Thread: testing sharpness

when you hone what tests do you do in your progression?
am i doing them incorrectly off hone?
I am honing a DA on norton 4k/8k, didn't really find any test worked, stropped on CrO and leather, after this the HHT(was popping) and arm hair test worked.
Shaved with it, a little razor burn on jaw and neck from ATG i'd say.

i have read that you should have the hairs popping with the HHT off the 4k and i have had them pop sometimes but i usually don't get them really popping until hitting the 8k, but i am new and this may not be right. hopefully someone can clear this up as it is something i wonder about when trying to do the HHT. the TPT is OK but i have to try it more to be able to tell, i always doubt myself and think it may not be quite sharp. again i am new so i am not discouraged by this. i think it would be great to get all the pros to list off their tests and at what grit they use which test. good job.

what is your honing technique like, do you do a certain amount on the 4k then on 8k?
how many?

Originally Posted by GhostRida

when you hone what tests do you do in your progression

You will find these two articles from the Wiki helpful:

• Honing for Dummies - Straight Razor Place Wiki
• Sharpness tests explained - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Good luck.

I would include looking at your stropping technique. Hair popping = sharp razor, razor burn = unsmooth edge.

It's a common misconception that HHT == shaveready.

I have once used my dremel to completely remove an edge (turn a 6/8 into a 5/8) and then recreate the edge with a DMTD8c (325 grit) and it popped hairs like mad after the DMT.
the reason is that rough edges -> pointy serrations -> grab hair easily -> pop.

Even when honing a razor on the norton 4K/8K, I get good HHT off the 8K.
But if I then polish on a coticule, the HHT always fails, because it smoothens out the serration-> hair doesn't grab->hair bounces off.

My main test is the thumb nail test to check if the razor has good bevels along the length.
After that I do -generally- a set number of strokes on the 4K/8K, followed by a number of strokes on the coticule or nakayama. The behavior of the water is what tells me when it is done (this will come more easily with experience). The only real test is the shavetest.

Originally Posted by GhostRida

when you hone what tests do you do in your progression?
am i doing them incorrectly off hone?
I am honing a DA on norton 4k/8k, didn't really find any test worked, stropped on CrO and leather, after this the HHT(was popping) and arm hair test worked.
Shaved with it, a little razor burn on jaw and neck from ATG i'd say.

I say show that razor some love on the 8k for a while before going to the pasted strop again. I bet it will smooth it out.

Ok i will read the wiki and give the 8000 more of a go, thanks.

read this for testing an edge good reading
Section 6-6, Sharpness Tests Vs. Edge Uniformity Tests - Bevel Creation Guide - Badger & Blade

I use the TPT regularly while honing and the HHT to determine when to finish with the Norton. Then it's a very modest amount of ultra fine polishing, strop and TST.

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