Thread: No sliding on the TPT ... Do you agree?

I was reading How to and Why over at classicshaving.com/ and came across this concerning the TPT.

Originally Posted by How To And Why

Touch the razor edge lightly and note the reaction. A dull edge produces no drawing feeling. A razor that has the proper cutting edge tends to stick to the thumb and will not slide along it.

I'm still new to all this, but I've never heard that the edge wouldn't slide at all.

I've noticed with my shave ready razors that the blade digs in deep fast. You could continue to try to make it slide, but my advice is, when it grabs like that, don't keep drawing it or you'll see blood.

About the TPT: you DON'T slice. you touch the blade orthogonally to the blade length. Slicing is useless, and very dangerous.

If a blade is really sharp and you touch it with a wet fingerpad, the edge will cut hrough the fingerprint and stick into the dermis. This produces a very peculiar and recognizable feeling.
And if you retract your thumb it can feel sticky. The feeling is very difficult to describe, but very unique.

If you want to test along the length on the blade, then test at one place, retract, move a half inch and test there. do not slice. ever.

Thanks, Bruno. Your explanation of TPT is probably the best I've heard. If that's the way to do it, then I've been terribly misinformed. I've even seen demonstration videos that show people sliding their finger down the blade.

Because I'll admit it right off, I was running my finger down the blade. It probably explains why my shaves aren't whisker melting good.

That is the way I do it now too. I just touch the thumbpad down and it cuts into the first layer of skin. Learning how to strop very effectively was an important part of being able to succeed at this test.

I think what the quote on the Classic site you reference means that a proper edge will stick rather than slide across the surface of your thumb pad. I don't think it meant that if it's a proper edge it will stop in your thumb pad. I don't know if that's what you're thinking but I could see how that quote could be interpreted in two ways.

I do move my thumb pad in a short downward motion on a stationary edge just like the old barber manual posted on SRP at one time showed. So I am moving my TP over the edge slightly rather than lightly pressing. That's how I get the best feel. I've never cut myself doing this.

Two of the very best adjectives that sum up the sensation of a keen/perfect edge on a thumb pad that have been used long before I've been alive I'm sure are: "Sticky" and "Gummy". Once you feel it, it makes perfect sense.

Chris L