Every time I hone (monthly or so), I use four barber hones and finish with Cr02. I can get a PASSABLE shave with just a coarse barber hone, a PRETTY GOOD shave with 2 hones, a GOOD shave with 3, and a VERY GOOD shave with 4... But I cannot get THE PERFECT SHAVE, which is BBS in all directions, without all 4 hones + the Cr02.

Granted, by the time I get around to honing, I have convexed my bevel into oblivion with Cr02 touch-ups, but I cannot achieve HOLY SHAVING PERFECTION without using everything I have.

So I'm curious. How many hones do you use? (Let's count a single dual-grit hone as two hones).

Am I a fanatic? Why yes. Yes I am.