Thread: Not sure what the problem is?

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Once I saw Gssixgun (Glen) describe the TPT as kind of bouncing the TP on the edge. After reading that I did a TPT and realized that is kind of how it is. Bouncing lightly in the direction of the heel towards the point.

I used a sharp new DE to educate my TP as Randydance advised to learn it. I also used the TPT on the striaght in conjunction with the TNT while setting the bevel. IOW, razor is dull and I am on the diamond plate or coarse grit stone setting the bevel and I know it isn't sharp enough to pass the TPT but I am doing it anyway along with the TNT.

As I progress on the bevel I am feeling the progress as I do these two tests and getting my TP to get used to the feel of the edge against it as it gets sharper. Randy told me to do this to get the feel of the TPT and it really worked. Now I use the TPT more then any other. If you hone enough you run out of arm hair pretty quick.

I have never cut my TP using the TPT. It is a light touch along the edge with the force going from heel towards the point with only the slightest pressure to see if the edge grabs or the pad slides. The pressure isn't going from the edge towards the spine.

Cool on winning the microscope for that price. ( item #120379750308) I only have the 30x in both the loupe and my microscope. Not sure if 100x is ideal as it might show too much but maybe it will be better then less power.

I'm not sure I'm completely understanding what you are saying about the TPT. After reading the wiki, my understanding of the TPT is to lightly drag the blade along my thumb pad, heel to toe, as if trying to cut my thumb, but it shouldn't cut it because you are using light pressure. Are you saying the same thing?

I did do this, but I had two main problems. First, I didn't expect the edge to be SO sharp after coming off of the course D8E (1200 grit), so I underestimated the blade. Second, I just started at the heel and kept going toward the tip. I probably should have done small sections at a time instead of one continuous stroke (is this what you mean about bouncing?). With the one stroke, even though I was dragging it ever so lightly, as soon as it started to cut in a little, it just dug in too smooth, too fast

It was at least as sharp as a DE blade, which I wasn't expecting from that hone. It's not like I cut myself bad or anything, luckily. It didn't even really bleed. It's literally just like a papercut, which, of course, stings

You're right Jimmy. Perhaps pulling is not the best word to use. I always imagined pulling in a negative sense to be something where you almost had to force the razor through the hair and were almost tearing the hairs.

I was referring more to excessive feed back so to speak. In my head I imagine that the ultimate edge is one where you don't feel anything at all as you do the initial pass. One step below that and you have a little bit of feed back. As you work down that spectrum you get more and more feed back until you hit the point where the razor is doing as I described above.

"Shave readiness" is unique to each of us and is a range that begins at some point along that spectrum. We all agree that the top of the spectrum is shave ready but where we draw the line is a personal thing.

Originally Posted by pjrage

I probably should have done small sections at a time instead of one continuous stroke (is this what you mean about bouncing?).

I think that is what he meant. And that is how I perform it as well. It took me a while to get it right but now that I know what to look for it gets easier each time.

Originally Posted by pjrage

I I probably should have done small sections at a time instead of one continuous stroke (is this what you mean about bouncing?).

Yes that is what I mean. What little pressure I use goes in the direction I'm moving my TP not downward toward the spine. Moistened TP and as you know a light touch.

Originally Posted by JCitron

The issue is we newbs spend so much time reading posts before our first shave that we come to expect a razor to glide effortlessly across our face. We read so much about the "hot knife through butter" that we assume that's the mark for shave readiness. When our first shave is less than that we wonder why.

This, I think, is exactly what happened. My first shave, with a "shave-ready" razor, did not glide, but my second shave, with a razor that I honed myself (very first honing) glided like I imagined it should. So I wondered why. Then, I honed another razor the same way as the one that glided, and it did not glide, so I wondered why.

As it turns out, though, it seems like I may have been doing a little too much wondering a little prematurely. For the first razor, since it shaved great today, it seems it WAS shave ready, but since it was my first shave, I a) didn't know what to expect, and b) had bad technique. The second razor was probably a fluke that it was honed so well, and the third razor is probably the norm until I get my honing down pat.

Sorry everyone that I've now started babbling and worrying/wondering so much over my newbie discoveries and explorations

Originally Posted by pjrage

This, I think, is exactly what happened. My first shave, with a "shave-ready" razor, did not glide, but my second shave, with a razor that I honed myself (very first honing) glided like I imagined it should. So I wondered why. Then, I honed another razor the same way as the one that glided, and it did not glide, so I wondered why.

As it turns out, though, it seems like I may have been doing a little too much wondering a little prematurely. For the first razor, since it shaved great today, it seems it WAS shave ready, but since it was my first shave, I a) didn't know what to expect, and b) had bad technique. The second razor was probably a fluke that it was honed so well, and the third razor is probably the norm until I get my honing down pat.

Sorry everyone that I've now started babbling and worrying/wondering so much over my newbie discoveries and explorations

Not to worry,

This is quite normal around here!!

Lynn

Originally Posted by JCitron

You're right Jimmy. Perhaps pulling is not the best word to use. I always imagined pulling in a negative sense to be something where you almost had to force the razor through the hair and were almost tearing the hairs.

I was referring more to excessive feed back so to speak. In my head I imagine that the ultimate edge is one where you don't feel anything at all as you do the initial pass. One step below that and you have a little bit of feed back. As you work down that spectrum you get more and more feed back until you hit the point where the razor is doing as I described above.

"Shave readiness" is unique to each of us and is a range that begins at some point along that spectrum. We all agree that the top of the spectrum is shave ready but where we draw the line is a personal thing.

Agreed, I use the gradual stubble removal I learned in DE shaving. Not trying to get bbs smooth in one pass. Some parts of my face/neck will get smooth in one pass. Some in two and certain areas (on either side of the windpipe) may need further attention.

What I look for is almost no resistance and a smoothness in the cutting of the whiskers. For me the chin and mustache areas tell the tale. If those areas are resistance free and cut smoothly my razor is shave ready enough for me but as you say it is an individual thing.

Randydance told me early on that after coming off of the hones test shave and you may have to go back to the hones a few times to refine and improve the edge. He also told me to try shaving off of the 8k instead of moving on to the higher grits right off the bat. Gives a good indication of how sharp you're getting the razor. I like doing that and find it is a good barometer of how my honing skill is progressing.

Out of curiosity, when you are test shaving razors you hone, are you just lathering up after you finish and doing a couple quick swipes to see where you are at? Or are you waiting until morning (or whenever your normal shave time is) and doing a full shave with the razor? I always envisioned the latter, but it seems like doing that could take a few days to a week to get a razor "just right" if you want to go back to the hones after each test shave.

Originally Posted by pjrage

Out of curiosity, when you are test shaving razors you hone, are you just lathering up after you finish and doing a couple quick swipes to see where you are at? Or are you waiting until morning (or whenever your normal shave time is) and doing a full shave with the razor? I always envisioned the latter, but it seems like doing that could take a few days to a week to get a razor "just right" if you want to go back to the hones after each test shave.

I don't know what anyone else does but I wait until my next regular shave. If I am working that day it is before work and if I am off that day it is late at night.

I have heard of some guys testing more then one razor in a single shave but I don't do that. I go through the whole shave. If I honed a bunch for other people I might do it the former way. If a razor isn't doing it for me in the first pass depending on how bad it is I may hit it on a flatbed hone with chrom ox before the second pass.

Personally that is the only time I use paste. Between passes if necessary. I will take the razor to the hones the following day and try getting it up to snuff for the next regular shave. Just the way I am doing it now and subject to change.

Originally Posted by pjrage

Out of curiosity, when you are test shaving razors you hone, are you just lathering up after you finish and doing a couple quick swipes to see where you are at? Or are you waiting until morning (or whenever your normal shave time is) and doing a full shave with the razor? I always envisioned the latter, but it seems like doing that could take a few days to a week to get a razor "just right" if you want to go back to the hones after each test shave.

Here is a thread from awhile back that might make for some good reading

http://straightrazorpalace.com/newbi...ervices-2.html

Myself I wait till I am ready to shave anyway, but I can only "Test" up to 6 razors at one time...

I have a rather strict test for razors that I hone for other people, My neck is the most tender spot for me to shave, I do an ATG stroke right off the get go on each razor I am testing, if there is any hesitation at all on the stoke the razor is not up to my "Sharpness" standard... Assuming the razor passes that part I finish the rest of the shave and get the razor ready to fly home...