So, first real post. (Intro over in the intro sub-forum). Not really an inquiry as much as an exhausted and frustrated rant:

I've been using the Pyramid technique described by Mr. Thomas in the Wiki for a few months now on the Norton starter set stones (220/1k 4k/8k). I have my own additions to it, and my own preferred polishing/finishing routine, but for the most part, I follow it rather religiously, and it always does a great job on my carbons. I only own 9 straights as it is now (10 once my Prima Klang arrives at the Messermeister's), so I'm comfortable honing, but I don't have a TON of experience. All of my pals and coworkers opt for the speed of cartridge razors, given the constraints of our line of work, so I can really only practice on my own steel/face (often much to my face's chagrin).

I only own one Stainless blade, an "Art of Shaving" branded Dovo Meister's. The shoulderless design really gave me the confidence to take a whack at it today (been tugging a bit the last few weeks). Now, full disclosure, I am a slow, methodical honer. It's as much meditation as it is anything else for me, so I am used to a single blade taking a half hour. I got cocky this evening and thought I'd reset the bevel and really put a nice wicked edge on my only stainless blade.

Two hours, half an arm's worth of hair, and an irritated jaw-line later, I FINALLY got the thing HHT-4 sharp. I've read most of the comments about stainless only requiring a few extra steps (in the pyramid process at least), but that was a bit on the ridiculous side. Did anyone else find your CS technique was so inadequate when you first started honing stainless? I am admittedly an amateur at best, but honing ain't rocket surgery, and I never expected it to be that difficult to get the thing to take an edge.