I know where you're coming from. I'm new to straights but have a history with knives and sharpening them... I'm no knife guru but I was surprised to find that the degree of sharpness that is 'shave-ready' is leagues above my sharpest kitchen knives and skinners (even tho they all shave arm hair). I doubt you'll be able to 'feel' the ultra fine grit you need, I don't think I can, suffice to say, it's smooth! Your finest corborundum or india stone isn't fine enough. I doubt you have ultrafine (>8k) waterstones around for the knives, but some do. Have any arkansas stones? I have sharpened a razor on a progression of soft->hard arkansas, but still had to finish it on something finer. I've used a barber hone (good results) and a translucent arkansas (great results) and am waiting to try out a surgical black arkansas I just cleaned up. Those aren't uncommon knife hones, so who know's, maybe you've got some? If you don't, as already mentioned, barber hones and/or pasted strop are fairly inexpensive ways to keep a sharp razor sharp and a good place to start.

-D