Originally Posted by
Eclipse
Only after I bought a 12k naniwa did I actually learn to get a shave-able blade off an 8k (go figure!) I was surprised at the quality of the shave from an 8k, but also by the small amount of resistance that I once thought was "pulling". I can only describe the resistance as the difference in "forgivibility" between a true straight and a shavette. I think at least for me, the trick to get a blade ready off an 8k is to begin with very slight slurry and then with each set of 15 or so X-strokes, dip the stone in water, clean it off and with each set gradually reduce the slurry until there is none (this may be common sense to the more experienced folks though). Once there is no slurry just keep doing X-strokes to polish the edge and then strop it. I don't typically follow a pyramid but rather keeping the same number of strokes, but varying the amount of slurry.
This made me realize that when I started out I just kept doing sets on the stone with the same amount of slurry. By doing that you always end up keeping deep scratches and grooves in the edge and it doesn't get finer over time. But by reducing slurry as you go, it refines those scratches making the edge better.
Just my two cents.