Thread: Sharpness after Honing

Originally Posted by markbignosekelly

As I mentioned in another thread I can tree top arm hair on the 1k but cannot for the life of me use the hair on my head.

Keep this in mind. I am the exact opposite. So there is no definitive "one size fits all" test that i have found other than the shave test. There are very few "tests" other than the shave test that will be a lot different off your bevel setter vs once you've gone up your progression. In short, if you're having sharpness issues at the 12k stone, you're more than likely having sharpness issues off the 1k stone. And as such you need to check that bevel.
I am one of the few who does use the HHT. but I only use it with my own hair, and I've done it enough that I can evaluate the nuances in behavior against the edge. this takes time, practice, and reducing as many variables as you can. Keep it up!

So long as the blade will cut my arm hair easily all along the edge at the bevel set I am set to go up the progression. After the finisher I strop with Crox, linen and lastly leather before doing a shave. The shave tells me if I have hit the mark. Never could do a HHT. Everyone has their own way, there is no real set method of testing for shaving sharpness. You have to find what works or does not work for you through experiment and observation.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

So long as the blade will cut my arm hair easily all along the edge at the bevel set I am set to go up the progression. After the finisher I strop with Crox, linen and lastly leather before doing a shave. The shave tells me if I have hit the mark. Never could do a HHT. Everyone has their own way, there is no real set method of testing for shaving sharpness. You have to find what works or does not work for you through experiment and observation.

Bob

Same exact for me. The hair on my head (what little is there lol!!) doesn't work well. I lather up one side of my face and do a quick shave test of about an inch, that should tell you what the edge is like

Forget about the HHT and just shave with it.

I just make sure my blade will treetop arm hairs at bevel set (like mentioned above) and (as mentioned above) if you can't get a good shave off 8K then you need more work.

I've never been a fan of the HHT as there are too many variables and it doesn't matter, all that matters is how a blade will shave.

Originally Posted by Butzy

Keep this in mind. I am the exact opposite. So there is no definitive "one size fits all" test that i have found other than the shave test. There are very few "tests" other than the shave test that will be a lot different off your bevel setter vs once you've gone up your progression. In short, if you're having sharpness issues at the 12k stone, you're more than likely having sharpness issues off the 1k stone. And as such you need to check that bevel.
I am one of the few who does use the HHT. but I only use it with my own hair, and I've done it enough that I can evaluate the nuances in behavior against the edge. this takes time, practice, and reducing as many variables as you can. Keep it up!

I also successfully use a calibrated HHT.

Originally Posted by zaneprice5

—“I would like some insight into how sharp you experienced honers expect your razors to be in between honing and stropping”

For me when I am done honing and before I start to strop-my edge has to pass a HHT an inch past my grip (HHT 4) before I move to stropping. If not I go back to the stones and usually the problem is at the bevel set. I use a very fine hair.

How does your HHT react with a new DE blade ????

Originally Posted by gssixgun

How does your HHT react with a new DE blade ????

I am assuming you are asking the OP this? As this is a great way to calibrate your HHT.

Originally Posted by Steel

I am assuming you are asking the OP this? As this is a great way to calibrate your HHT.

yep it is a great way to calibrate most of the touch tests

Well, you've awakened me because a fresh feather DE blade doesn't even grab my hair.

Originally Posted by zaneprice5

Well, you've awakened me because a fresh feather DE blade doesn't even grab my hair.

Try holding the hair from the other end.