Alan:
Thanks for the suggestion. After I lap the hone, I will follow it.
As to the shaving stroke angle. I'm experimenting with, and seem to like, a short (2-3 inch) diagonal stroke with the tip leading. Is this not something I should persue? the angle I'm not sure of is the standard 30 degrees. It seems in many videos and pictures that I've seen of barbers shaving customers, that the blade is almost flat on the customers skin. This doesn't make since given that 30 degrees is almost univerally recommended.
Also, I'm a little lost on the last part here. "Return for some 4K" If I did the 40 passes on the 8K and it was sufficient, why return to the 4k?