Thread: average time 1k thru 12k???

Originally Posted by Basset

And in this context you mean cutting the hairs with no blade contact with the skin?

I keep seeing this question, and I am realizing that like every other test, this one has gone much farther, and developed over the years into more than what it was originally designed for...

The test was a go / no go test when it started, for a completed bevel set, that was it and it is still 99% accurate if used that way...

As a qualitative test, it also works by testing the way the blade cuts hair as you progress through the grits/stages, of honing, but once you do that it, loses the accuracy of the test, and it becomes more like a HHT and more subjective to the individual type of hair...
I can use it to gauge the "sharpness" as I progress, but I can't say it will work the same for you... See the slight difference there???

If the edge cuts hair at skin level or above, along the entire edge then the "bevel" is set, that part is pretty darn accurate...

Every other type of testing you do with it has to be developed for each individual...

I agree with the above comments. The most time will be spent on correcting edge issues such as frowns, nicks and chips. Then setting the bevel up to a 1K-4K level. The least time is spent on finishing... 6K-8K-12K.
Assuming no major edge work has to be done then about 1 hour for me simply because I use a very slow honing stroke and test frequently.
I also spend an inordinate amount of time refreshing my hones.


Just my $.02,

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I keep seeing this question, and I am realizing that like every other test, this one has gone much farther, and developed over the years into more than what it was originally designed for...

The test was a go / no go test when it started, for a completed bevel set, that was it and it is still 99% accurate if used that way...

As a qualitative test, it also works by testing the way the blade cuts hair as you progress through the grits/stages, of honing, but once you do that it, loses the accuracy of the test, and it becomes more like a HHT and more subjective to the individual type of hair...
I can use it to gauge the "sharpness" as I progress, but I can't say it will work the same for you... See the slight difference there???

If the edge cuts hair at skin level or above, along the entire edge then the "bevel" is set, that part is pretty darn accurate...

Every other type of testing you do with it has to be developed for each individual...

I hadn't seen the Q before. I was kind of looking for a yes or no, but the extra explanation's helpful.

My practice, based upon prior posts and vids had been to move off 1K when I can shave arm hairs with blade-skin contact. (This is after passing TNT, marker test, examining evenness of bevel, etc.

But the phrase, "pop hairs" has been used to refer to no skin contact. So I thought maybe you were advocating remaining on 1k beyond skin contact shaving to no-skin contact hair popping. That would be a change from what I'd read in the past in so many posts.

I asked because we hear the experts all the time warn against overhoning, so I am reluctant to stay on 1k longer than is necessary. So if you were saying "stay on 1k until the hairs pop without skin contact," I wanted to know that. Sounds like you weren't.

Originally Posted by Basset

But the phrase, "pop hairs" has been used to refer to no skin contact. So I thought maybe you were advocating remaining on 1k beyond skin contact shaving to no-skin contact hair popping. That would be a change from what I'd read in the past in so many posts.

I asked because we hear the experts all the time warn against overhoning, so I am reluctant to stay on 1k longer than is necessary. So if you were saying "stay on 1k until the hairs pop without skin contact," I wanted to know that. Sounds like you weren't.

Not saying I'm an expert but I don't stay on a 1k until it will 'pop hairs'. Once I get the TNT I continue a bit and then try shaving a bit of hair on the skin or if I want to conserve hair the TPT. I don't fool with popping hair until the sharpening phase. I've read of people who perform HHT off of the 1k but I've never had any luck with that and don't even bother with it anymore. I do use that after I'm done honing but I've found HHT is not a prerequisite for a close and smooth shave. YMMV.

I agree with all the pros here... but on the other hand, since I'm in a honing learning curve, I really enjoy every single minute I spend restoring my blades (in some cases they have been more like a challenge), and of course the honing phase is just the final stage on getting my creations ready to face the next challenge: my whiskers!!! Thanks for the great advices guys

Originally Posted by Basset

I asked because we hear the experts all the time warn against overhoning, so I am reluctant to stay on 1k longer than is necessary. So if you were saying "stay on 1k until the hairs pop without skin contact," I wanted to know that. Sounds like you weren't.

Overhoning is way less of a problem then underhoning is, and honestly even if you overhone an edge at 1k it takes about 3 backhoning strokes to fix it...
But that being said you are right if the edge "CUTS" the hair the bevel is set...
Keep in mind though NONE of these tests are 100% accurate every single one of them is open to interpetatioon...

If you read what Jimmy just posted about the HHT being used by some people at lower grit and that he never found much use for it??? I would not have been that nice, I would have said that a 1k HHT was about laughable because of the false positives Same with using the AHT (arm hair test) by popping hairs above skin level as a test, it has to be calibrated to your hair, or it drops back into the Parlor Trick aspect of testing...
We have had this discussion way to many times about the HHT, it has to be calibrated to your hair to be of any use as a test, and it is only usable to each person...
Once you try and use the AHT as a sharpness test the same rules apply, BUT as a bevel test it is pretty accurate...

Excellent posts, guys. I laugh a little to myself every time I read posts about HHT at 1k (or similar). However, I have had excellent results relying on the arm hair test for determining when the bevel is set.

Today in just about 1 hour, I lapped my Noton 1k from previous use, lapped my Naniwa 5k and 8k to prep them for honing, and took 8 razors that had previously come off the 1k through the Naniwa 5k, Naniwa 8k, and Asagi.

I am basing the time on my timestamps from chat, which show when I walked away from my computer and when I returned:
(5:44:38 PM) holli4:
(6:51:51 PM) holli4: