Thread: The shave test.....

So I am wondering how you guys that hone 100s if not 1000s of razors a year shave test them all?? Do you do each pass with a different razor, do you use multiple razors each pass thus only shaving a small section with each one or (and I don't see how this would work with amount of razors the guys in the Member Services hone each year) do a full shave with each razor? Don't know why I was think or wondering this but was so figured I'd ask. Thanks guys

Well I'm in the 100s category so often it is a maximum of maybe 3 or 4 at any one time. I think 5 at once may have been my biggest, but I digress.

Me, often I can afford to just hold one over to the next day if I have multiples. Otherwise I'll do maybe half the face with one etc. I am also lucky I have my head I can add into the equation if necessary.

That is assuming the customer allows me to test shave. I always ask, and some don't want a test shave. (actually the dude I hone via asks I think. I should ask him if he still asks actually).

James.

I asked the same thing recently, though I was surprised some of the big name honers didn't chime in.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?p=911403

To summarize many threads, most say the shave test is the only test. That is problematic at times because I believe many don't adequately shave test every part of the blade. And, the shave test is also too subjective as some whiskers are tough and others shave easily. Despite the frequency of the assertions that the shave test is the only test, it is not as good a test as you might think.

To summarize other sentiments, stated less often, the hanging hair test (HHT) is an excellent test. But, this statement is problematic as well because becoming adept with the HHT takes time and then even more time developing expertise.

The shave test is quite useful, but has limitations...
The HHT test is useful, but has limitations...

But, what else do we have to offer you? Even with those tests, you still have to invest a lot of time learning and developing expertise. I like to simplify. But, in this instance, I don't think it can be simplified further.

The shave test is the only test that matters in the end...

All the other tests get you to the shave test

All the other tests only matter to those that are honing the blade, not a shaver...


The biggest problem that many of you keep talking about, is new/just shavers trying experienced honing tests... (TNT AHT HHT TPT)

If you don't know how to hone, only one test matters

If you are honing then every test matters..


To the "Shave Test" by professional Honemiesters question... Honestly we pretty much know that the razor is shave ready before we test the edge with a shave, at least I do..

Not speaking for anyone else here, but by the time I apply the lather to test an edge, it has passed every other test I have, perfectly, the only question that remains at all and even that I pretty much know is how smooth it feels on my face...

Watch Sham's vid of him shave testing, one quick pass and we know what is there it isn't a mystery to those of us that hone a ton of razors...

I hone no more then 8 razors per day, that is my Skin/Test/Limit

I am perhaps a bit old-fashioned, but I like to use my razors for shaving.
As such, the 'only' test that matters is how well it shaves.

I think some of you misinterpreted the original question. It's not about the validity of the shave test at all. It's how the "honemeisters" can shave test the large number of razors they hone on a presumably daily/weekly basis.

Originally Posted by LarryAndro

To summarize many threads, most say the shave test is the only test. That is problematic at times because I believe many don't adequately shave test every part of the blade. And, the shave test is also too subjective as some whiskers are tough and others shave easily. Despite the frequency of the assertions that the shave test is the only test, it is not as good a test as you might think.

Not performing a test correctly doesn't mean that the test is problematic. It means that the person who cannot do it properly is incompetent.
The majority of beginners cannot perform a shave or a shave test correctly, that's because shaving with a straight razor is an acquired skill. Same goes for any other test you can think of.

But, when somebody has experience honing and shaving with a lot of razors, and many people happy with the edge he puts on a razor, that means that the transferability is there.

It's just what Glen said, by the time you lather your face you know 100% that the razor will shave. You know that from the feedback on the hones, on the thumbpad, on the armhair, on the hanging hair, on the strop... It is not all that hard, just a matter of experience.

I don't generally hone razors for other people, so I spend the time to tweak them to shave to the specific way I like them to shave. I can get a great shave from many different edges, but I have my preference, so if a razor doesn't quite shave like this I go to tweak the edge until it is as closely as possible to that (of course all razors are different, so they are approaching my perfect spot differently and end up in a different place from it). But this is way way way beyond shaving well, this is the territory of obsession.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

......CUT...I hone no more then 8 razors per day, that is my Skin/Test/Limit

I totally hear you on the "I KNOW" i was just wondering... so you hone 8 razors what "defines" the Shave Test for you of those 8?
like i said i was just curious since i know a lot of you pros get a HUGE number of razors from ppl like me to restore and hone...and you only have one face....or do you????

I was thinking of starting this same thread.

The various shave tests (e.g., HHT) have multiple variables that must be "calibrated."

Likewise, "the shave test" is not a precise definition: it is, in fact, much less well defined than the HHT.

I remember asking a well-known honemeister what, for him, the shave test meant. He replied that if he could cut hair WTG on his cheek, the blade passed the shave test. I was shocked.

I have to do an entire shave to determine whether or not a blade is adequate. For me, the lower jaw is the real test. If a 3 pass shave removes any remnants of bristle, then the blade is good. Cutting hair WTG on my cheek is only the beginning: I don't believe I've ever honed a razor that passed my non-shave tests that wouldn't accomplish THAT.

In brief, I alone can judge whether a blade is capable of shaving me to my standards. This is why I hone my own razors (and no one else's), and do not send my razors out to others.