Thread: Thumb pad test

That's odd...

I'm old enough to remember quite a few barbers testing a razors' edge after stropping it (the kind we usually use, not the cartridge types). They all drew their thumb along the edge, not across it. Every barbers' manual that I've seen, so far, also instructs "along the edge"; not across it.

I do draw my thumb across an edge sometimes, on knives; but that is only to test for a burr. For sharpness testing any edge: knife, razor, or other tools, I always draw my finger or thumb along an edge. Very lightly and with minimum motion. The sharpest edges will need almost no motion at all.

It's been mentioned a couple of times that you educate your thumb and that's what I'm aiming for.I think it's starting to get me somewhere too.I got a little hand held microscope which although advertised as a toy, does the job of showing the edge quite well. The razor I got from the bay shows a nice even smoothish honed edge.I will now combine looking at the edge and the TPT while I hone my last two razors which are two ebay Genco's.They don't show much of a bevel at all.And to think I was only going to get one razor to save money

Along the edge from heel to point for me. Gently.