It may be sharp... but is it smooth? 2 Different ball-games ya know :idea:
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Ez tiger, was all jokes.
Now, are the cats fat? Theirs a few other factors which need to be calculated here :)
I mean anyone could shave a cat that's 17 years old, 45 pounds and arthritic - see where I'm goin here??? ;)
I used to extend my honing progression all the way to 30K, but lately I've stopped at my 12K Naniwa SS and plain leather stropping and find those edges shave very well. My experience has been that some steels don't hold up well at 16K and 30K levels. I know that 16K and 30K edges should be sharper and perhaps more refined, but my results with 12k have been so good that I see no reason to go further.
From a beginners perspective and very little experience, I go up to a 12K Nani and finish on a Zulu Gray. That seems to give me and my honing technique more smoothness than stopping at the Nani 12K. As far as not feeling any tugging goes, I have never had a straight razor, DE blade or cart razor that I did not feel some very slight resistance to the stroke. I don't think you can eliminate that totally, close but no cigars. I try not to get too OCD about things and quit when it just works well enough.
Bob
I gave up straights...and just use clam shells now