Thread: This is gonna sound odd... New way to check a bevel...

Originally Posted by niftyshaving

Just too unsanitary...

I'm not sure I follow this if the razor is disinfected before and after... I've seen videos, and read several posts from people who put a wad of saliva on their thumb to do the TPT... It's not all that different.

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

I dont know... I have read the various barbering texts we have in the wiki and have not seen it mentioned.

I hadn't seen it mentioned anywhere either. I've googled everything I can think of and can't find anything on it... But, it still seems odd that it would be depicted in a cartoon for no other apparent reason.

Originally Posted by HNSB

I'm not sure I follow this if the razor is disinfected before and after... I've seen videos, and read several posts from people who put a wad of saliva on their thumb to do the TPT... It's not all that different.

When honing a razor for somebody else, it is not common practice to wet the thumb with your saliva. I keep a cup of water at hand for my waterstones, and simply dip my thumb into the glass of water.

Originally Posted by sapito318

When honing a razor for somebody else, it is not common practice to wet the thumb with your saliva. I keep a cup of water at hand for my waterstones, and simply dip my thumb into the glass of water.

I think that's a great idea.
For you saliva may not be common practice, but that may not be the case for everyone that sells razors.
I'm hoping that everyone that buys a shave-ready is disinfecting it before the first use anyway... If a little saliva grosses you out, think about the microscopic blood that's on the blade if it got shave tested...

Good advise on sanitizing your blade if it's been out for a touch up or just purchased. I did some Google research and found that while bacteria can only survive 3 to 4 hours on a hard dry surface, viruses can be virulent for months.

On a lighter note I want to thank Seraphim for that walk down memory lane (I actually remember that cartoon as a kid). I haven't seen Popeye, Bluto and Olive Oyl in years. One interesting thing to note; if you watch Bluto at the hone he uses a proper X pattern. I'm thinking that if the animator went to that kind of trouble then there may be some validity to the HTT (Hanging Tounge Test). It could be time to call in the History Detectives from PBS.

Pelkey

Originally Posted by bobpell

if you watch Bluto at the hone he uses a proper X pattern. I'm thinking that if the animator went to that kind of trouble then there may be some validity to the HTT (Hanging Tounge Test). It could be time to call in the History Detectives from PBS.

Pelkey

If we are to use that cartoon as a historical record, one other thing to note is the concave surface of the hone. There was a thread I saw awhile ago that talked about how years ago barbers didn't worry if their hones were lapped to perfect flatness.

Good point. Lynn even mentions somewhere that if his hone is a few degrees off it really doesn't matter.

When you think about all the billions of shaves over hundreds of years I can't believe people went to all the bother we do. SR shaving used to be as common as brushing your teeth. I suppose if that becomes old school someday we'll see forums on selecting just the right tooth brush, proper care, selecting just the right tooth paste and who the experts are on replacing the bristles as well as pre and post mouth care.

Pelkey

Originally Posted by HNSB

If we are to use that cartoon as a historical record, one other thing to note is the concave surface of the hone. There was a thread I saw awhile ago that talked about how years ago barbers didn't worry if their hones were lapped to perfect flatness.

As others noted Lynn has a valued opinion on this....

My opinion is that at one time most shavers had ONE hone.
That hone and their razors would grow old together. I assume
a visit to the barber once in a blue moon as needed.

Based on that I suspect that most of us could go for years
with one of a barber hone, N8K or a N12K (N not equal to N in this case).

The value of a flat hone is critical and most apparent when switching
from one hone to another in any progression.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

YouTube - Popeye Clean Shaven Man