Thread: Honing on Japanese stones works well

Yesterday i received my ordered 8k Japanese hone. I also have 1k, 4k and 12k (they are also made in Japan). Before i got 8k i tried to achieve perfect sharpness on 4k. I didn't pass HHT but the shave was not bad however ATG was less comfortable. When i used 8k hone and stropped my razor it passed HHT at every spot on the blade. The shave was great. But there's one thing that is strange to me. The razor doesn't pass HHT if it's not stropped after honing. So my routine was: several strokes on 8k (5..10), stropping (20..40 strokes) and testing. No stropping - HHT fails. Should the razor pass HHT without stropping ? Also i wonder if it's good to polish the edge on 12k after 8k.

The HHT is relative and not all that dependable. I find the TPT to be far more reliable. Some razor/hone combinations pass the HHT without stropping and some don't. The shave test is the only one that really matters.

The 12k should give you a sharper edge than the 8k does. I believe you'll like a 12k edge a lot.

Congratulations on your great shave. Sounds like you're hooked now for sure...

Thanks I was almost giving up...
I use TPT as well but it's difficult for me to detect sharpness change with this test. The sensation i noticed is:

- on 4k: the edge begins to cut into the skin
- on 8k: the edge begins to cut with light "sticky" sensation

I also used armhair shave test but it is temporarily "out of date" because my arms are completely bald due to excessive use of this test

Fortunately i have 2 razors so i will polish one of them on 12k and compare to one which was honed on 8k only. There are two areas on my face that are quite difficult to shave but it's getting better and better at each shave.

I agree with Sticky on the HHT. As for the TPT I learned it by following Randydance's suggestion of taking a new DE blade and feeling that from time to time to learn what a sharp blade is supposed to feel like. Wasn't long before I was out of arm hair too.

Like Lynn says, the shave is the ultimate test. As for difficult areas, mine are becoming less difficult as my blade handling and stretching techniques improve. The whiskers haven't changed but my skill level has increased and I can get them more easily now. The good thing is that we get to practice every day.

It sounds like you have the TPT working. I also like using a DE blade to practice the TPT. If you would like more detail and theory on that test, and others, here is a link to click on.

Sorry to hear about your arm hair. I call it "razor mange". You're not alone, many straight shavers suffer the same fate. It's not really serious until SWMBO starts cracking jokes about your legs...