Thread: possible plan: stop honing and learn to shave

Wow, what a great forum.

On Randy's advice, I did go back to the hone. It was two steps forward and one step back, but I got an edge that did pass the wet-nail test, and would (right off the 8k stone) split hairs with hardly any noise along most of the blade (then I was tired and jumpy, so stopped while ahead).

I then shaved a first pass without stropping and got a good shave. Before the second and third passes, I stropped very lightly about ten laps on the clean leather. I did the HHT after stropping just to make sure I hadn't dulled it through poor stropping.

Now, having shaved and cleaned the blade but not re-stropped, it won't pass the HHT at all: I'm going to assume that that's normal unless I hear otherwise from someone. Tomorrow morning, after the blade has "rested" a day, I'll try the HHT again on the unstropped blade before going on to strop as usual (clean linen side and clean leather side).

I'll keep my eye on Bill's site for a second, shave-ready beginner's blade. Then I'll have something to compare my first blade to.

Thanks to everyone. Keep the suggestions coming!
Deepweeds

OK, basics again.

You MUST! strop before every shave! No exceptions!
The minimum number of laps is 30, I use 60-90.

The stropping cannot be done the day before either. Just a few minutes before actually shaving.

Forget using the HHT on a blade that has just been shaved with or that has just been stropped. That is not the appropriate time to use that test.

The last time to use the HHT is after the fine stone (approx 8000 grit).


Hope this helps,

You can use the HHT to test the progress of the razor from 4k to 8k through 12k, but that will just be so that you can see how the hair reacts to an edge which is not sharp enough or wire edged. I have VERY fine hair and do use the HHT after stropping, but only to confirm that the razor will effortlesly and silently cut my own hair. If that happens, it's definitely time for the shave test.

Also, I think the wet nail test is a very aggressive test for the new edge. I only use it to detect burs and nicks.

We haven't talked about the paper towel test though. Has anybody been using this one?

X

You MUST! strop before every shave! No exceptions!

Okay, I think I'm one of those guys who must be told, "By the way, shave with the shiny metal side, not with the curvy plastic side." :^)

Randy, I suspect I'd read at some point one of these 12k-stone, belgian-coticule guys talk about shave-testing without stropping. In any case, my poor, red face tells me that you're right: shaving without stropping is a no-no. Also, my three passes seems to have dulled the blade somewhat (at least, it no longer "grabs" my wet thumb from either face of the blade when I pull it across).

I'll use a gentle hone to get it back to where I had it ("grabs" the thumb and passes HHT right off Norton's 8k side), then strop it very well before shave-testing in the morning.

X: I agree that the wet-nail test is a bit aggressive; I'll keep in mind to use it sparingly. But what is the paper towel test?

Thanks to all for helping me with the basics.
Deepweeds

This is the test in question.

As a new shaver you can expect your face to react a little to the agressive edge on the straight. It will take a half dozen shaves or so for your face to adjust.

Be careful with the higher grits. Too much ultra light work on them can create a wire edge and raze your face. If this starts to happen you'll need to go back to the higher grits for a few passes and work your way back up.

Always strop and always strop carefully. It's quite ease to knock the nice new wdge you just made off with bad stropping. Take yor time and get it don right.

X