Thread: HHT, at what stage?

Hi guys,
I've started to hone a razor I got at some antique shop and have been making some slow progress, At the moment only parts of the razor pass the TPT (all of it passes TNT now), the question is:

When should a razor pass the HHT? At the 4000 level or 8000? or lower?

All help appreciated

Ed

Depends on your hair, really.

It's possible off just the 4k, more likely off the 8k, but quite consistent off the strop.


John P.

The HHT has never worked for me. I get good information from the TNT. When the whole blade digs into my nail on the 8K, I do ten more laps and don't test anymore.

The HHT doesn't really matter in the first place, it is one of the most inconsistent tests that we use, BUT damn it's pretty cool huh???

The HHT is so inconsistent at lower grits it is virtually useless, a rough 1k edge can sometimes pop a hair..... If yer going to use the HHT at all, use it after you have already stropped up the blade, the hair should literally pop in half when it touches the edge, no pulling, no slicing, just a POP!!!! and you should POP it in 5 different spots on the blade I do about every 1/2 inch starting at the heel..... Does this mean that the edge is shave ready .... NO!!!! but it is pretty cool ...... Really the shave test is the only final test that counts.....

I have also heard many times on these HHT discussions this statement " My razor shaves great and I have never passed an HHT" I sometimes wonder about that side of the argument too, because every one of my razors will pop HHT, without a hiccup, and I even try it with my thicker hair, and the wifes baby fine hair, they all pop, but again I'll say it is not the definitive edge test....

The HHT... many reject it. Others look at it as a cool trick. Some use it to test for a razor's ability to sever a hair. You can count me with the last group.
In my experience the HHT can be a very reliable test. The variance between different types of human head hair is not as great as generally considered, at least not, if you stick with a few base rules. (can't speak for other animal's hair or other places where humans grow hairs, since I never use those)

The hair must be clean, total absence of natural oils. The best way to make sure of this, is to harvest a strand of thoroughly, freshly washed hair, and store it in a small box for future use. I have a box of my own, rather fine hair and a box of my youngest daughter's thick and stiff hair. One would expect them to behave differently, but they don't. Neither does my wifes hair, or my straight shaving friend Chris' hair.

When performing the test, wet your thumb and index finger with some water, pinch the hair and drag it through your fingers to moisten it. Wait about 10 seconds and then perform the test. My point of contact is about an inch from where I hold the hair.

I use the HHT at 2 different stages.

1. After the DMT-E (1200 grit), that use till I know the bevel of the razor is absolutely flawless. While working on the DMT, I often perform the thumbnail and thumbpad tests, to gauge for progress. I know that, if I finish with a dozen extremely light laps, and if the bevel is completely up to par, the razor will pass a HHT. I do not proceed to my coticule if it doesn't. I usually need to drag the hair a very small bit over the edge before it catches and pops the hair. At this stage, I find that acceptable.

2. After polishing that edge on the coticule (water only) and stropping (it does pass before stropping also, but usually I don't bother with it at that point). If everything checks out fine, I know the hair will fall silently as soon as it touches the edge. When honing a razor for someone else, I don't test shave. (Not that I have any diseases, but I consider it a courtesy not to use another's razor) I am sure that if a razor is not overhoned, and it passes the HHT at this point, that it is going to give a very smooth shave.

This is something that works for me. I'm very sure others get by without the HHT just fine.

Bart.

does it have to be human hair?

We have 3 cats and 2 dogs. we have gobs of non-human hair. I sort through a handful and find one of the coarser hairs and use that. Its kind of nice to have a use for it.