Thread: Setting the bevel "thumb nail test"

I found the wiki on the thumb nail test to be a little confusing to me about gliding the entire razor on your thumb nail.
That said here how i test the razor for bevel setting. Like the picture i hold my thumb out and the razor horizontal and let
it rest on the thumb nail, and give a slight forward motion,if it bites and wont move its good but if it glides on your thumb nail forward it needs more honing, i check the entire blade from one side to the others, and when you have a good bite on the entire blade lets say in 6 or more different postition on the blade you have a good start to your bevel. Now i do more honing without checking the thumb nail test untill it shaves arm hair very easily. Hope that works for you as well.This test is only aplicable at the beginning of bevel setting, not after as it will damage the edge!!

I think that is functionally equivalent to the TNT, except that you didn't mention wetting your thumbnail.

Your so right Ace i forgot to mention to moistened the thumb nail!!

I'm good w/ the description. One detail I talk about to guys learning the test is not to keep the edge is the same place on the thumb nail, but for each section tested, move the edge to a fresh section of thumbnail. Otherwise, a failing section will feel like its sharp because the flanks of the bevel are giving drag from an incision made by a sharp section.
I've not found a foolproof method for bevel checking. Or perhaps I'm just really good at foolishness Great TNT, TPT, arm hair. I have blades pass all w/ flying colors and still give strange/erratic behavior that shows up at the 8k level. 'Don't have much of an answer to it, but am jumping through my navel to find minute flaws at the bevel setting level. When I think a bevel is set, I'm painting the edge w/ magic marker and doing a couple no pressure strokes on a c12k to see if there's any section not contacting the stone w/out pressure. It has helped a few times, but still no silver bullet.

IMO it is much easier to do if you make one long stroke from heel to toe. This way you will feel if the whole blade feels the same. If you test in a lot of spots, than the pressure can vary, the nail spot too, and it is much harder to compare 4-5-6 short feelings to a long one. Sometimes there is only a very little spot in the edge where it doesn't feel right, and you can miss that if you test only portions of the edge.

Originally Posted by jeness

IMO it is much easier to do if you make one long stroke from heel to toe. This way you will feel if the whole blade feels the same. If you test in a lot of spots, than the pressure can vary, the nail spot too, and it is much harder to compare 4-5-6 short feelings to a long one. Sometimes there is only a very little spot in the edge where it doesn't feel right, and you can miss that if you test only portions of the edge.

What we are looking for in a good bevel is a perfect V, therefore if you have \_/ and make a thumb nail test it will all feel the same. The way im showing if you test with the edge \_/ the razor with glide on your nail without any bite, with a V it wont move forward.

Sure, but the whole length of the bevel isn't improving at the same pace. It can happen that the whole blade is ready, but there is one tiny spot where it isn't perfect. I am just saying that you can miss that spot if you try in different places, instead of gliding the razor in one go along its whole edge, and it is faster too.

Originally Posted by jeness

Sure, but the whole length of the bevel isn't improving at the same pace. It can happen that the whole blade is ready, but there is one tiny spot where it isn't perfect. I am just saying that you can miss that spot if you try in different places, instead of gliding the razor in one go along its whole edge, and it is faster too.

I understand what your saying but i tried with gliding the razor and it just didnt work for me, if it does work for you great!
as far as being faster perhaps but when i hone razors if i dont have time i just wont do it, speed is never a factor in my personal honing.

Originally Posted by Martin103

I understand what your saying but i tried with gliding the razor and it just didnt work for me, if it does work for you great!
as far as being faster perhaps but when i hone razors if i dont have time i just wont do it, speed is never a factor in my personale honing.

Than I just misunderstood your post! Everyone uses what works for him the best, and it seems like its not the same for everyone regarding the TNT I learned it this way, and I like it a lot, for others this may be not the best solution.

Originally Posted by jeness

Than I just misunderstood your post! Everyone uses what works for him the best, and it seems like its not the same for everyone regarding the TNT I learned it this way, and I like it a lot, for others this may be not the best solution.

You didnt misunderstand my post at all i was just sharing a different way, hopefully it might help a newbie or somebody that doesnt get the feel for the traditional method.