My uncle the barber and TNT
As the title suggest this will be about my uncle and of course honing. I was over at his house for the holiday and showed him one of my razors. He began what looked like a TNT. He emphatically stated that. "It ain't right." Meaning that the edge was not right. He went of to describe that the edge should have 'teeth' that would cut the hair. He also explained that when you test your edge with a nail the edge should catch. At least the way I understand it, the edge should cut into the nail but pass through it smoothly. Correct?
Basically, I did not want to start an argument with my Uncle on Christmas Eve about the usefulness of the TNT. I did imply that I could shave with the razor just fine. Anyway, I know my edges are far from perfect but just trying to make sense of the discussion with my uncle. Any info would be helpful. Thanks. Btw, I am not trying to burn my uncle either. I respect his knowledge. I know he learned from seeing and being taught by other barbers. I also have read the WIKI on the various test.
My uncle the barber and TNT
Hi, and happy new year! If your uncle did a TNT on your blade, your blade is not shave ready now, even if it was. Ask me how I know! But your uncle is right (if I understood correctly). When you run the edge on your nail, the edge should dig in, but keep on sliding without skipping or catching, some kind of an even smooth resistant thru out the edge. That's how I know that my bevel has formed. After the test you need to reestablish the bevel with very few strokes and move to polishing. If you do it on a shave ready blade, like I did, you would send the edge back to bevel setting honing. Double O
My uncle the barber and TNT
Also the teeth theory is old school, it was believe (I think), that the edge needed some kind of microscopic serration in order to cut hair smoothly. Under Microscope you can see that it isn't serration but more like very fine scratch pattern on the side of the edge.
My uncle the barber and TNT
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mephisto
Double O, Happy New Year to you too! I think I should clarify. I inferred from my uncle that the razor should catch and not want to let go. So I assumed he meant that the blade would not smoothly pass through the nail. He checked the edge at the heel the middle and the toe looking for it to 'grab'. Of course my uncle was hitting the sauce at the time. :p
Well, yes it feels like a grab, that you need to keep coaxing for the edge to move along the nail. The feeling of the edge passing thru the nail, most be smooth and not toothie or skipy.
My uncle the barber and TNT
There you go, Jimmy explained it better than I did! Thanks Jimmy! And Happy new year, from San Pedro Sula, Honduras! Double O