just the 4000 norton? did i do something rigth or wrong?

So I have been struggling to get my honing perfected lately using the 4k/8k norton. given the fact that i do not trust most "feel test" such as the thumb test i have been using hanging hairs.

My mode of operation has been to use the 4k untill i passed the HHT (i know i know, that is for after the 8k) then switch to the 8k to put a smoother edge on it. It usually takes some time on the 8k to get back to where it passes the hht. then i consider it sharp.

Tonight i was honing my TI again and just couldnt get it to pass the hht off the 8k so i went back to the 4k again and got it to pass that way. I have noticed that when it passes the hht just off of the 4k that it really cuts the hair with authority. So i decided what the heck lets see if this will shave. Not a full shave, just the areas that give my fits that i cant seem to ever go against the grain very well.

now i generally shave after a shower and after covering my face with conditioner then hot towels, lather, mor hot towels yada yade, ad infinitum.

tonight i just covered my mouth and chin area with a hot towel for a minute, lathered, wiped it off, hot towel it again and relathered as the lather was to runny the first time. I then proceeded to go against the grain on my uppper lip wich is something i am never able to do. Tonight i was able to do it. now i have a BBS upper lip same for some other problem areas. i was able to go agains tthe grain in areas i typicaly can not.

one thing i noticed though, i nicked myself pretty good several times, Much more than normal. I do not know if it is because i have a more agressive cutting razor, or just because i was in a hurry to actually test the razor rahter than give myself a throrough shave.

the only thing i can think of is that off of the 4k norton the edge is much more serrated than off of the 8k. some of my wiskers are very very thick and hard, the act impervious to water. the whiskers on my lip are that way.

hmmm, maybe i shouldnt have ordered that diamond paste the other day :hmmm:

any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated

well i went ahead and had a full shave with it this morning. Shower, long prep, multiple passes.
I couldn't tell any noticible improvements in the ease of shaving but i did notice later in the day that my neck got a bit irritated as i was cutting timber and clearing brush. Looks like i will take it back to the 8k norton.

A 4K alone is too low, but a mix of 4K and 8K can work pretty well. Should get to the point where it doesn't irritate, but still may not shave ultra close.

As you have found out, the 4K will create a shaving edge but it definitely is to coarse. Thats why we continue on the finer grit stones and pastes. Then it's sharper and much more comfortable ( less irritation).

Your getting there,:)