Thread: Let's talk HHT

Originally Posted by dgstr8

I agree with all the above info. I would add that, for me, the HHT is usefull as a base reference point in that I know that a blade will not pass a HHT done by me, with one of my chest hairs when its too dull to bother trying a shave test. In other words, when it passes my HHT, done by me with my chest hair I think its worthwhile to try a shave test, but not before (for me). Shave test is the only test that proves if its shave ready
.

SliceofLife also mentioned having to use chest hair. Because I wasn't very familiar w/ the prep on a hair, I couldn't get one of GS's fine hone jobs to cut a head hair, yet a single tpt made it clear it was going for my rib cage through my thumb. Off the stone, I don't stop until chest hair falls easily. Then strop. ALOT. The wackers are particularly hard steel, and I'm learning I have to give alot of extra stopping effort when coming off the stones. Head hair wouldn't pass off the stones - ever. 100 passes on canvas & then 160 on bare leather, and it passes at various levels. The more mild tempered blades don't seem to need that much effort.

This, from the noob at 3 mo.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

if (training == a lot){
use HHT
use shavetest
}
else use shavetest and do training
}
James.

That's funny, Jimbo. Thank You!

Originally Posted by onimaru55

I wonder if anyone has measured these uncuttable thin hairs with a Vernier or such ? I know I can HHT a 2.5 thou hair. It probably doesn't matter if you can make the test your own.

Chest hair = .0033"
Head hair = .0018"

variables of measurement apply, but several samples came w/in a few tenths over repeated measurements.

You lucky $)@^(+@$)^ that have the thick head hair

Originally Posted by pinklather

Chest hair = .0033"
Head hair = .0018"

variables of measurement apply, but several samples came w/in a few tenths over repeated measurements.

You lucky $)@^(+@$)^ that have the thick head hair

That wasn't his head hair

James.

Originally Posted by pinklather

You lucky $)@^(+@$)^ that have the thick head hair

LMAO.. It ain't my hair. My hair is always buzz cut

I used a straight for a year before I read about the HHT on this forum and decided to try it.

I hone razors using a standard 1k, 4k, 8k and .5 micron progression. I can get to the HHT after plain linen and leather, but I find it easier on pasted "unpasted" strop. There was a thread awhile back about how tratitionally strops had some kind of treatment with a very fine, mild abrasive compound applied. I tried graphite with good results. After looking around, I found a 50 nanometer allumina (.05 micron) polish. I cleaned the graphite off my strop and applied a few dabs of polish. After stroping, the razor easily passed HHT (5).

As for the test itself, I take chest hair, hold it with the root out, and bring it down to the edge. If the hair does not fall silently in two, I continue stropping. What the test usually tells me is that I'm not getting full edge contact between the blade and the strop towards the tip. I've noticed that if I place the razor flat on the strop and give it a slight rotation to ensure solid contact between the edge and strop, it takes relatively few strokes to make the edge pass teh HHT.

I think no matter what kind of hair, or thickness of hair you use, everyone is still going to have their own unique HHT.

Everyone talks about their own; But really, everyone can have their own HHT because of climate, procedure, hair thickness etc...

I think the point of the thread was to highlight the fact that everyone has to find their own "standard" of using the HHT as a measurement tool.

Although it would be kind of cool if we could somehow SET a standard. By say, using some thin type of rope/line. Then everyone would know they would be using the exact same medium.

In the end though, it seems to be a bit extreme and takes a lot of the unique user skill of honing out of the equation. That's what I like the most about honing. Everyone has their own deviations, everyone gets a great shave, and not everyone in the world can just pick up a stone and razor and get good results.

Originally Posted by thorxes

Although it would be kind of cool if we could somehow SET a standard. By say, using some thin type of rope/line. Then everyone would know they would be using the exact same medium.

A standard material would be helpful. A standard face, beard, and neck would also be helpful. I think the face being test-shaved is one of the most important variables regarding interpretation of sharpness tests, along with of course personal shaving styles, prep, etc

I love it: we NOW have THE test. And it is, proper epiphany-like sound effects please, the Standard Face Standard Stubble Standard Preparartion Standard Lather Standard Strop Standard Razor Test.

Standard pronunciation is to place tongue between lips and blow.

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

A standard material would be helpful. A standard face, beard, and neck would also be helpful. I think the face being test-shaved is one of the most important variables regarding interpretation of sharpness tests, along with of course personal shaving styles, prep, etc

It all boils down to how is the shave ? If it's good that is all that matters.