I'm wondering how sharp everyone is able to get their blades right off the Norton 8000.

I've been at this honing thing about three and a half months, and I'm still not quite at the point where I can pass the HHT off the hone. The hair snaps in half but doesn't cut all the way through, or it literally splits down the middle and peels back...

I have some diamond pastes in the mail, but that's almost cheating, isn't it?

It seems like the 8K Norton should be able to give me an edge that would easily pass the HHT, but I'm starting to wonder if my expectations might be too high.

Do true honemeisters like Lynn still need to go to a higher grit stone or a pasted strop?

Josh