man -

you get points for tenacity, but so what?

DOn't force it, stick with the grain for a month or so. Hair test by itself doesn't mean the razor is really honed well. Why don't you send it to one of the meisters here. Start small, as others have already advised. Get used to the angles.

My first shave story was pretty bad in the eyes of the forum members, I was unfazed - but in retrospect it could have been easier and simpler.

Cheers
Ivo