Thread: My head is in a spin

Have you done much reading here? I ask because you are asking fairly broad questions. For that reason, I'm going to ask some specific questions.

What brand of hones are you using?

Is your "best stone" a coticule?

Have you used a razor honed by anyone else?

You describe your problem being the sequence. If you have 1k, 2k, 3k, 5k, 8k, and 12k, then that is the sequence you should use them. Though I would use them all, you can skip at least the 3k in the sequence. The most critical is the 1k to set the bevel. If you fail that, the rest of the sequence is a waste of time.

Do you understand, or have done much reading on, setting the bevel?

Personally, I would skip the pastes for now as they will only refine edges that you apparently cannot produce yet.