Thread: HHT = Shave ready? (and shave ready definition)

Originally Posted by dave5225

I think you're doing fine , and if your razors are giving you nice shaves , then they are indeed shave ready . Whatever you're doing , you seem to be doing it right . Keep up the good work , and stop worrying .

+1 to this. I use a DE blade as my standard. Maybe a high standard and there is always room for improvement but if you are getting BBS shaves you are doing a lot of things right in my book.

Originally Posted by zippoo

But just too satisfy my curiosity... can a NOT shave ready razor pass the HHT in any way?

Let me stretch your words a bit to provide a very simple example that probably most could agree on.

Let's change your question to, " can a NOT shave ready BLADE pass the HHT in any way?"

Answer--absolutely. A well sharpened serrated knife is a reasonable example.

I know knife sharpeners that can achieve HHT success off of coarse hones (less than 500 grit). I suggest that it would stand to reason the same could be achieved with a razor instead of a knife, and I'd further speculate that the vast majority would agree that a sub-500 grit edge is not shave ready.

Perhaps opinions/definitions vary?

Of course this is all trivial banter as I don't expect anyone really cares to "pass" HHT, and subsequently have an uncomfortable shave.

HHT as seen in video is a parlor trick, much like knife guys slicing paper to demonstrate sharpness and shooting water jugs and watermelons to demonstrate stopping power.

HHT can tell you if you are making progress in honing and if the edge is sharp enough to cut “your” hair, but it will tell you that only that section of the blade contacting that hair is sharp enough and tells you nothing about the rest of the edge. The ability of a razor to cut or pop a hanging hair, says nothing of the razor’s ability to shave… “Your” face.

The term, Shave Ready is also subjective and shaving expertise will play a large part in the shaving experience or readiness of the razor. One of the benefits of the Straight Razor is the ability to tailor the edge for your beard and skin type for keenness and comfort.

As your shaving expertise improves so will your quest for comfort. The biggest obstacle for novice shavers and honers is learning to strop, as errant stropping can ruin a Professionally Honed, HHT Shave Ready edge in one swipe and proper stropping can not only improve but maintain an edge indefinitely.

I first shaved with a Pro honed razor about 30 years after I began Straight Shaving… and was not all that impressed, probably because by that time I had long ago learned how to hone and maintain a razor… for my face.

I agree with AFD, it’s not really about re honing an edge, as it is improving and maintaining an edge that works for you. Now repairs and restores are another thing all togeather.

Learning to strop is much more important than learning to hone, as has been said many, many times. It sounds like you are really very close with your edges, improve your stropping and improve your edges. Leather is all you need, Chrome Oxide can speed things up or ruin an edge depending on your skills.

Learn the TPT, feel every edge you can it is a much faster more accurate test, once mastered.

but, let's not underestimate the value of a good parlor trick!

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

but, let's not underestimate the value of a good parlor trick!

Both as a parlor trick, AND as a potentially useful tool for those clever enough to figure out how it can provide useful information

I don't HHT at all ever.

I get a bevel set (after edge is fixed if necessary) using AHT/TNT. Once i move off the 1k, I use nothing but AHT, and it always "slides" a little as the blade smooths out (less "pop" off the 4k generally). When the blade starts grabbing/popping AH's anywhere i touch them, I know it's close.

Close means time for shave test. no point in trying to find a hair to hang.

There is no substitute for testing a shaving edge but on hairs growing out of ones face. none.

The trick is always having some fully sharp backup razors, so that if a razor needs to go back to the hone, you don't have to suffer through shaving with it. Another trick is to figger out how to test 5 razors in one session...



When i'm having a razor "showdown" I do half my face with one, other half with the other, then switch sides for 2nd pass. Touch-up with the winner.

*also note that i'm only just learning-always throw my advice/comments out when higher-ranking officers and gentlemans offer theirs.