Thread: Problems for a beginning honer

I know you said not to worry too much about the HHT, but I do have one further question about it. Since I have been getting the HHT to pass extremely well off the strop, but inconsistently off the hone, and stropping does not sharpen the blade, does that mean that my razors could conceivably be shave ready off the hone - even without passing the HHT? I haven't tried yet, and have been reluctant to out of concern for my face...

only shaving will tell its the only test.but yes start with the aera under your sideburn if all gos well continue.if the razors skipping around or feels wrong STOP and strop.after honeing i give the razor a good 100 laps on the strop the frist 30 or so with the strop tight(maybe 5 lbs.) and a little presure,(fly killing) then ease up on the tention on the strop(1 lbs.) and presure.(fly traping) stroping helps keep a sharp blade sharp and smooth (confort) my normal stroping after that is 15 on linen and 30 on leather.

Cool, I will try going from the 8k directly to leather using your advice next time I have occasion to touch up one of my razors and see how it goes.

Originally Posted by Javast

I know you said not to worry too much about the HHT, but I do have one further question about it. Since I have been getting the HHT to pass extremely well off the strop, but inconsistently off the hone, and stropping does not sharpen the blade, does that mean that my razors could conceivably be shave ready off the hone - even without passing the HHT? I haven't tried yet, and have been reluctant to out of concern for my face...

Passing the HHT off the strop is a good thing, but failing the HHT is
not a bad thing. The only test that matters is the shave test.

My guess is that the hair that you are hanging to test with responds to
a stropped edge. A strop will improve the edge beyond what
a hone can do but a strop cannot replace a hone. Pasted strops
act both ways making it too easy to get into a tangle of words.

I consider my last hone step as leaving the edge "strop ready" not
shave ready.

One of the things a strop can do is leave an ultra
thin layer of strop dressing on the fine edge and protect that edge
from corrosion. So I always strop. I can make a mental image
that this micro layer of polymerized natural oil from the leather
acts like the micro thin layer of teflon that helps modern commercial
blades. A lot like the seasoning of a black iron pan helps a cook.
There are many more things that a strop does to perfect the
edge as stropping with newsprint demonstrates. The thin fine
nature of the edge challenges science and invites the type
of speculation trap I just let myself trip over.

All I really know is that a strop works.