David Weaver
..of my poor memory for names, as I recall, you mentioned using an india stone.

I'd imagine that with a few seconds before and after the bevel work, all wear is gone. The india is efficient. Where folks run into issue with not removing back wear is going to very fine stones and polishing a large area (perhaps either or both).

One of the attractive things about the washita is that it can work fast with pressure, but for someone just starting out, I'd imagine removing back wear with an india first and then finishing the tip with a washita second would be even better.....my bloviating about the buffer on chisels is partly due to "completion". Shapening in theory only because sharpening in practice if someone actually completes the job, and a lot of people don't.

I saw a fun thread on the blue forum recently about the woodpecker's guide (soap opera type) where the resolution to sharpening problems was to use an expensive guide and a large number of stones. Since you're actually making things (TM), you have to complete the job of sharpening, and not in 8 minutes. I have no such requirement to do the job quickly, but fast and complete results in satisfaction and continuing the hobby. I think beginners would be far better off with your method than starting with guides and working themselves into ever longer routines just to avoid understanding removing wear at the edge and then refining the edge a little bit. You can always spot someone who doesn't get it with those things because they will assert that a freehand edge will never match a guide. Usually, the guide edge won't match a freehand edge (in practice) because the person using the guide often won't complete the job.