I have touched up shaving razors before with some success, but now find myself having to set a bevel on a Dovo stainless.

I have read the following things about this exercise:
  1. It can be time consuming (so far so good, because it is consuming a whole boatload of my time);
  2. It is the toughest part of honing (still on track here; I am certainly finding it tough);
  3. It may take many passes over the hone (three for three: I am certainly in the range of what I would call "many");
  4. It is the basis for all subsequent honing steps (which, despite making perfect sense, is where the whole thing gets all bollocksed-up, because it ain't working out);
  5. Generally, the sign that one has reached the end of this phase is that the blade grabs the thumbnail at every point along the shaving edge (which also sucks, because I have been unable to reach that point).
Apparently, 3 of 5 is not good enough.

So far I have alternated between failing to set the bevel correctly on a Norton 1000 and failing to set the bevel correctly on a Naniwa 1000. Both stones have been lapped using 320 grit sandpaper on a countertop, and their edges are bevelled nicely (see, I pay attention to you guys and your written wisdom).

I have spent hours trying to set the edge on this thing. Once or twice I've got it to where it feels all vicious and edgy, and pops arm hairs off nicely, but then I go to the 4K and the 8K (using what is called the "agreesive pyramid" in the wiki) and my nasty edge disappears. Both times I have got it to feel "edgy" on the 1K were after getting frustrated and putting some pressure on the blade for a few strokes.

I have put sharpie on, and the marks all disappears right to the edge. Under examination using a Pentax loupe, the bevel appears to be a single plane, going straight to the edge of the blade. I know there is a bit of a problem near the toe on one side; the edge there doesn't make contact with the hone on one side unless I "help" it, but that doesn't seem capable of explaining my issue; the rest of the thing never really gets sharp.

I am thinking that the following may be the problem:
  1. not having gone for long enough (ie. not having taken off enough metal);
  2. not knowing how much pressure to use;
  3. a warp in the blade keeping the thing from getting proper pressure all the way across (see the mention of the toe issue, above);
  4. I am doing a rubbish job; or
  5. All of the above.
I purchased this blade new from Dovo, so I am aware that the bevel may have been set at the factory at an angle much different to the one I am trying to make now (not using tape), but how many laps should this take? I have spent literally hours, and probably hundreds of strokes, on it so far.

And yes, I have ordered Lynn's DVD. So far I can't seem get that X-stroke to work with one hand; I need to steady the toe with the other.

Any suggestions will be most appreciated. I like this razor so don't want to ruin it learning. I have a Cerena with a chipped edge that maybe I should learn on.