Is the HHT and mirror finish on the razor absolutely necessary ?

I have seen people doing the HHT on youtube without any effort which I am still unable to do on my razor. My razor is a 5"8 hollow ground. There was another one which a guy detailed how to get the perfect edge:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRMu-WEaFNE

which included buying a lot of stuff from what I can see. I currently just have a normal strop and one 12k stone and one 8k. I have tried honing them but the best I can do is get the blade to where it can easily just shave off hair on my arm. My question is, is the HHT absolutely necessary to get the most comfortable shave in your gentlemen experience ?

Also, when sellers here say "shave ready" do they really mean the razor is passing HHT or just that it's comfortable enough to shave ?

I have read too people who swear by coticules say that a bit of pull and "feedback" on the razor is desirable. Hopefully some one can shed some light on this, as to a beginner this can be very confusing.

How does your HHT work on a new DE blade ???

Actually never really got the HHT to work say like this ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoQAUNMV3oc

I only managed to get it to pop off after "playing" my razors edge with my hair like a violin.

The very short answer is no! The only thing that really matters is how it shaves.

As a new shaver don't worry about hht. It's only useful to a person honing a blade and then only after much trail and error.

The blade having a mirror finish is personal preference. I like my new razor to look new and my vintage to look vintage as such I leave patina on them.

Can you get a close comfortable shave with the stones and level of honing you can now achieve? If you can don't worry about the HHT or mirror polished blades or USB microscopes with 400X magnification. If you can't then the HHT and scope will just mess your mind because you don't know how to interpret what they are telling you. That is just my own opinion and I use neither but still manage to hone a razor.

Bob

I can feel after honing the razor feeling more comfortable, just that when I feel a slight stubble after that I am just wondering if it's my technique or just the razor not sharp enough. My problem area is my mustache area.

I have the pleasure of owning a razor honed by gssixgun and I am sure that when he honed it, it passed his HHT. But never, not once, was I able to get it to pass that test for me. My hair simply is not useful for such tests. Remember, each of us have different hair. Some fine, some course, some thick etc. Most of the quality sellers (at least this one) will test shave with a razor before calling it shave ready. (at least I THINK they do) Glen? :thinking:

Personally, I use HHT to gauge uniformity of the blade (does it cut the hair the same way in every portion of the blade). Once I feel I have suitable uniformity I go to the final and most important gauge of shave readiness (the shave test).

I don't think there is anything wrong with wanting mirror polish and HHT, but these things are "wants", and shave readiness is the only real "need".

Then should the shave hand hair test is more important test and also does humidity play a factor in HHT? I live in wet Malaysia.

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Originally Posted by lowks

Then should the shave hand hair test is more important test and also does humidity play a factor in HHT? I live in wet Malaysia.

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Humidity it absolutely critical....but if you are getting good shaves, I'd not waste worries with it unless seeing the razor perform such a feat will make you happier.

I "get" the concept that a happy shaver with a suitably shave ready blade wants to also see it cleave a free hanging hair. I merely suggest that this is entirely dependent on the hair and not the blade (if the suitably shave ready condition is met).

Thanks unit. Roger that

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

How does your HHT work on a new DE blade ???

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Answer this question & we can begin to help you.

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Originally Posted by lowks

I can feel after honing the razor feeling more comfortable, just that when I feel a slight stubble after that I am just wondering if it's my technique or just the razor not sharp enough. My problem area is my mustache area.

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Shave technique is a larger part of the equation than many realize. After 6+ years of it I still see improvements in my technique pay off in smoother closer shaves with less apparent effort. HHT is nice but it is individual. IOW, depends on the person's hair. I mean given an edge that will successfully cut HHT on my hair, it may not on yours, and visa versa. The same edge may shave either of us quite well ..... or not. If it is shave ready, it is shave ready. If it doesn't shave you, it ain't shave ready. IMHO. :)

I don't own a DE blade sorry if DE means Dovo

DE = Double edged disposable razor blade.

Oh that it doesn't work as well there.

To clarify HHT does not work for me as well on DE

Sorry, I tried on an absolutely new DE razor, straight out of the box with my hair and it works.

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Originally Posted by lowks

I can feel after honing the razor feeling more comfortable, just that when I feel a slight stubble after that I am just wondering if it's my technique or just the razor not sharp enough. My problem area is my mustache area.

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If you are saying that you can feel stubble after a single WTG pass on an area of the face that likely has heavy growth my guess is that might be normal. Well, I say that it is normal for me on my chin and throat just below the chin guessing that the mustache area is similar which I don't shave having one. It takes me 3 passes at least to get a BBS.

I always thought that you continually reduce stubble with each pass. To try and remove all stubble with a single pass might create razor burn from using too mush pressure. OTH I an sure others can/claim to get a BBS with a single pass too. Then again everyone's facial hair is different.

Anyway, that is just me and I am a beginner too so take it for what its worth.

Bob

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Originally Posted by lowks

Sorry, I tried on an absolutely new DE razor, straight out of the box with my hair and it works.

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Ok. That now tells you the straight razor is not as sharp as a DE blade.
If you are new to honing it is a fair assumption the problem lies in your honing skills.... Maybe :)

What brand is your razor ? This could also be an issue if it is a known poor quality razor.

The brand one is a restored razor the other a new Ralph asten both fail

Not necessary, but if you can get it to this point you WILL feel a difference.

Patience and lots of practice.

I watched that first video you posted.

To answer your question, no, I do not think mirror polishing on bevels is anywhere close to as important as that video implies. In fact, I would suggest that some of the things mentioned in that video (100 laps on CrOx, for example) would NOT be recommended for preparing a razor for shaving.

Still a little confused with your answers but let's go with them

First you said it didn't pass, then you clarified that it did with a new blade..

Does that mean it did not pass the HHT on a used blade and then did on a new blade ???

Why is this important ???

This tells us a bit about you hair and more importantly that you can actually do the HHT also I am assuming that you know that the HHT reacts differently depending on if you are holding the root or the end of the hair..
Basically use the DE edge to learn and qualify the HHT that is the first step to making it useful in the least..

An HHT that can't pass or passes to easily is of no good, I can tell you a story about mine, that if I didn't have the wife mine would be of no use, my hair pops at 1k pretty easy... Her's won't pop until after stropping ...

HHT passes on out of the box DE but on none of my straight razors. Sorry for the confusion

You might be able to get to a positive HHT on a straight razor then.. You are just going to have to work up to it, try after stropping also ..

Will honing longer on a 12k bring positive results

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Originally Posted by lowks

Will honing longer on a 12k bring positive results

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That depends on what has come before. If your bevel isn't set properly, more work on the 12k won't get you where you want to be.

Is there a way to tell?

You have to understand that honing is a slow process, the more you hone the better you get, hone for a comfortable shaving edge nothing else really matters.. Here is something that is a fact,, Honing for a HHT or Mirror bevel or anything else other than a smooth shave is going to achieve nothing positive... Grind the crap out the blade obtain a harsh foil edge and it will pop HHT with ease,, you won't wanna drag it across your face though..

Comfortable shave first, that should be the goal

Good point!

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Originally Posted by lowks

Is there a way to tell?

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If you have not yet done so, I'd recommend reading some of the articles in the wiki here:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...ategory:Honing

And then search out the numerous excellent videos on youtube by gssixgun and Lynn Abrams.

This one in particular is (IMHO) excellent for beginners:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxrs5kFkmJg

I don't call a razor done until I have a mirror bevel at 10x and the razor easily passes the tree-top test after stropping. It's a bitch on wedges though.

The good news is, I finally was able to make my straight pass this test! I don't know what guided me but I ended up just using a Spyderco sharpmaker on my straight and after about 10 rounds on it, and after 40 times on the leather strop, now the razor passes with shining colors!

How does it shave? That is, after all, the test that really matters. :)

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Originally Posted by Cangooner

How does it shave? That is, after all, the test that really matters. :)

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Shaves like a dream ! ... :rock: All the tugging and pulling is almost gone even without any shaving cream.

wow i never thought of the Spyderco SharpMaker....i thought it was for pocket knives and those types of cutting tools..

how did you use this system btw?

Well you can't really put it at an angle like normal you got to lay the ultra fine stones flat on the back if the sharpmaker and use it that way. I think the sharpmaker cd covers this