Test

[Lemur]

There have to be a test to check how sharp an edge is that's reproducible and reliable. Like the hanging hair test but with some synthetic thread and a defined setup. Any ideas?

[Thebigspendur]

I guess you will have to invent one eh? The only known reliable test is by actually shaving with it. There are indicators of keaness like the hanging hair test and arm hair shaving and the thumb pad test but a razor can pass them all and still not be shave ready.

[heavydutysg135]

Here are some ideas: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=31640

For me, if a razor easily passes the HHT from heal to toe on my girlfriend's long and extremely thin hair then the razor is going to shave great. End of story. There is also always the shave test. :smile:

[matt321]

Right. A test that is univerally comparible would be cool..

Some of the guys on the knife forums cut thread strung across a box set on an electronic scale. The setups are very sophisticated, but there are still numerous compromises. Like the thread is not consistent between brands or even the same brand or the same spool.

[heavydutysg135]

The problem with a "standardized" test is that everyone's whiskers are not "standardized". Experiment a lot, test shave a lot, and try to correlate the great shaving razors with the tests. You have to find what works for you.

[joke1176]

There have to be a test to check how sharp an edge is that's reproducible and reliable. Like the hanging hair test but with some synthetic thread and a defined setup. Any ideas?

You could try using a specific brand of monofilament fishing line, at .015" or something. That would be repeatable and one hundred yards of line would last your whole life!