Hello there, I'm new to this forum - I signed up specifically to get more info about this honing method, more than TSS already preaches and found out about TSC via watching the videos of
@Bill M
This honing method, with the convexed stones to get a concave bevel is something new and exciting to me so I gave it a go and ordered the plate from TSS - heck in the end shaving is a fun hobby of learning and challenging yourself.
This is my experience so far:
My first shaping of a King 1k was an experience hahah.. trying to grind down a 1k stone with 400-600 grit paper seemed more of a challenge then I expected. Also it was pretty cheap paper.. nothing special or sturdy so I went to the store and got alox boned to linen (180 grit). In the end I was at it for 1h in total, after I mishaped the stone a bit (the middle was still somewhat flat).
I ordered 2 pretty untouched equal razors (ground from the same blank, 6/8) in order to put this method to the test. One I finished with my usual method (1k, 6k, slate with and without slurry) the other one I sharpened with convexed 1k (short axis of the TSS plate) 6k (long axis of the TSS plate) and finishing with the flat slate, as TSS recommended to me for starting out.
The normally honed razor shaved as expected. German hollow ground with a nice natural stone finish is what I enjoy the most these days. The concaved bevel razor shaved me the closest I have felt in a very long time.. maybe even the best I experienced so far (except for the ultra thin old razors I have.. those might have a concaved bevel already on them as I did only touch them up with the aforementioned slate).
From the small number of test I did so far, honing on convex stones is something else. I enjoy the auditive feedback the blade gives me when I strop on the hanging leather - it is noticably higher pitch then the non convex honed razor, even for people who are not into razors at all.