Alternative tools.

[Mark Yundt]

As you know Steve, the sharper the edge the better the shave. Lest anyone think this is the same edge you achieve that will shave hair off your arm ,,,, it isn't even close. Getting an edge like that, even on a chisel or pocket knife is quite simple and easy. If you want to know , short of actually shaving, if your edge is really sharp, a HHT ( hanging hair test) will at least get you in the ballpark.

[Steve Bates]

A Hanging Hair Test? Haven't heard of it. I reckon a long hair is held vertically and edge is tried from the bottom up. I can see how that would be safer than me pecking my finger and thumb so close to the edge. I reckon a skewed cut would put some tension on the hair as a perpendicular cut would just push the hair sideways.

Thanks for the information, Mark. I'll give that a try.

[Mark Yundt]

It's an age old test for razors.
What you do is get a hair and hold it between your thumb and index finger and have it extend horizontally. Then, with your blade edge facing straight up you gently pass the hair straight down over the edge as if you're slicing bologna. Don't drag the hair across the edge , just pass it straight down ( move your hand perfectly vertical ) over the edge with the cut being about 3/4 inch from your fingers. If your edge is sharp it'll catch the hair and pop it in two. Try it along the length of the blade. There are different levels of HHT where it may 1. catch but not cut, 2. split the hair after it catches it 3. make a pinging sound, or best of all 4. the hair just drops right off without a sound . That's HHT 1, 2, 3, 4.
If it's really good,, the hair can extend up to a couple of inches at the point of it being cut rather than close to your fingers ( the hair is stiffer closer to your fingers) . You'll see the hair touch the edge, lay there for a moment and just fall off. That's a sharp edge.