumb, you are actually cutting into the first layer of skin. The sensation is often described as sticky.

The TPT also, will not tell you, if you have a chip and it is difficult to tell if the whole bevel is set.

Hair test are unreliable, a lot depends on your hair, and also will not tell you if you have a chip. The sample size is very small, because you are only testing one micron of the edge at a time. So it really tells you very little about the edge.

The visual test, is the only test that is not destructive, will tell you, if you have a chip or rolled edge and will tell you if you have a fully set bevel.

Look straight down, on the edge with magnification, 20-60X and under strong light, roll the razor slightly from side to side. If you see any reflection at the edge, the bevel is not fully set, or if you have a chip. Once you know what to look for, you can perform the test without magnification.

Here is a good post, honing a razor from start to finish. There are excellent photos of a fully set bevel, taken looking straight down on the edge. Second try at Honing.

At post 32, page 7, the bevel is not set. Post 42, page 9, getting closer. Post 45, page 9, almost there. Post 51, page 11, (first photo), a fully set bevel.

In this photo, you can see both bevels and the edge, a darker grey blur, no shiny reflections from end to end. If you now TPT this edge it will stick, and it will cut most hair.

Heart razors can be difficult to hone, they are hard and prone to chipping. I hone them with 2 layers of tape, some hone with 1 layer of tape, then add another layer and set a micro bevel.

In the post above, Second Try at Honing, the big issue was the honer was not using enough pressure on the 1k. With a Heart, you have to use some, (more) pressure to set the bevel, then polish the deep stria with less pressure on the 1k. Ink the bevel to make sure you have the right angle and are honing to the edge.

If the edge chips, just joint it and re-set the edge. Stay on the 1k until you have as perfect straight edge as possible. Then and only then, move up.

I have had the best edges on Harts, using lapping film.

One of the best ways to learn how the tests react is to set the SR down and pick up a DE blade

Learn the tests using a proved sharp DE blade

Try them all from the HHT to the TNT in that order hhehe

Although I do not agree that a TNT is Destructive" it is slightly dulling so you do that one last

Learn the tests, use all of them that you can to start with, but eventually one of those tests will become your Go-NoGo gauge the one test that you KNOW every single time tells you that the bevel is set and solid..

If you find a test that doesn't work for you on the DE you will know that it probably won't work for you on the SR, it is NOT uncommon for certain tests to not work for certain people..
Something we learned at the very first big meet ups is that trying to tell somebody that this "One" test should be good for a reliable test is that it might not work for everyone..
The DE blade will give you a standard to know what to expect with your tests..

Originally Posted by gssixgun

One of the best ways to learn how the tests react is to set the SR down and pick up a DE blade

Learn the tests using a proved sharp DE blade

Try them all from the HHT to the TNT in that order hhehe

Although I do not agree that a TNT is Destructive" it is slightly dulling so you do that one last

Learn the tests, use all of them that you can to start with, but eventually one of those tests will become your Go-NoGo gauge the one test that you KNOW every single time tells you that the bevel is set and solid..

If you find a test that doesn't work for you on the DE you will know that it probably won't work for you on the SR, it is NOT uncommon for certain tests to not work for certain people..
Something we learned at the very first big meet ups is that trying to tell somebody that this "One" test should be good for a reliable test is that it might not work for everyone..
The DE blade will give you a standard to know what to expect with your tests..

I tried using a DE blade and my SR is more keen and performs a better HHT test lol. When I tried the tnt before I pulled the blade over my wet thumbnail and it would grab/dig in so much that it was hard to continue pulling. I wasn't sure what that meant?

I will keep messing with the de blade though.