We all develop our own tests, there is really no wrong answers as long as it works. I test on my arm hair, if it cuts VERY easily off the 1k I move up, as the edge progesses it will cut easier and more silently, when it's ready it will almost be silent across the whole blade surface and treetop the hair. That's how I test and I have a very mangy left arm to prove it!! lol


The way I refresh a known good but tugging edge is I'll first try my CrOx paddle->strop->shave test, if that fails then my finishing hone->CrOx->strop->shave test, if that still fails then my Norton 4k/8k->finisher->CrOx-> strop-> shave test