Quote Originally Posted by niftyshaving View Post
The 4K/8K hone responds well to the
pyramid method.
Pyramid honing guide - Straight Razor Place Wiki

It is as close to a formula as you are likely to find.
It works.

Also: It can be repeated if after stropping
and a shave test the edge needs more work.

It expect that the bevel is set with a 1k hone!
Yet the time spend on the 4k side will eventually improve
a bevel that is almost set.
The pyramid method is a workhorse technique
that works well with the 4k/8k workhorse hone.

The hanging hair test is a pain in the you know what...
It does help to you a wild hair to explore the length
of the edge to look for 'differences'. A hair skates on
dull and sticks a little to enough to get sliced on sharp
depending on the hair.

The direction of the hair can matter. Hair has a top
and a bottom direction. Shampoo and conditioner
matter. Oil on a blade will also negate the HHT.
Since most honemasters lightly oil a blade when
done it is important to know that that protective oil
will kill the HHT. This is why it is such a hated
and maligned test in my opinion.
He is exactly correct.. I had the same problem when I first stated doing my own honing... and then eventually went to the pyramid..

Also that many strokes on your stone you might be causing a wire edge and not even knowing it, I was doing the exact same thing and then when put under a loop I finally saw it... AAAANNNNNDDDD Norton stone that are new have a coating on them.. You really wont know it unless you flatten them.. Before you do ANYTHING else make sure you flatten your stones.. it will take a while if yours has the coating on them.. especially the 8k.. it will take the longest.. The pyramid prevents a wire edge (or at least helps to prevent it)...