I've produced some nice extremely shavable edges on old dull blades. BUT, my success is limited by my ability to set a bevel. If I have a good bevel, no problem. But I seem to have trouble with any blade that doesnt have a basic bevel set.

How do you really know that you have a good bevel? Should you be able to see....feel...measure? Is it a question of evenness (width of bevel on one side equal to that on the other)? If that is the case, do you hone only the shorter side till even?

This is so basic I hesitated to ask. But the Wiki entry dealing with bevels didnt answer my questions. Going from a bevel via progressions and finishing hones is no problem (ok, little problems) for me. But understanding the bevel....?

Point me in a direction, to articles...write me off as lost cause, etc.

Thanks all