I've got the stones, now what!?

I've wanted to start learning how to hone, and after much research, I opted for a set of Naniwa SS in the 5K, 8K, and 12K from SRD. I didn't get a bevel setting stone because the majority of my razors have all had a bevel professionally set within the recent past. I also got some CrOx paste for a strop. I've watched about as many videos and read as many wiki's as I can on the how-to part of things.

My question is where to start? I really don't know that I'm proficient enough with the various tests to tell what kind of shape the edge is in. Is it better to start high (12K) with a few light strokes, test, and then work back down? Or, is it better to just drop down to the 5K and work up with a pyramid for example? My goal is that I don't want to screw up the bevel, so I want to avoid that if at all possible.

Last, I also have some old razors that I can practice on, but I think they'd have to have a bevel set. Will the Naniwa 5K work for that using a circle method akin to what Lynn uses?

Any advice is appreciated, but especially that which is simple enough for this noob to understand and possibly pull off! lol Thanks fellas!

I learnt without a mentor.

It's not easy but it can be done. The first thing is getting over the fear of the rocks. I played about with the back side of a teaspoon for a bit with my rocks. Learning how much force is needed to make them do something. It's far less force than you think, and you don't need to work at a fast pace. Slow methodical light strokes work very well.

I use circles and X stokes on most of my razors. Again it's learning to not only use the right force, but also to get all of the edge. Using a marker pen you can ink the edge. The hone will remove the ink and show you where you are missing.

If you pick a shaving razor and lightly kill the edge with a thumb nail. Then work up from the 5K. 10-20 light laps, inspect the edge, test it on arm hair. If it needs a little more ink up again and do another 10-20 laps. Once you have the edge tree-topping from the 5K, move onto the 8 then 12K doing the same. Because you are not setting a bevel it will take very little time to bring an edge back.

After the 12K Crox strop 10-20 laps, then 100 on plain leather and do a test shave. Your face will tell you instantly if you got it right.

You also need to flatten your rocks, before you do anything. 800-1200 grit wet and dry paper on the flattest surface you have. Counter top, float glass, picture glass ect. Get the paper wet, draw a grid pattern in pencil on the face of the hone, and do a few figure of 8's. Once all the pencil is gone, draw another grid, and do a couple of very light figure of 8's just to make sure the pencil comes off evenly.

Now you need to lap the stones to get them flat. If you just want to refresh your edges that are already shaving, the 12k should do the job. You'll need to know if they were previously honed with tape though.

I'd recommend hitting the older blades with a 1k. Bevels like that can be set on a 5k, but you don't want to learn to set them on a 5k.

Always forget about tape!!!

If you ink the edge before you kill it and do a light pass on the 12K.

If all the ink is gone right to the very edge - you don't need tape.

If there is a line of ink on the very edge (remember use no pressure when you test). - Then you will need at least 1 layer of tape.

Once you have taped do the test again. If the ink is still there, then you need another layer of tape. Up to 3 layers is common.

If your razor is giving you a good shave, then begin with your 12K as a refresher; refreshing is honing. Learn to maintain the edges that give you a good shave, first.