Thread: I can't get consistent with setting the bevel

Possibly a really dumb question, but have you checked them for frowns? 50% of the razors I find in the wild have them and make honing nearly impossible until they are removed.

Pressure is hard to judge until you hone for awhile, you can use a fair amount during the bevel setting part of honing unless it's an extra-hollow grind. By the time you get to the finisher it should be weight of the blade only or possibly less on an extra-hollow due to flexing.