Thread: Stropping Sharpness vs. Honemeister Sharpness

Seems like a lot of people are forgetting to read the fine print of the TNT. "Use for bevel setting". I know how you feel as there were times when I started I wanted use the test to see if I had dents. Make sure you use the TPT and shave test. It will save you some honing.

Ah, the old "Stropmeister" vs. "Honemeister" thread, eh?

Originally Posted by suits123

Seems like a lot of people are forgetting to read the fine print of the TNT. "Use for bevel setting". I know how you feel as there were times when I started I wanted use the test to see if I had dents. Make sure you use the TPT and shave test. It will save you some honing.

Thats a questionable statement! If you read many old barbers manual they clearly show to test the razors using the TNT. I understand many here claims that it does in fact damage the edge but im not convince that the old timers were wrong to teach this after all. Also nails and hairs are made of the same material? something to think about?

Martin, you make a good point. I'll do a TNT prior to my shave today, and measure the result, before I suggest it as a cause of dulling again.

Originally Posted by Martin103

Thats a questionable statement! If you read many old barbers manual they clearly show to test the razors using the TNT. I understand many here claims that it does in fact damage the edge but im not convince that the old timers were wrong to teach this after all. Also nails and hairs are made of the same material? something to think about?

Hmmmm That isn't what that text says,,, It agrees exactly with what we say now...

"It is necessary to test the edge frequently while you hone"


The only real difference is that the Barber's Manual doesn't really differentiate as much as we do between Bevel, Sharpen, Polish, Finish..

It isn't right or wrong it is semantics, but I can tell you without any doubt what so ever that a TNT does dull the fine edge, do your own tests and see, but make sure you calibrate your tests first...

Try it on a DE blade too

Great responses all! Thank you! Took your advice already Birnando, concerning the Naniwa 12K and the D8C! Am wondering if I can take the D8C to the Regal Barers hone and improve its perfromance. JimmyHad, yes, the Falcon was a bugger to restore, as Ford sold the 1960-'63 tooling to Argentina, as they were getting ready to share Falcon tooling with the 1964 1/2 Mustang. MJsorkin, thank you for the offer-I may take you up on that! Martin103, thanx for the vintage text!. Lynn, thanx again as always-Gearhead

gearhead222 wrote:
"Does a newbie shaver ever return to the honemeister sharpness, or does stropping just maintain the edge at a lower grade of

sharpness?"

Martin130 wrote:
"If you read many old barbers manual they clearly show to test the razors using the TNT"

gssixgun wrote:
"Hmmmm That isn't what that text says,,, It agrees exactly with what we say now..."

"It isn't right or wrong it is semantics, but I can tell you without any doubt what so ever that a TNT does dull the fine

edge, do your own tests and see, but make sure you calibrate your tests first..."

~~~

If it's ok with you guys, can we discuss this a little further? I have found this to be a very interesting thread!

I asserted that one can maintain a razor for a long time with a set of canvas and leather strops. Are "honemeister" quality edges are those that are taken to a level of sharpness that are just a shade below which if honed any further would be over-honed? One that, as suggested by gearhead222, can't be maintained at that level of keenness for long by stropping alone. Since I find that a gentle wetted thumbnail test doesn't seem to harm a shave-ready razor, I'm thinking that I probably don't shave with a honemister-quality edge.

Does that sound right, or am I way off the mark?

Thanks,
Jeff

Originally Posted by JeffR

Since I find that a gentle wetted thumbnail test doesn't seem to harm a shave-ready razor, I'm thinking that I probably don't shave with a honemister-quality edge.

Does that sound right, or am I way off the mark?

Thanks,
Jeff

No way of actually knowing, from what I have read of your posts I would guess that you might be right.. We have proved that a 1k edge will shave, and by using a TNT off a 1k it will "Smooth" the edge, then you are stropping it up, so it is very possible that you are shaving closer to a .50 micron edge, where the sharpest edges border closer to .38 microns (Not my Numbers).. So your hypothesis might very well be correct,, Keep in mind the term Honemiester Edge is being thrown around quite a bit, it is really any edge, there isn't a sharpness level of a Honemiester edge, that is BS The actual micron level of the edge is determined by the Steel, the Geometry, the Hone, and finally the Stropping...

There are just to many variables that stack up to decide where that edge will end up, as the saying goes "This isn't rocket science"

Dear Fellow Razorheads-FWIW, I just use the term "Honemeister Edge" since that is a term that all of us can indentify with. BOTH of my problem razors had to go back to 4K to get a shaveable edge-what I mean by that is being able to shave body hair going with the grain of the hair and pressing VERY little on the razor. If I have to press down or go against the grain of the hair to shave it, then the razor is not shave ready to me. My .02 worth-Gearhead

I have heard other guys that proscribe to your theory Jeff, that a slightly lower edge is easier to maintain, many guys that use Barber's hones believe that wholeheartedly..
Some of the Coticule guys also proscribe to that theory too, they believe a Coticule is self limiting for sharpness, Eschers have a small following with that also..