Thread: Sharpness testing

I have a 6/8 W.P. 365 from Solingen and this morning the shave was crap, not real close shaving at all, in fact it did a bad job. So tonight I've given it 20 passes on a 6000 waterstone, 20 each of 1 and 0.5 micron and 50 on a hanging leather strop.
I tried the HHT, nothing, even across the wet thumbnail, nada, so I shave with it. Great shave..what the..?
Lynn has often stated the best test is the face and oh how right he is. I would have thought my razor was blunt but no, nice little pinging sounds without tugging as it shaved really smoothly. Is this correct, what's happening here ?.
Is this sort of experience meant to test us ?.

Gary

ps I'm often shaving at night just testing edges, still shave again in the morning just for the fun of it. Is this normal ?

The 6K waterstone applies perfect striations without becoming wicked sharp, added with 1m things should go nicely. May not shave ultra close, or it may, but it'll mow down whiskers like no ones business.

Is the experience meant to test you? No. Its to teach you. The experience might be designed to test the rest of us.

If I have one more person think the thumbnail test is supposed to test for sharpness I think I'll puke! :-)

Originally Posted by garythepenman

I tried the HHT, nothing, even across the wet thumbnail, nada, so I shave with it.

Of course, the shave is the ultimate test, but you should be aware that the thumbnail test is not the right one here. You should not test on the thumbnail after you leave your coarse stone, in this case, the 6K. It will dull the edge. It is not a sharpness test for when you're ready to shave.

Also, I don't know what you were expecting or looking for with the thumbnail test, but there's no way you could get a decent shave if it showed that the edge had chips or a dull edge. With tough skin, you might be able to accept a wire edge, but I don't think you would consider it comfortable.

What we expect with the thumbnail is that the edge will not slip sideways and that it will feel smooth and like it's cutting into the nail. That tells you a good edge has been formed and you're ready for edge polishing.

Gary,


I discovered this myself a way back. I therefore consider the HHT an indicator and not a final say. I too had a razor that did not pass the HHT and shaved great. Thats what is great about this every razor is both new and different.. Enjoy

Thanks All

Gary

Welcome to the world of straight razors!

What's funny is that each razor has it's own personality. I have had some razors come right off the 8K side of the Norton and shave extremely well. Others have needed more refinement. Tis definitely the Straight Razor World. Never the same, never different, just a ton of bootious razors and great shavers out there. Lynn

Yeah I'm starting to realize the only test is to shave with them. My wife looks at me strangely now as I dissappear into the bathroom at odd hours for a razor test. I'm so well shaved at the moment I'm going to have a days break to get some real stubble growing.

Gary