Thread: does this cut it?

One, the razor may draw on the strop

Two, the thumbpad test can help

Three, test shaving

The HHT does work, just as indicated on the video. You simply drop a hair* on the razor and its cut. This isn't a good indicator because

1) Its actually just a step on the way to getting a sharp razor
2) You don't know what kind of hair you have
3) People often grab hair from their head, not the best hair
4) Some people claim their hair won't cut
5) You can get a good HHT and hate the shave
6) You can get a good shave and a failed HHT (but rare)
7) You may need to learn to strop better to achieve it

I test shave only with a razor that passes the HHT, its not even close to ready unless it passes. Technically, I won't shave with a razor even if it has passed the HHT. Its about 1/2 way polished once it starts passing the HHT. The key is not whether it passes, but how confidently it passes and without any sound. It shouldn't "pop" either. I look for the hair to land directly on the blade itself when I run it horizontally over my arm hair.

Then you have arrived. I think you could even say that you can hone at that point! :-)

*Perhaps your thinking the hair is actually dropped on the blade? Thats not the case. Hair is moved onto the razor and pulled downward slowly. You don't let go of the hair.

Does that make sense?

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I look for the hair to land directly on the blade itself when I run it horizontally over my arm hair.

sorry if I'm a little slow but you don't recommend using hair from your head and you run the blade over your arm hair to test right?

For the HHT I get hair from my chest. This hair is waaaaay firmer then head hair.

I often run the razor over my arm because its easier than replicating the test over several parts of the blade. I can run the blade over my arm hair, about one inch over the skin itself, and test the entire edge at once.

yup, watching the animation someone might not know that the hair is actually held and not just dropped onto the blade.

Ditto - if it doesn't pass HHT, I am not even trying to shave with it. Passing HHT with boar hair is also not a good indicator - I need finer hair to be sure it's worth my time test-shaving.

Cheers
Ivo

I'm at the point where the hair catches the edge and rips through, sometimes cutting the hair lengthwise, kind of a weird feeling.

I haven't tried lately though, need to keep up with that...

Really I think if you use a light touch, an exceptional stroke, and have patience a razor has to pass the HHT, eventually.

I'm a little suspicious of guys that say their hair won't work with a HHT, especially knowing how long it took me to learn to hone well enough to do it, but if your looking for a razor that doesn't pull I think passing the HHT is an important milestone to pass.

Then again, I think 8 guys out of 10 grab hair out of their head, which is usually much finer than a beard whisker.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Really I think if you use a light touch, an exceptional stroke, and have patience a razor has to pass the HHT, eventually.

I'm a little suspicious of guys that say their hair won't work with a HHT, especially knowing how long it took me to learn to hone well enough to do it, but if your looking for a razor that doesn't pull I think passing the HHT is an important milestone to pass.

Then again, I think 8 guys out of 10 grab hair out of their head, which is usually much finer than a beard whisker.

I doubted my ability to hone for a long time as I'm one of those who has never managed to pass HHT. Then I sent a TI 4/8 to Lynn for honing. Got it back, first thing I tried was HHT and..... failed!

Now there are a many variables regarding HHT, but I reckon using Lynn's honing skills on TI blade removes all variables to do with sharpness and steel quality. So I do believe hair type can frustrate with HHT.

Alan -- I agree with beard hair vs. head hair, but I always assumed HHT was about head hair. If I now have to pluck a beard hair... Owwwwww!

M.

I don't think straight shavers have any beard hair. Chest hair and arm hair work great and if you get really creative . . .

Hair on the head is too fine to really replicate what a razor is trying to do.

While we agree the hair is not simply dropped onto the edge does anyone here know of the theory about testing swords?

Supposedly, in days of Knights and Armour a sword's edge was tested by dropping a silk scarf onto it's edge and the scarf would be cut in half from it's own weight. Does anyone know of this myth/theory and where it was written?

BTW, last day of the remodel, beach time tomorrow!

Tony

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

While we agree the hair is not simply dropped onto the edge does anyone here know of the theory about testing swords?



Tony

Yep, at least the Japanese swords. They were tested by slicing through criminals. You'll often see a number inscribed into the tang to tell how successful the test was.

As to European swords, why bother. All inferior to the Samurai's sword