I would like to see 5 BESS owners test the same knife without knowing the others results until the test was over.
Concerning the leather wheel that I ordered from Germany: I loaded it down with olive oil. That is all I have put on it. I have only used the jig with it and have had good results. After I am confident honing with a jig, I want to compare honing with a jig to freehand honing. I prefer freehand honing and I get good results. The problem I have with freehand honing is I don't know what angle I hold the knife. I read where people post that they hone at the same angle they sharpen or one or two degrees different. I get good results hand honing but would I get better results with control over the angle? Maybe, now that I can control the angle by using a jig, I will find out.
Concerning the leather wheel that I ordered from Germany: I loaded it down with olive oil. That is all I have put on it. I have only used the jig with it and have had good results. After I am confident honing with a jig, I want to compare honing with a jig to freehand honing. I prefer freehand honing and I get good results. The problem I have with freehand honing is I don't know what angle I hold the knife. I read where people post that they hone at the same angle they sharpen or one or two degrees different. I get good results hand honing but would I get better results with control over the angle? Maybe, now that I can control the angle by using a jig, I will find out.