I thought this was a little interesting and so I thought I would share.
I just finished restoring a blade that I had off to the side for some while and I began honing it up.
I wanted a little practice on my shaptons, trying to attack my previous issue I call the "fuzzy apex". My progression is 1k chosera, and 2k, 4K, 8k, 16k shaptons and finally a 20k gokumyo. I call it a "fuzzy apex" because the bevel would be polished except for the very apex. Thus is the reason I normally go for my jnat and slurry stones because they tend to help me avoid this issue. But I wanted to overcome the "fuzzy apex"
Got the bevel set and was going up the progression and at either the 4K or the 8k (can't quite remember) I got the "fuzzy apex", but only on the push stroke side. It was polished in the middle of the bevel but fuzzy at the back and apex of the bevel. But on the pull stroke was all polished.
Now previously I read and understand that too much pressure possibly can cause the apex to flex up off the stone and thus not come in contact which I can see why. So I thought, "ok lighten up on the pressure". So I began hand honing with lighter and lighter pressure and seeing no change on either side of the bevel.
So I tried something different and commit a little razor honing sacrilege and added a small amount of pressure. (since most of us talk about pressure as the devil of honing, which most of the time it is). I decided to focus the pressure only on the push strokes while keeping the pull as is, and to my surprise the entire bevel became polished after a few strokes.
I test shaved at the 8k and it was wonderful. So I progressed up to my 20k and it was a revelation to the difference.
So I thought I would share. Maybe to help someone to think outside of the box to try getting the results one wants.
Thanks for reading,
Neil