Thread: The paper towel test

There's a lot of mystery, apparently, in determining when a razor is really sharp. Here's a test that will help a lot, I think. I know it works great for me. Double a dry paper towel so that you're pinching a "loop" of the towel that stands up on it's own, about 2 inches past your fingers. run the blade gently over the doubled edge and if the razor slides over the paper towel without any small jerks or pulls, you don't have any chips or dings in the blade. This test picks up the smallest of chips and nicks that I can only see under 20+ power - and that held JUST RIGHT in great light with very good optics (Bausch and Lomb).

If it doesn't pass this test, it can still shave, but it will likely have more "bite" than you'll enjoy. If it actually cuts the paper towel without moving it, you've got a very good edge.

Also, I like to pass a razor of the tips of my arm hairs. If it cuts the tips off, that's good. If there's no popping or pulling, that's perfect.

Great idea, thanx for sharing. Now what we want to know is how you get the razor that sharp! Share those secrets too...

That sounds like an excellent test. By using a mechanical test receptor in the paper towel, it reduces opinion based error. I rarely use the stuff though. WHO SAVED A TREE! When the wife brings some home I'll have to give it a try.

X

I'd love to see a pic too of what you mean. I assumed that a vision of this test would eventually come to me but its still doesn't. What direction do you attack the paper towel at and from where? I'd love to see maybe two pics showing what you mean.

Can't wait to try it. Of course we ran out of paper towels just before I read this. nice.

This was a quick Paint Drawing I did which should at least give you the idea, if not impress you with my abiltity to draw in stick figures, LOL.

I just honed up a WorldMaster I got through cleaning up. Seemed pretty good, cut hair easily off my arm, failed the paper towel test. Turned out there were some rough spots on the blade and most tests won't reveal these because they don't test the blade edge's continuity across the entire edge. This picked up two rough spots where it "dragged" or "grabbed" the paper towel.

I worked those rough spots out with additional honing. It still passes the hanging hair test, the free-standing hair test, etc.... but I am confident now that it will pass the critical "comfortable, close shave test", LOL.

I am glad you did the drawing that was not what I had pictured at all.

A honemeister one town away! Papa where were you a month ago? j/k this paper towel test sounds interesting and ill certainly give it a go at some point

Robert,

The diagram does the trick! However, stick to razors, not drawing! I had most of it figured out, just about 90 degrees off, would have drawn "down" the towel vs. across.

Great info!

RT