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So I have a blade that is just starting to pull a little, and I was curious as to whether I needed to go back and set a bevel, or whether I could touch it up with a higher stone? I'm basically asking if every time it gets dull, do I need to go back and set a new bevel, or if it once it's set you're good to go until you bump it on something?
If it was shaving fine before try some Crox or other finishing pastes if you have them.
If not, try 20-40 x strokes on a finisher, then 40-60 linen if you have it, then 60-100 leather.
If that doesn't do it, start working your way down in stones.
What I mean is 8k then 12, strop and try it. If it's no good, then go 5k, 8k, 12k, stop and try.
You shouldn't have to reset the bevel if it was in good condition before and just degraded over time.
No, you shouldn't need to reset the bevel. I usually just do a few passes with the 4000 hone then a few passes with the 8000 hone. That should make your blade nice and sharp again. Don't forget to give your blade a good stropping after you finish honing.
I am just a beginner at this but I am thinking from your post that if stropping doesn't fix it you just need a touch up on a fine stone. I use a Norton 4k/8k and it does a nice job for me. I have bought some off e-bay and had great success bringing and nice shave to some that wouldn't cut butter (pattin' myself on the back). I learned everything from this forum and would suggest you look into the library for all the info you need on honing and stropping. I could ask a hundred questions back like, how long have you been shaving with it, what stones do you have, have you thought about strop and pastes, etc ? It doesn't sound like the bevel is bad though.
+1 to what ironsidegnr said
A regular honing progression moves from coarse to fine, but that assumes that you're starting with a blade that needs the bevel set or as you said, requires repair. If you're coming at it from the other end (i.e. you recently had a good edge that just needs a touch-up) then you pretty much want to reverse the process. Start at your finest hone, using a light touch (less is more!). Test it out. If that didn't do the trick, then move to your next finest hone. Test, and repeat as necessary. So, to use my set of hones as an example, I'd start by trying either a barber hone or my Zulu Grey. If that didn't do the trick, I'd then move to my Norton 8K. Then to my 4k, etc.
You won't terminally damage your edge if you do go back to setting the bevel, but you'll be removing steel that by the sound of it doesn't really need to be removed, and creating work that doesn't really need to be done.
EDIT: just re-read the above and realized some potential confusion might be caused by my post. Once you have re-established your edge (whether it is at 4k, 8k, or wherever) you would then work through your honing progression from that particular stone to your finisher. That is, I didn't mean to say that you reverse your honing progression without then finishing off with a regular progression towards your finest hone.
Great, thanks for the advice all! That's exactly what I was looking for. I'm going to be getting some pastes in a few days, and I'll just touch it up with that first to see if it does the trick. I appreciate all the quick replies!
KISS
I have been doing what I call a "Drop 2 and Go" for a few years now for any touch ups I do, basically exactly what the guys are telling you above but with a cool name and no guessing :p
I honestly have never been a fan of the Pasted strops for touch ups myself, so with that you on your own, but when I go back to the hones I drop two grit ranges and bring the razor though exactly what I did the last time I honed it...
There is a stroke that is fondly called a "Pigtail" I show it in a few of my Vids and to be honest I learned it from watching a Honing Vid by Liam the barber, it is a great weapon to use on the lowest grit you are going to start at :)