Free Hanging Hair test.

MrStabby7

MrStabby7

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Aug 11, 2021
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Can someone explain to me how to perform the "cut a free hanging hair" sharpness test. I'm not really sure how its done. Thanks!
 
MrStabby7 said:
Can someone explain to me how to perform the "cut a free hanging hair" sharpness test. I'm not really sure how its done. Thanks!
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I'm guessing you hold a longish hair by one end and attempt to cut it. If it won't cut, then it isn't sharp enough.
 
MrStabby7 said:
Slice cut or a push cut?
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That's up to you. I don't think there are any rules with this. Not all hair is the same etc etc. It's a bit like cutting receipt paper or paper towel; you won't really be getting a measurable result either way.

You could just get a BESS tester and just try to get as low a result as you can if you are looking to get to a certain standard.
 
MrStabby7 said:
"cut a free hanging hair" sharpness test.
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Probably as easy as cutting wet toilet paper without it tearing and just as useless. It's enough for me when my knife cuts meat (dead or alive)
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Yeah I get it test like these are pretty pointless and dependent on many variables. Size of the hair, humidity, quality of the hair....but its still fun to take an edge to the extremes and see what results you can get.
 
Here's a good description, mostly intended for straight razors: https://shavelibrary.com/w/Hanging_Hair_Test,_from_trick_to_probing_method

An important thing to keep in mind is that, due to the structure of a hair, there's a big difference between trying to whittle by drawing a hair across the edge from tip to root versus root to tip. Tip to root is much less challenging. The knife has to be very sharp either way, but if you can do it from root to tip, the knife is *incredibly* sharp.
 
Thanks for that. Yeah I can get them to whittle from tip to root but I've never been able to get them to whittle from root to tip. I would love to get one to silent slice one day but I dont know if it'll ever happen.
 
I use it as a gauge when I hone razors but as Blade Lab's link says there is a huge difference in hair, age, sex, race, and individuals are all factors comes into play.
 
MrStabby7 said:
Thanks for that. Yeah I can get them to whittle from tip to root but I've never been able to get them to whittle from root to tip. I would love to get one to silent slice one day but I dont know if it'll ever happen.
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It's really hard to get an edge to pass a HHT that is to obtuse, likewise a thinner edge won't whittle.
At least that has been my experience.
 
I used to use the test and my daughter has thick hair and I thought I was king Kong with my razors until she started color treating her hair and then all bets were off.
 
Thats sharp! It seems like they will split/whittle hair from tip to root before I can get them to do that.
 
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