Thread: Sharpness help!

Originally Posted by JosephG

This talk of the HHT brings to mind another thread that I remember reading on bevel setting where, if my memory is correct, it is agreed on that the razor shouldn't be taken from the 1000 grit bevel setting stone until the HHT is passed. I am aware that that the original post here is in reference to a razor that was said to be shave ready and the case is different, but if the HHT is such a poor standard measuring stick, wouldn't this also be a poor standard measuring stick in reference to moving up from the 1000 grit stones? I don't remember any talk of the subjectivity of the HHT in the bevel setting thread but here it is here and it's confusing me as to the standard (other than microscopic visual confirmation) for establishing your bevel is adequately set.
I'm asking becuase I still have no luck passing the HHT off a 1000 Shapton and have been mainly blaming it on my technique as I've done my best to eliminate variable factors the HHT. But if the test itself is not that reliable, what should I be looking for instead to to be happy with the bevel and move on the the polishing stones? (Sorry to get so off topic)

I usually don't pull a razor off a 1K until it will cut a arm hair about mid-shaft along the entire bevel, maybe that's where you are getting it. Quite a few others use this test as well. This is another of those tests that has a lot of variables as my arm hair is different from each and every one of you guys: your hair may be softer/harder, more/less dense, thicker/finer, and so on. The most important thing I can tell you is that most tests are inconclusive and learned...the shave test isn't...unless you are new to shaving and don't really know how to shave...then it too is inconclusive.

What I am getting at is if you are new to shaving with a straight and the person who you received the razor from is a respectable dealer/seller, take them at their word that a razor is shave ready as you really don't KNOW what shave read is yet.

I would just like to add that if came shave ready from a reputable dealer it was probably finished on a hone finer than the 8K that you use which may have taken it back a bit. Just my 2 cents. However I'm no honemeister.

-dan-

I've a number of razors, and none ever passed the HHT... with my hair at least. A couple honed by Glen, both shave like a dream, one honed by Lynn and two or three that I've done myself. All shave at least fine, some really fine, but I can't get the HHT thing to work.

At this point I've discounted its usefulness (at least to me) and when I see it in YouTube I think of it as a parlor trick, or what David Letterman would call "Stupid Razor Tricks!"

This is offered without ill intent to those believers in the method and reflects only my opinion and experience with it. But truth be told, cutting one hair in mid air is not what I got the razors for.