Thread: smiling edges

Thanks for the advice. I am familar with the thumbnail test and the thumb pad test (though my thumb isn't sufficiently calibrated for this one yet).

The change that effected this was discovering a better sharpness test. I had been using "hair-popping" on my arm just behind my watch. While comparing my razors with one from Joe Chandler, I discovered that there's a fairly smooth gradient in hair stiffness from the top of my arm around to the bottom that I can use to get a good idea how sharp the blade is. Mine would pop the hairs on the top, his would pop all the way around and down to the wrist. The W&B frameback was the first razor I honed after discovering this. I honed it so that it would pass the bottom of the wrist test on the 8k, then took it to the 1 and 0.5 micron paddles for a few laps. I was so pleased with the shave that Saturday I went and honed several other razors (both Friodur's, the Clarke&Son, a W&B, the Heljestrand, and the Neistrom), lathered up and verified them all. Which is good, because I need a few weeks to grow back the hair on my wrists.

Originally Posted by mparker762

Thanks for the advice. I am familar with the thumbnail test and the thumb pad test (though my thumb isn't sufficiently calibrated for this one yet).

The change that effected this was discovering a better sharpness test.

It sounds like you're all set.

You found a great test that works for you. I could never get thee HHT to work for me with any razor regardless of who honed (or even the Feather str8). Oh, it would cut hairs but very little. I think my hair is just too fine. I could see the longer hairs being cut, but it was hardly popping. That's why I went to my test.

The hair on my head is much finer than the hair on my arms, or at least a different quality of hair. None of my razors pass the HHT with hair from my head, not even a feather blade will pass.