Thread: 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...

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?

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

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.

Originally Posted by mainaman

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

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...

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...

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