Thread: Favorite method to check bevel?

As I mentioned, if you can pass the arm hair test after you believe your done on the 1k (or you bevel setter of choice) then unless you do something to dull that edge you should be sweet. I only test with the finger pad after I've given it 20 laps on the strop. The sticky feeling on your skin is unique to a razor ready to go. I've had a go at the tomato, I won't say it's not ok, but really, if your at a synthetic 8k plus level, just have a shave with it, if it won't shave you've missed the bevel.

Originally Posted by bobski

really, if your at a synthetic 8k plus level, just have a shave with it, if it won't shave you've missed the bevel.

Actually, along those same lines, if you can't shave off of the 1k (that's right, I said the 1k) you've missed the bevel.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

The first time you try the "Tomato Test" on the raw steel of a freshly restored razor you are going to learn two things

#1 A razor off the buffers passes the test easily, yet would NEVER pass the other bevel tests

#2 Tomato Juice stains Carbon Steel and you have to re-buff the razor

Nope, not this kid,

Durn Glenn... now I have to try the Tomato Test. Yes I know a burr on a rusty ski will slice open a tomato.

However I like old razors with a patina. Would a Tomato work better at getting back that
old school patina on a way too shiny, bright buffed, should be used as a shave mirror big
old wedge razor.

I understand bacon grease can inhibit rust as long as it is not salt cured.

Originally Posted by niftyshaving

Durn Glenn... now I have to try the Tomato Test. Yes I know a burr on a rusty ski will slice open a tomato.

However I like old razors with a patina. Would a Tomato work better at getting back that
old school patina on a way too shiny, bright buffed, should be used as a shave mirror big
old wedge razor.

I understand bacon grease can inhibit rust as long as it is not salt cured.

I have been using the tomatoe test for quite awhile and have not seen any staining on my shavers, I also use the TNT but then I very seldomly use a 1K to set the bevel unless it's got chips or geometry issues my normal method is 4/8K Shapton GS to set the bevel and midwork then one of several JNATS or a coticule to finish on.

There was one blade that the tomato stained when I didn't wash it immediately. They are quite acidic.
Now I use inspection under loupe looking directly at the edge and hair cutting. Still trying to tune in the TPT. It's funny to see what I considered a set bevel 3-4 months ago and now. My aha moment came when I realized how sharp a properly set bevel is and how easily it cuts hair. That was my holy @%#$ moment.

Have you tried shaving with your razor after the bevel set?

Originally Posted by Utopian

Have you tried shaving with your razor after the bevel set?

I have not. Will probably try it this week but I am a bit nervous about it.
OK I am in. Will set a bevel on a NOS razor and will report the result

I have tried all of these tests at one time or another, but am coming around to the idea I keep seeing from Steel (and yes, others too) that really fine-tuning and correlating several tests together (treetopping arm hair, HHT, TPT, TNT, along with visual inspection) probably gives the best confirmation of a fully set bevel. And as I gain more experience, I find that I am more in tune to HOW that arm hair is cut-how high, how easily, etc.

And since I did Ron's 1k shave challenge and had such an epiphany off of my best bevel to date, I plan to continue test shaving off of my bevel sets. That is the truest test; once you "pass Go" the rest of the progression is just icing the cake.

I've tried many of these methods. To be honest, my honing results were better before I started looking at the bevel under my USB cheap scope. Those micro chips look like caverns under 400 x and compel me back to the hone to remove them. I didn't use it yesterday on a razor, and shaved with it and the shave was fine. I checked it and sure enough this scope told me my edge was dodgy. So sharpen a credit card, use the tomato, or the tnt or hht, but the only one that counts is the bloody shave, no pun intended!
I've put the scope back in the drawer, and I'm going back to what worked. If it cuts arm hair after the 1k, then the next test is the shave test. I'm done on this now.

Originally Posted by bobski

I've tried many of these methods. To be honest, my honing results were better before I started looking at the bevel under my USB cheap scope. Those micro chips look like caverns under 400 x and compel me back to the hone to remove them. I didn't use it yesterday on a razor, and shaved with it and the shave was fine. I checked it and sure enough this scope told me my edge was dodgy. So sharpen a credit card, use the tomato, or the tnt or hht, but the only one that counts is the bloody shave, no pun intended!
I've put the scope back in the drawer, and I'm going back to what worked. If it cuts arm hair after the 1k, then the next test is the shave test. I'm done on this now.

Hehehe, this is why the highest magnification I use is around 100X. More often than not I only use 30x, and when I break out my carson it's set closer to 60X than 100X. Anything that I can't see at 100X likely won't effect the shave, and I'd hate to be chasing my tail going after minute non-problems. Agreed that at the end of the day the shave is what really matters.

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

I have tried all of these tests at one time or another, but am coming around to the idea I keep seeing from Steel (and yes, others too) that really fine-tuning and correlating several tests together (treetopping arm hair, HHT, TPT, TNT, along with visual inspection) probably gives the best confirmation of a fully set bevel. And as I gain more experience, I find that I am more in tune to HOW that arm hair is cut-how high, how easily, etc.

And since I did Ron's 1k shave challenge and had such an epiphany off of my best bevel to date, I plan to continue test shaving off of my bevel sets. That is the truest test; once you "pass Go" the rest of the progression is just icing the cake.

Indeed, being familiar with multiple tests can help build confidence. It's easy to trust a bevel/edge that's passed multiple tests. For a while there I wasn't satisfied unless a bevel passed the TPT, TNT, arm hair and visual inspection. Now the Thumb Pad/Nail tests I use more as diagnostic tools before honing and I'm satisfied if a bevel passes a visual inspection. I'll usually throw an arm hair test in there too, just because it's nice to see how the edge is coming along.