On my first hone advice

About 20 years ago I took a Peace Corps assignment and was told it would be hard to purchase razors there. So I talked with my sister who had a hair cutting business, and she purchased a stainless steel Hess straight razor and an Illinois strop. We didn't have the Internet back then. I didn't know what I was doing. I never did get a comfortable shave, but it did the job.

For whatever reasons I've decided to resurrect the old razor. After lurking and reading, I bought a new strop and the Norton 220/1000, 4000/8000 combo hones.

Last night I got around to honing. I read the pyramid document and started with the aggressive pyramid. After examining the blade I saw a small rough spot that I hadn't seen prior to honing. So I went to the 1000 until everything mostly looked straight and no rough edges. Then back to the aggressive pyramid and then on to the conservative. The whole time I'm testing with thumb and hair. I'd read that one should be able to cut hair after the 8000. But since I couldn't, I did about 20 or so extra laps on the 8000 and still couldn't cut hair. I then decided to strop. I did about 15 on the cloth and 25 on the leather. That got the edge to the point it will cut hair with a pop, but from what I've read there should be no sound when the hair is cut.

So to my question.

From where the blade is now, should I use a pyramid, using the strop and 8000 stone? Something like:

8000 Strop
------ ------
1 25
1 35
1 45
1 50

Just an idea. If the pyramid works for the stones, I thought it might work with stone/strop.

The other idea I had was, just keep stropping until I don't hear that hair pop anymore. But I'm not sure if this is actually possible, given where the blade is ATM.

I'm so close to getting a good edge I just don't want to go the wrong way with it at this point.
Thanks,
Kent

at first welcome
Your blade should be able to cut hair after 4k . Now i would suggest go back to 4 k and stay in that stone until you will pop up the hairs. Then you can go to 8 k.
Please make sure with marker test your blade bevel has been set and whole edge touches the stone before moving to 4k.
8k sign which you will now it is sharp enough. will cut hair without poping as soon as blade touches it fols down.
i am sure you will get a lot help and good luck.hope this helps.

And lastly if you are in usa 1 of us can help you out by sharpening your razor Free. in this case you can guide you in future and know how sharp your razor should be. gl

Why not try shaving with it if it will pop hair ? Some folks have arm hair so fine that if is impossible for them to pop arm hair and the same can be said for the hanging hair test.

Lynn always stresses that the shave is the true test so give it a go WTG on the sideburns and cheeks and see how it does for you. Maybe it is because I have tinnitus but I can never hear the hair pop. The birds keep on chirping though. :)

And just so you know...Hess stainless razors are *highly* regarded and quite valuable. You might want to consider getting a cheap ebay razor to practice honing on, and sending your nice Hess to a honemeister for a proper honing.

I have a Hess 44 Stainless round point that is my pride and joy, then around 25 or so ebay specials I mess around with. Up until last night, only a Honemeister had touched the edge of my Hess. It is *such* a smooth shaver. It will never leave my collection. :)