Does This Look Anything Like An Edge I should Look For?

Hi, I'm at this stage just wanting to 'refresh' and already good edge that hasn't been honed for several months of every second day use. I'm using a Shapton 16k; just a few (10) passes, once on Sunday and again today as it wasn't as sharp as I think I remember it first being (I've only really used two razors). So I'm thinking it could be sharper (I guess there's no limit). I tried the thumb nail test and I definitely felt drag, but can't really see a cut. It also took hair off my arm OK. Now I know I'll find out tomorrow morning when I shave with it, but does this LOOK OK? I know it's not a great picture, the best I can do.
[EDIT] On re-reading this now I'm thinking it's actually a pretty stupid question and you can't tell from the picture anyhow. I considered deleting it but re thought it. I'm hoping it'll prompt someone to reply in regards to what I should be looking for. I have a magnifiying glass, no loupe or microscope, digital or otherwise...

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you mean thumb pad test right, not thumb nail? because the thumb nail test is used to check if a bevel is established at the 1k or 4k stage. There's a chance you may have further taken the edge off your razor. Hopefully a 12k will bring it back up but i will wait to see what the more experienced guys have to say

you did all those tests but did you try and shave with the razor?

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Originally Posted by tekbow

you mean thumb pad test right, not thumb nail? because the thumb nail test is used to check if a bevel is established at the 1k or 4k stage. There's a chance you may have further taken the edge off your razor. Hopefully a 12k will bring it back up but i will wait to see what the more experienced guys have to say

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Yeah. I know. I just read that. Now I feel really dumb :-)

I got the hang of shaving fine (I only started early June). But this honing is harder to grasp... Are you saying my TNT may have taken the edge off again? I'm such an idiot...

No One thinks you're an idiot....we think you are learning, just like the rest of us. I think you will find that a very hard surface such as your thumbnail will dull the edge on a sharp razor as at the last stage of sharpness the edge is very delicate.

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Originally Posted by mainaman

you did all those tests but did you try and shave with the razor?

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Not yet, tomorrow morning. But I'm looking for some way to tell if I'm in the ball park BEFORE shaving. So now (see above) I know the TNT was the wrong test. I tried the TBT but I'm not really sure what I'm looking for (tickling????). The hairs I just plucked from my wife's head cut with the HHT OK (though some refused not to, maybe too much hair spray??? Probably several layers on there...). Oh well, I guess I'll see what tomorrow's shave tells me. I need a BOOK to read on honing...or an audio CD to play in the car...

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Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

Not yet, tomorrow morning. But I'm looking for some way to tell if I'm in the ball park BEFORE shaving. So now (see above) I know the TNT was the wrong test. I tried the TBT but I'm not really sure what I'm looking for (tickling????). The hairs I just plucked from my wife's head cut with the HHT OK (though some refused not to, maybe too much hair spray??? Probably several layers on there...). Oh well, I guess I'll see what tomorrow's shave tells me. I need a BOOK to read on honing...or an audio CD to play in the car...

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You are refreshing the edge, after 10 passes on the stone strop and shave, if not good enough do another light 10 passes.
TPT and other tests will not tell you anything on such fine edge, they will not tell you if the razor actually shave well, they will only tell you if it is sharp enough to pass the tests. I bet you would have gotten the same result with TPT before and after the refresh, only the shave test will tell you if the edge is back where it should be or not.

Thanks for the replies. I just did 2 passes on the stone to make up for my TNT damage.... I've given up on the HHT; it didn't seem to want to cut my son's hairs at all, though his are very fine. (they don't let me pluck it myself anymore, he said "Daaaad! I'll do it! How many do you want?). I'll let you all know how I go tomorrow with the shave. I know none of you fine gentlemen are saying I'm an idiot (otherwise we'd have to go outside and talk about it), I'm saying I feel like an idiot. This can't be that hard! How long did it take you guys to get your first razor back to a good condition, assuming it was still able to shave OK? Or do most people go all the way back to the beginning (i.e. 4/8 etc or like 1/4/8 etc, etc?). In other words, I guess I'm still after confirmation that what I'm attempting to do is valid, knowing at some pint in time in the future I'll need to 'go all the way'....

Before you go plucking any more hairs off your wife's head, I would remind you that she knows where you keep your razor. You may find her up late at night exploring the ENT or Exposed Neck Test.

LMAO slow your role carl. stop thinking so much. If it were me I would go back and do about 8 passes on the 8K then another 8-10 on the 16K. This is only because of all the "testing" you did with the TNT. Do a good strop after about 40-60. Then shave and see where you're at. It might need another 8 -10 on the 16K but the shave should tell you all the info you need. Normally the 16K would be all you needed to refresh the edge.
Paul

My first razor took almost no effort to get back to shave ready....that was the confidence builder. The second, third, fourth, ....I thought there was something wrong with EACH razor. How could people make razors incorrectly....didn't they know what they were doing back then? ....Then I realized it was me.

I agree with mainaman up top there.....10 light passes, stop. Strop and shave a one inch patch of your cheek. Is it smooth? Yes...ok good. No....continue. 10 more light laps on the 16K. Stop. strop and shave test another one inch patch of your cheek. Smooth? yes...stop. No? Go to the 8K. Do 5 light passes on the 8K, and 5 on the 16K....how about now?

Start with your highest grit stone first, and use it to determine wether you need to drop into the heavier grits.

Yeah, if you did the thumb nail test you could have dulled the edge some.

Shaving arm hair indicates that you have a bevel set Sotheby's next thing is how does it feel on you face? Is the shave tug free and comfortable? Does the razor remove stubble easily? If so then it's all good.

If the shave feels rough or the razor tugs then it needs honing.

but the most important thing to remember is to take your time.... you WILL get it shave ready again.... if it starts to frustrate you ... walk away....

use light pressure and a steady hand.... kinda find your zen..... do everything at half speed and you will find what you are looking for.....

happy hunting....

Sneak up on it and you will remember what needs to be done. I agree, take back to the lower grit and proceed from there. Remember when shave testing, to make sure you wipe the blade good and clean before returning to the hone, so that you don't get hair on the hone.

Nothing to add to the fine advice given by the guys, but just to say i should have worded what i said better. Didn't mean to make you feel bad man, as was said following, you're learning, and you'll find stuff out and make mistakes, and make breakthru's. all part of learning. I managed to strop edge leading the first time i stropped. was so excited to get into it i missed a small but simple detail. How my strop and razor came out undamaged was pure luck.

Hello carlm...

It took me a year of flailing around with hones too coarse for the job before I started reading SRP, got a clue, got a proper hone, got a couple more clues and finally ditched stubbornness and followed the pyramid instructions exactly on my Norton 4k/8k. I'd say 6 months after my first success I was confident enough to hone anything in my growing collection. After 8 months, I even dared to touch up my Lynn-honed reference blade. Now I'm quite happy to throw myself into a full rescue of a fleamarket score that has potential for beauty.

I think the most valuable leg up I got in this whole process was from buying the reference blade and using it very seldom, to remind myself how good a shave SHOULD feel. The change in a blade is like a change in your eyeglass prescription--it's slow and you forget how sharp things should be as you accept daily how sharp they are. If all your rotation needs honing right now, send one of them out so you'll have a good reference in house.

Here's how I made the HHT useful for myself: I started with my reference blade, which was as sharp as a blade should be. I chose a consistent hair type to use (my chest hairs, but only the white ones because pigment adds toughness). I did my preshave stropping then HHTs along the whole edge. That's how they should feel/that's as well as my chosen hairs will perform. Then I shaved with the razor, no stropping midshave. After cleaning and drying the razor, but before stropping it to put away, I did another series of HHTs along the edge. That's how much the blade degrades in a single shave. Then I did a full preshave stropping and another series of HHTs. That's how much stropping repairs the wear and tear from a single shave. The differences are subtle but detectable. The HHT is not a binary test, nor do I think it's useful until you've calibrated it like this.

Good luck. You'll work it out and it will be a joyous moment.

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Originally Posted by Str8Shooter

LMAO slow your role carl. stop thinking so much. If it were me I would go back and do about 8 passes on the 8K then another 8-10 on the 16K. This is only because of all the "testing" you did with the TNT. Do a good strop after about 40-60. Then shave and see where you're at. It might need another 8 -10 on the 16K but the shave should tell you all the info you need. Normally the 16K would be all you needed to refresh the edge.
Paul

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Oh, very good! Yes. I should stop thinking too much; I do this about EVERYTHING. And then when I've done it to death, I get a new obsession. SWMBO says I overdo EVERYTHING, which is true... It's a thing I have. But the good side is I get to know a bunch of useless facts and can impress people at parties (or bore them, which I'm equally good at). I actually did (I think it was) 2 passes on the 16k and stropped 30/70 (as always) but did it straight after and also in the morning before shaving. It shaved quite well. Even did a ATG under the jawline. I'm not brave enough to go all the way to 8k yet. I need to hang around at first base a bit first before I commit to that...

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Originally Posted by Maxi

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Start with your highest grit stone first, and use it to determine wether you need to drop into the heavier grits...

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So I'm doing something right! Excellent help and advice from ALL the replies here; I know I have to read Wikkis etc (and I am, and burning up heaps of ultra sloooow Australian 'Broad band' Gigs) but interactive learning like this is so much better for me. Thanks. This forum certainly speeds up the learning process...

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Originally Posted by roughkype

Hello carlm...

...and followed the pyramid instructions exactly on my Norton 4k/8k...

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There's INSTRUCTIONS???? :ziplip:

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Originally Posted by tekbow

...but just to say i should have worded what i said better. Didn't mean to make you feel bad man, as was said following, you're learning, and you'll find stuff out and make mistakes, and make breakthru's...

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No no no, don't apologise, I was being funny! :-) Lucky you DID say something, otherwise I would have gone on slicing my thumb nail Ad Infinitum constantly dulling the blade! Sorry to post 4 in a row...

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Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

There's INSTRUCTIONS???? :ziplip:

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Pyramid honing guide - Straight Razor Place Wiki

This is the guide I followed, I'm just smart enough to follow instructions and stupid enough not to have any initiative. I just followed this from the 15-15, (Monkey see, Monkey do) it worked perfectly.