Thread: Ting Ting Test

Hi Guys,

Before I start, let me say in advance that this is for information and education. I don't intend do try it because I love all my razors and couldn't bear to hurt any of them.

I have been surfing straight razor movies on youtube and came across an interesting one by a guy called Dr Matt.

He demonstrates how to tell if a blade is warped by placing the blade on the hone or a tile etc. and alternately pressing down on the toe and heel to listen for the ting sound that would prove that the blade is rocking and not straight.

He tapes the BLADE and hones the spine until the ting stops and then sets the bevel and hones as usual.

It seemed extreme to me and I seriously doubt I will ever do it, but I have heard guys say that a razor has never been a good shaver and wonder if Dr Matt might have a point about fixing a warped blade.

The other methods I have seen of honing warped blades involve rolling x strokes and other honing techniques but I can't help thinking that a person will end with a properly honed razor that is still warped and still might not be good shaver.

Like I said , I don't intend to try Dr Matts method but it was interesting to me and would be interested to learn what you experienced honers think. I have added a link to the movie in question.

https://youtu.be/WoMWRVAY-I4

Dr Matt Lord save me.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Dr Matt Lord save me.

Bob

Hi Bob,

Interesting response.

Reading between the lines I would hazard a guess you don't like Dr Matt much

Originally Posted by STF

Reading between the lines I would hazard a guess you don't like Dr Matt much

I wouldn't say that. I'm sure he is a nice human being.

Bob

I'll just say the Ting-Ting test and his solution is controversial...

Lots of ways to skin a cat, but that isn’t a technique that I would employ. Honing a warped razor is much easier once you understand how to use a rolling x stroke. If the spine is warped most likely the edge is as well which always results in an eventual frowning blade. The way to combat the warp is to use a rolling x on the convex side of the warp,then on the concave side to use a non rolling stroke.

To get the warp located on a blade that I am restoring I’ll do a few half stroke with concave side down on the hone. What this does is show you what the severity of the warp you have. The bevels will be heavier at toe and heel with the most severe part of the warp having the narrowest bevel. I then will sharpie on the concave side on the face of the blade to mark the two tallest parts of the bevel and one for the narrowest.

Next I flip the razor over on the hone but now employ a half rolling stroke, making sure to spend the least amount of time and pressure at the worst part of the warp, and apply pressure as well as a longer stroke at the toe and heel areas as I rung the blade down the hone. At some point your bevel will become more and more even. Keep an eye on the bevels too, you want those end up even in height from side to side to keep the edge towards the center as well as for aesthetic reasons.

Eventually your muscle memory will take over at some point and make it pretty easy to keep the strokes correct for the warp. Make sure to ink the bevels too, it’s just one more sight indicator to help keeping the stroke correct for a given side. Once you get the bevels set you can just watch the water as it undercuts, makes it super easy to see where you are at the edge as you make a stroke down the hone.

This creates a smile but it’s the only way I’ve found to get the entire edge properly honed when there’s a warp. Just remember the warp at the spine is less critical than a warp at the edge. The edge is what cuts the hair, the spine only assists in keeping a consistent angle of edge to the hone.

Use tape on the spine always when doing restoration work, no need to wear a spine down unnecessarily. Once the geometry is figured out during the restoration then you can go back to your normal tape/ no tape preference.

That video brought up a lot of discussion here, when it first came out. What a hack.!

I told ya to stay away from him Steve. Now that crap is stuck in your head. Just stay with razors that are in good to very good condition, and you'll never have to worry about if it tings. whatever that means.

Originally Posted by outback

That video brought up a lot of discussion here, when it first came out. What a hack.!

I told ya to stay away from him Steve. Now that crap is stuck in your head. Just stay with razors that are in good to very good condition, and you'll never have to worry about if it tings. whatever that means.

Ha , your'e right Mike but the problem is that you told me to stay away from him. When I was a kid my Mum told me not to smoke.

30 years later I quit.

I guess I'm one of those people that reverse psychology actually works on

A perfectly symmetrical smiling razor cannot lie flat on a flat surface. A warped smiler could lie flat on one side, but not both.

Two planes are either parallel, or they will intersect in a straight line. Euclid got this into print circa 300 BC, though it is thought to have been known before then.

A bit off topic, but to someone who believes a smile to be a superior shape for a razor edge, Dr Matt is insulting.

Originally Posted by outback

That video brought up a lot of discussion here, when it first came out. What a hack.!

I told ya to stay away from him Steve. Now that crap is stuck in your head. Just stay with razors that are in good to very good condition, and you'll never have to worry about if it tings. whatever that means.

I also told Steve back on Nov 23 via Skype chat much the same thing about Dr Matt and to do a forum search for Dr Matt to understand why.

Bob