I always do 73 strokes per side. Why? Because is 73 is the perfect number: 73 is the 21st prime number. It’s mirror, 37, is the 12th and it’s mirror, 21, is the product of multiplying 7 and 3… and in binary 73 is a palindrome, 1001001, which backwards is 1001001.
Clay’s explanation is straight on. The only thing I can add is when I reach that point I go 10 more strokes per side with as little pressure as possible. I am a little heavy handed. If you are light handed to start with this may not help as much.
Also keep in mind having stones that are broken changes everything. What ever your counts are on your first 10 knives or so will change once the stones are broken in.
On a more advanced level it also depends on what stones you will use. When I use the choseras I don’t care about strokes on the diamonds, because as soon as i put on the 400 chosera it is like magic. If I am stopping at 1600 diamonds or finishing with ceramics then I use more strokes to refine the edge.
If it’s a kitchen knife I do exactly like Clay said, when I feel no more change in resistance I move on. For my kitchen knives it is about speed and getting the edge back, not about removing scratches.
While I can’t quantify strokes to $$$’s I can say the more expensive the knife the more strokes I put in. 🙂
What will really blow you mind is once you sharpen a knife on the WEPS and put it back on the 2nd time is how few strokes it takes to get to get it razor sharp again. (keep track of your settings)
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