HHT.Guess I Don't Have the Knack

[Acmemfg]

Try as I may, I simply cannot perform the (sometimes referred to as "parlor trick") HHT ritual. And as I see it, I'm not bothering to try to learn it anymore. Fact being, through advice gleaned from this site, some YouTube research, and a healthy dose of trial-and-error practice, I have been able to achieve what I think are some decent edges on my razors. They just won't play the HHT game.

Now...before going further....How do I know I have a "shave ready" edge capable of the HHT criteria?

Well, my new Hart Steel 7/8 with the factory edge...no HHT here.

A hone job by one of the most respected Masters of the Stone on this list on a Boker Silver Steel...no HHT here either

Yet another "shave ready" edge by a vendor regarded as a coticule expert..nope, no HHT.

So, as I see it, case of the Indian not the arrow. It is an interesting procedure I guess and maybe one day I will figure it out. For now though..I will use the good old "how does it shave", Q.E.D. criterion.

 

[jpcwon]

Maybe you just don't have the hair for it. I know for me, my wife's hair NEVER passes the HHT for some reason. In fact my head hair usually does not either. Now this is going to sound weird, but I use my chest hair for the HHT as I find that it more accurately tells me if the edge is shave-ready. I would say not to put too much stock in the HHT. Unless you have it perfectly calibrated, there are too many variables that can skew the results.

Lately, I have been paying less attn. to the HHT and more to the actual shave. If you want to perform a hair test though, you can always try treetopping arm/leg hair. This is kinda the same thing as doing an HHT with the root in....

 

[BillC]

I've had exactly the same experience. Bought some edges that were extraordinarily sharp based on the shave (and reputation of the men that honed them) but I couldn't get a consistent HHT from any of them. I still play at it some but don't know if it's technique or hair issues.

I test by floating the edge over my forearm hair which works pretty well until I home a lot and end up with bare forearms ;-)

 

[jpcwon]

I test by floating the edge over my forearm hair which works pretty well until I home a lot and end up with bare forearms ;-)

Yeah, I am constantly being yelled at by my wife for "missing" arm hair!!

 

[SliceOfLife]

I never understood why armhair tests are easier for some than HHT. Head hair seems far more consistent across the people I know than arm hair. I know some people who couldn't pass an arm hair test with the sharpest razor in the world, and some who could treetop with a 1k beveled blade.

 

[buca3152]

My daughter has hair like me. ANd hers is long so no shortage of testing "kits". My wifes hair passes as well as my chest hairs and arm hair also. But I guess Im lucky as Ive heard many stories of people not be able to pass the test but the blade shaves fine. I just find it easier to test that way then to lather up and shave. But we are on a controversial subject and Im glad Im going out today as it may get ugly! LOL. I will check the forum later!

 

[pouli]

Funny! I thought i was the only one who used chest hair! My arm hair is difficult to tree top, and hair from my head rarely passes. Chest hair is very consistent for me though. What about using a symthetic hair froma wig or something?

 

[alpster]

I have been bald as a grape for 40+ years and can't get HHT from my wife's very fine hair. I have dialed in the HHT with a finest badger knot that I bought to restore an old handle. I just grab the knot and pluck a hair. I get very consistent results with the badger hair. If it doesn't clip the badger, it goes back to the stones.