See answers below in red. Thanks for taking the time. I dont find it partonizing one bit.
Yep. Watched a few of Lynn's pyramid videos. I believe I understand the theory behind it. Never once got it to work.
Absolutely. There is alot of differences between the two, although once focused on just the bevel, there is alot in common between the two. The rationale of bevel cutting and refining is similar. The techniques (and tools) to achieve them are quite different.
It's quick. It's available. It's inexpensive. How I understand it ... setting the bevel defines the geometry of the edge. Cutting a new bevel exposes new steel and ensures the bevel is, in fact, correctly defined. This definition is the basis for any edge ( knife, razor). Generally speaking, advancing up into grits will refine the bevel to a keen edge. Sure, I could linger on a 4k for about 10,000 strokes ... so anything like this is possible. It just takes alot less time, effort and energy on lower grit abrasives.
I've been using the 1k wet/dry paper to cut bevels. I use it wet because I find the abrasive on the paper wears consistently. That last bit is only speculation/opinion on my part.
Yep.
Tried both, actually. I find I get more wear on the blade if I do straight strokes. Besides that, I cant tell the difference regarding what they do to the edge.
The blade seems to increase in sharpness uniformly when I do straight strokes and the blade isnt warped. The sharpness I get off of the 4k is enough to shave hair, but not nearly enough to do what hi_bud_gl defined in his above post. Honestly, I feel that passing this test is possible with any razor.
Some wade and butchers, a couple Henckels, a wosty, one shumate, two wapi's, a Boker, and a few no-name wedges lay in my wake of destruction. I thank God for Ebay and cheap razors.
Funny. I went out today and bought a combo loupe that is good for 10X mag. I feel as if I should be inspecting the actual edge for continuity.
I have, yes. Specifically on some of the wedges and on the shumate. To me, the sharpness doesn't seem to have the longevity when I tape the spine. Not a big fan, to be honest. When working on the 4k and others, eventually some of the tape will wear off and clog up the hone. Taping the spine doesn't seem to work when I set the bevel on sandpaper, either. The tape self destructs and I am left with steel anyways. For me, it seems like more trouble than it's worth most of the time. Ever try to clean a hone loaded with electrical tape particles? The only way I know how to remove them is to lap. Thats just what I bought the stone for ... wearing it away with sandpaper. ( note the sarcasm)
A few ways. First way I used was to simply look at the blade on the hone. Then I began to monitor the water on the honing surface as I was honing. I am looking for a small ridge of excess water to be pushed by the edge during the stroke. In my mind, this means the edge is contacting the hone. The other way I use is to mark up the bevel with a sharpie, run a few strokes and check the bevel.
Yep.
It's funny. With this straight razor shaving, I am learning to take everything piece by piece. I am pretty confident my stropping is ok, but I do not strop because I want to eliminate that variable. Therefore, I do not strop. The edge is a bit harsh, but I am confident that the edge I am shaving with is from the hones. To me, it is a good idea to isolate the honing to ensure I am honing correctly .. or in this case ... wtf is up with this.
Sometimes in the past when I first started honing I became tired (frustrated) of honing without seeing any benefit, so I would apply pressure to the blade on the hone. The first time I did this, I got a very keen edge; one of the best edges I ever got off of a hone, actually. Now, I know that this just wears the blade alot without any real benefit. So, I try to use the weight of the blade when honing. Now I understand to hone to a delicate and very sharp edge, light pressure is needed. But, when I use light and delicate strokes, I sit for an hour without results.
Thanks for the encouragement. How many razors did you destroy before learning how to hone?
It seems that I bought a set of rocks to make small piles of steel ... well .. smaller.