Thread: Thumb pad test

I have just successfully honed my second razor and although it's only my second, I have decided to give up using the arm hair test before coming off the 1k. and use the TPT instead. My eyesight is too poor to see arm hair cut although I think I can hear and feel it.I definitely think I am improving both in my honing skills and my ability to feel the sharpness with my thumb even though it's only been two razors (two successes that is) but the difference in quality was definitely measurable.An even more comfortable shave this morning.I felt it cut into my thumb pad easier and quicker than usual even though I was still using almost no pressure. Now I know what the excitement is about honing.

Hi Charlie,

Welcome to the insanity. I'm but a little further down the road (3 mo).

You will likely find you're going to need some optical help in evaluating edges. Most advocate a 30x loupe. I have a 20x, and a visor that ranges from 4-15. It helps to be able to verify that each successive stone has done it's job before moving to the next - by replacing the more coarse scratch pattern with it's own, finer pattern. I'm enjoying the edges I put on blades, but am pretty lost on most of the common variations of warped & wavy blades. It seems the learning curve is long on honing, but it is fun.

I also prefer the TPT when setting the bevel. Sometimes, if I'm not sure on the feeling, I'll do the arm hair test and, when a blade passes like I want it to, I'll feel that edge to "recalibrate" myself.

I have used a Carl Zeiss lens turned round as a loupe but until you mentioned loupes,I forgot about that.I have yet to enjoy the challenges of smiles,frowns etc.of blades.Although none of my blades have those characteristics,I s'pose RAD will take care of that .

I just can't seem to get any feedback from the TPT.

Does anyone else have this problem.

Whether it's a razor that's been honed by the hommies here on SRP or one that I've honed myself, not matter how smooth of a shave it gives, I can't seem to get a good baseline "feel" for the TPT.

I had the same trouble until I began to realize that the TPT is a shave worthiness test. Until I spent many hours perfecting my stropping I never got anywhere with the TPT.

When I hit the stropping nail on the head though, BANG, the TPT worked great. I figured out a couple of years ago that there is stropping, and then there is STROPPING.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I had the same trouble until I began to realize that the TPT is a shave worthiness test. Until I spent many hours perfecting my stropping I never got anywhere with the TPT.

When I hit the stropping nail on the head though, BANG, the TPT worked great. I figured out a couple of years ago that there is stropping, and then there is STROPPING.

I'll have to go back and start trying the TPT again. Once I was able to progress through grits and get all the way to a great razor I didn't bother using it anymore.

I get what you're saying about something just clicking though. I remember when it happeend with stropping and I actually understood what everyone was talking about with actually being able to feel the edge drag on the strop.

Originally Posted by charlie762

I have just successfully honed my second razor and although it's only my second, I have decided to give up using the arm hair test before coming off the 1k. and use the TPT instead. My eyesight is too poor to see arm hair cut although I think I can hear and feel it.I definitely think I am improving both in my honing skills and my ability to feel the sharpness with my thumb even though it's only been two razors (two successes that is) but the difference in quality was definitely measurable.An even more comfortable shave this morning.I felt it cut into my thumb pad easier and quicker than usual even though I was still using almost no pressure. Now I know what the excitement is about honing.

successes is the magic word.

In the end there is only one...
the shave test is the only test that matters.

I must confess to using a 100x hand held microscope on occasion, but this will ony tell me if I'm past any micro chipping, nothing about the edge. To some extent this will take out the guesswork, but i like to be able to cut arm hair easily off the 4K before moving on to polishing. The only reliable test there on IMO is to shave and dial in the smoothness from there. As for bevel setting the way the water moves on the hone (as long as stone is reasonably flat) gives me a good visual indicator, has anyone else had this experience?

Yes, that is a very good indicator. Perhaps not 100% reliable, but an important factor to consider while honing. I have read many people use this as feedback. I can't do this on a barber hone though, only on the 8K Norton.