Thread: HHT question

Originally Posted by Cangooner

Don't worry about the HHT. What is your ultimate goal? To cut a single hair that you are holding, or to have a great shave?

HHT helps some folks evaluate their edge, but for a lot of us (myself included) it is just a thing that some folks do. So relax, don't worry about HHT, and focus on the only test that matters: the shave test!

Listen to this man. He's a doctor!

Originally Posted by mapleleafalumnus

Listen to this man. He's a doctor!

Yes, but to be fair, I really should only be consulted in historical emergencies.

Although I'm relatively new to honing, I've learned not to obsess over the HHT. Both my wife and I have very fine hair and for the heck of it I tried the HHT with a brand new blade in a Feather Artist. It'd cut the hair very close to where I was gripping it but only at the root end of the hair. As the hair got shorter it would curl but not cut it. Toward the tip, it wouldn't cut it at all.

The problem with the HHT is there are too many variables IMHO - thickness of hair being the biggest one. I usually try it anyway after stropping a newly honed razor but if I've been checking out my edge as I progress up the stones and the striations I create on the 1k are disappearing on the 4k, the 4k's are disappearing on the 8k, etc., I don't sweat it if it won't pass the HHT.

As I said, I'm a relative noob at this but I shaved yesterday with a razor I honed that wouldn't pass the HHT (I tried it just before I shaved after stropping) and got a great shave. YMMV.

For most noob honers, HHT should be HTT: Hanging Thumb Test, as most nick their thumb as opposed to the hair it's holding.

Edit: for proof of the above I offer this.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...one-wrong.html

Originally Posted by mapleleafalumnus

For most noob honers, HHT should be HTT: Hanging Thumb Test, as most nick their thumb as opposed to the hair it's holding.

LOL....How about the TPPT..."Thumb-Pad Penetration Test"?? I seem to be really good at that!!

Funny-When I'm honing several razors, followed by kitchen knives (my usual method), between the slurry dust and constant TPT's, my left thumb gets pretty shredded, and my legs lose a lot of hair.

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

Funny-When I'm honing several razors, followed by kitchen knives (my usual method), between the slurry dust and constant TPT's, my left thumb gets pretty shredded, and my legs lose a lot of hair.

Hone mange...the next great epidemic!

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

Funny-When I'm honing several razors, followed by kitchen knives (my usual method), between the slurry dust and constant TPT's, my left thumb gets pretty shredded, and my legs lose a lot of hair.

I leave my thumb alone but I spent the Christmas break honing and honing and honing on my brand new Zulu Grey. My arms were as smooth as a baby's bottom, and legs had very strange smooth patches all over them. Arms are slowly recovering to a stubble stage so I can start honing again soon! Good thing it is long sleeve and pant season right now!!!

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

Funny-When I'm honing several razors, followed by kitchen knives (my usual method), between the slurry dust and constant TPT's, my left thumb gets pretty shredded, and my legs lose a lot of hair.

I leave my thumb alone but I spent the Christmas break honing and honing and honing on my brand new Zulu Grey. My arms were as smooth as a baby's bottom, and legs had very strange smooth patches all over them. Arms are slowly recovering to a stubble stage so I can start honing again soon! Good thing it is long sleeve and pant season right now!!!