Just thinking. If you go to you tube and look up Lynn Abrams and honing. That's what a lot of folks did. Lynn and others show honing step by step and explains different ways of testing your edge. He goes through the progression of different grits. I have always been able to hone knives and axes chain saws but razors was a different animal altogether. I watched his and Ssixguns videos and learned quite a lot. that's been about 2 1/2 years ago and I get a fairly good edge and can shave with these razors I hone with out big old croc. tears . Check them out. I do believe it will help. Some times seeing is better that reading. Just my opinion.