What's This Mean?

[Wabash Shootist]

Hello,

I've been playing around with different methods of sharpening my straight razor. Been shaving with it for a year or two.

Just wanted to see how sharp I could get it.

Now, when I touch a hair to it, the hair doesn't bend and the "ting" is really quiet. The hair just falls in two.

But if I come in at a slightly different angle with the hair, the hair starts splitting, sort of like a banana being peeled. I thought that was weird given the fact that the thickness of a human hair is measured in microns...

Help?

Thanks,

Josh

 

[wdwrx]

If I understand the question properly, I guess it means that you are closing in on getting better HHT results.
There is a good article here that explains the different level of HHT results.

 

[Wabash Shootist]

Thank you very much. Instead of "like a banana peeling," I should have just put that when I turned it a bit, it split the hair lengthwise.

I thought that just happened in cartoons.

Josh

 

[natchez]

If I understand the question properly, I guess it means that you are closing in on getting better HHT results.
There is a good article here that explains the different level of HHT results.

The razors that I have that shave the best, always seem to have both sharpness and smoothness to the edge.

+1 sounds like you are doing really well at sharpening. The other aspect to keep in mind is the smoothness. Does your bevel show any noticeable scratches? If you are getting a very sharp and a scratch free bevel, IMO you are achieving the goal.

 

[Wabash Shootist]

What's a bevel?

I don't see any scratches on this razor. The side of the back are a bit polished from running it on the stone and strop, but no scratches.

Just did some more stropping on the side to which I applied polishing compound. Now it just drops the hair into with no sound.

The only other blade I've seen that seemed to be sharper was a katana made in the traditional fashion. You'd drop a Kleenex on it and it would cut just from gravity. Tried that with this; no joy.

But I'll see if I can't get there. Probably have to have folded steel though.

Thanks again,

Josh

 

[wdwrx]

FWIW, I'd keep Kleenex, and other paper products away from the straight. According to wikipedia, there can be additives in paper products like clay and other substances that can damage the very delicate edge.

If you are getting an edge that can drop hair silently (HHT5) you've done pretty darn good!
If you want to really test your honing skills against the HHT, try searching out very fine hair. Though nothing compares to the shave test.

BTW, the bevel is the area of the blade that forms the working edge of the razor. Bevel refers to the flat sides of the edge that converge on the very edge. It's that part we all polish up nice, not to be mistaken for the 0 radius edge, hope that helps.

 

[Wabash Shootist]

Hello,

Thanks.

I have a coarse beard, but I've been doing this hair test using both my hair, and that from my dog (she's shedding).

She's Husky/Lab/Wolf, and her summer undercoat that's coming out is extremely fine. I'm 33 years old and can barely see the fur. I'm not farsighted.

I think I might do my hunting knives like this... skinning out a squirrel would be nothing! LOL

Thanks again,

Josh

 

[natchez]

What's a bevel?

I don't see any scratches on this razor. The side of the back are a bit polished from running it on the stone and strop, but no scratches.

Just did some more stropping on the side to which I applied polishing compound. Now it just drops the hair into with no sound.

The only other blade I've seen that seemed to be sharper was a katana made in the traditional fashion. You'd drop a Kleenex on it and it would cut just from gravity. Tried that with this; no joy.

But I'll see if I can't get there. Probably have to have folded steel though.

Thanks again,

Josh

Josh, the bevel is what it is all about It is the cutting edge of the razor- that little bitty "V" shaped edge of the blade that does all the actual shaving.

Same thing with knives. I do my bird hunting knives on the same hones, but since you cannot lay the spine (back) of the blade on the stone it can be a tad trickier to keep the angle right. And, yes, cleaning a bird is no problem with a sharp blade. I would imagine the same for any small game. If your knives are stainless steel, it will take a bit more time than carbon steel.

 

[wdwrx]

...
I think I might do my hunting knives like this... skinning out a squirrel would be nothing! LOL
...

hahahah ... yep.
I've been doing up all our kitchen knives... now every time someone cuts themselves I get a dirty look! And they've all been cutting themselves a lot lately.... So now, I've been asked to "please don't sharpen the knives so sharp any more.." I just don't get it; a sharp knife is a safe knife, right?

 

[Wabash Shootist]

Hi Folks,

I worked it just a few more times on the hone, and then stropped it. Following the directions at the site posted, it just drops the hair in two now.

Still doesn't shave exactly like I want it to, but it's an antique and the blade is a bit pitted. That could be it, or could be that I've been playing with my own shaving creams.

I just don't get it; a sharp knife is a safe knife, right?

Yeah, but I think I know what happens after observing my mom use knives I sharpened with my knife sharpening set I had when I was a teenager: She went to use the customary force, and it went through the meat like a warm knife through butter, to further abuse a cliche.

She figured out that with a sharp knife, she was free to use finesse in cutting the meat instead of having to concentrate on just cutting the meat.

In other words, you get used to a certain amount of tactile feedback, and it feels funny when it's not there.

Josh