Thread: does this cut it?

I used to use the HHT constantly, but now I never do. The reason? I'm using different hones now.

In my experience, the type of hone used has a lot to do with how a razor does on the HHT. With my hair, it works perfectly for the Norton and some of my barber hones.

On the Belgian hones I'm using now, it's almost worthless. Even a great shaving edge will just split and peel the hair rather than cutting it cleanly. This was really confusing for me at first, but I checked with other guys who use coticules and they confirmed this.

Lynn uses a coticule after the Norton, I believe, so that could explain why your Lynn-honed TI didn't do well on the HHT. It probably would have passed with flying colors if you'd tested his edge before he used the coticule on it.

I agree that passing the HHT is just a starting point. When I was using it a lot, I usually got the best results off of the 4K side of the Norton. To me, what a good HHT result means is that you've got a good bevel--in other words, the two bevels meet properly to form an edge, and the edge doesn't have a wire. After that, it doesn't always correlate well to a good shave.

The HHT seems to be one of those YMMV things. It's unfortunate, because a good "works every time" test would shorten the learning curve for honing. But like Lynn says, that test is shaving.

Josh

Josh,

I agree that it seems easy to pass HHT on Norton 4K (maybe because the rougher micro-teeth are catching the hair better).

However, I almost always follow the Norton with Coticule, and I still get HHT. I will admit - sometimes the Coticule will lead to an edge failing to pass HHT. I attribute this to a poor stroke or something that I did not do right (e.g. slurry consistency). In these cases I go back to Norton 4K, get HHT again, and go up to Coticule paying more attention. Usually this fixes things.

Nevertheless, most importantly: I agree on the fundamental idea that test-shaving is what counts, not the subjective HHTs.

I will have to add, though: in my experience, I have never gotten a shave from a razor, which doesn't pass HHT (or passes it unconvincingly) that beats a shave by one of my favorites, which do pass HHT. I haven't tried an edge from you or Lynn - I might need to get some new toys to test But I do expect that both razors will pass HHT for me (it's just that I think my wife has great hair for HHTs, am I lucky or what

Cheers
Ivo

Ivo,

Thanks for the food for thought. I'll have to do some more experimenting and practicing.

Except for the coticule, I've also found that a razor that doesn't pass the HHT will shave horribly. It's almost more of a negative test than a positive one: Fail and it won't shave, pass and it might.

And BTW, I'm sure your honing is as good or better than mine. I just like to talk.

Josh

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

Ivo,

Thanks for the food for thought. I'll have to do some more experimenting and practicing.

Except for the coticule, I've also found that a razor that doesn't pass the HHT will shave horribly. It's almost more of a negative test than a positive one: Fail and it won't shave, pass and it might.

And BTW, I'm sure your honing is as good or better than mine. I just like to talk.

Josh

Heh - if you look at my post count you'll see I also like to talk a bit

I just meant that the razors that you or Lynn send will most likely pass HHT with my wife's hair. Comparing honing - I think you must have honed more edges by now because you specialize in this, and I am also very slow. I never saw myself as a honemeister, but have had a number of people who were happy with edges from me - which is what is important to me.

We can certainly have an SRP-wide Hone-Off (fun idea but I think it will be a nightmare to figure out logistics)

Cheers
Ivo

Ivo,

I'll be the first to congratulate you on becoming a blabbermouth. Once you reply to this, that is.

The hone-off idea has been proposed and shot down a few times. I think it would be fun if everyone kept their sense of humor about it.

Boy, this thread has gotten off track. I forgot it was even in the strops forum. Sorry for my part in that!

Cheers back atcha,
Josh

sorry to interrupt but I've kind of had my eye on this paddle strop for daily use. If anybody has any experience with this one or any personal recommendations feel free to chime in.

http://shop.thewellshavedgentleman.c...4&categoryId=4

Very good strop!

good! because I should have 1 on the way and it also looks like they are out of stock now.