Thread: Rambling thoughts on "Sharpness Tests"

I've been wondering if it was just my hair that won't do the HHT or if I was doing it wrong somehow. It won't pop for me at all.

Thanks for the encouragement, DaveW. The nice thing is that I find this whole process to be a great learning experience. I mean, in effect, the whole straight razor experience is an art form to me. You guys are, in many respects, like the craftsmen of old. You know what you're looking for, and you don't need HHT to establish what you already 'feel' as you hone, or lightly touch the edge.

You're absolutely right about another thing as well. The proof is in the shave. This blade I've been working on, when I tried it under the mistaken impression that perhaps the steel was different, watched as the razor slid smoothly down my cheek unable to cut a whisker. Lol. Strangely enough, that in an of itself made me go back and compare it to the Fromm. The comparison made a huge difference in my understanding of the fine edge.

I'm really working on getting down really, very light, no pressure honing strokes. The bottom line is that my strokes are uneven. Basically, I haven't developed the technique to bring the blade back and forth in an X pattern with the same consistency each time. The only nice thing is that I don't have to rush to hone, and I can at least practice honing strokes without being rushed, unlike stropping, where speed is a factor. So, I figure eventually I'll get it but it is an art form; and I really respect how you guys can do this with such skill. And, like anything else worthwhile, it requires practice and time to develop these skills.

So, thank you again.

I keep reading about "popping hairs" on your arm. What exactly does that mean? thanks very much,
Beet.

Originally Posted by Beetlejuice

I keep reading about "popping hairs" on your arm. What exactly does that mean? thanks very much,
Beet.

As you're moving your blade along the tips of your arm hairs, it's cutting them so they're popping off. Eventually you get a decent feel about the sharpness of the blade from the way the hairs pop.

Thanks for the writeup, Glen. It is very informative and exactly what many newbs need to keep in the back of their noggins. Just started getting into your vids, breadknifing 101 (new to me). On a bit of an off-topic note, the main advantage over circular honing (which doesn't take me a whole lot of time even on deep nicks) is more even wear front-back & nose-heel?

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

On a bit of an off-topic note, the main advantage over circular honing (which doesn't take me a whole lot of time even on deep nicks) is more even wear front-back & nose-heel?

Adavatage I don't know if there really is one, It really depends on the issue on the edge, also keep in mind the circles can be combined with a lower angle Breadknifing... In fact the 60 degree or 20 degree (Knife honing) circles work very evenly and easily with all but the worst of the nicks.. I guess really the only possible advantage I can think of is accuaracy, with practice I think you lose less steel.. The real problem is the "practice" I have probably done maybe 50 of these ever, and that includes the ones at the meets, very very few razors need this extreme tactic..

I've seen what razors that survived a lot of circular honing (barber blades) look like, so there is some uneven wear between the heel and the toe.. I haven't noticed a huge difference even after honing out 2mm nicks, but ymmv. I might try breadknifing on one of my junk blades if I end up getting a diamond hone. Thanks for the thoughts

Came across this old thread in another search

Wanted to add this vid to it, to show what I was actually talking about when I was explaining a shave test up there

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93zQP7CToWQ

This is great info. should be recommended to all folks new to honing.
I did a fair amount of research before even attempting to hone and after hearing all the advice i was quite certain the progression of things was to set the bevel on a 1k, do the arm hair test, then move up in the progression, eventually leading to the HHT and the shave test. (thumb-related tests optional)
What i never read, though, was that some of these tests just dont work for people. what one user here said about his hair not working for the HHT, is true for me in terms of the arm hair test. My arm hair is apparently very thin and silky and even the most keen and sharp edge will not shave it above the skin even a mm or two. so I was sitting around for Days going back on the 1k, trying the arm hair, no-go, back to the 1k... and so on. Until I finally got frustrated enough that I went up in the progression without passing the armhair test, and sure enough the HHT popped off like a charm first try.
I now just use my hair to do a HHT to see if the bevel is set, and I know my own hair well enough and what is "sharp enough" to move up based on how the hair cuts.

A very interesting post that I wish I had read before starting out. but I just thought i'd add my own experience in case someone new wanders across here and has similar experiences.

Wow, This is getting deep! Ive been shaving with straight razors for a couple of years now, and I thought I knew what "sharp" was, I have many different hones , natural and synthetic, and am able to get an edge on my blades that shaves decently, or so I thought! I just treated myself to a new razor, full hollow Dovo, Swedish carbon steel. Straight from the factory factory sealed. This thing is wickedly sharp!!! I have to go back to honing school! what do they use to put this kinda of edge on a blade, I quite frankly didnt believe such an edge was possible! It makes a feather DE blade seem dull! I am in awe! I am almost afraid to shave with the thing!

Your really needing to see how the other side lives, cause that factory Dovo edge ain't that great either. Tc