If you are using a good progression of hones, I would then question the basics. Are you sure that you have the correct angle? Not all razors are made with the same width to thickness ratio. If the bevel angle is wrong, then you will never get it right. I've posted this before, but it is worth repeating.
Other than that, my next thought would be that you may need to get the "feel" of the hone. You don't want to press down on the hones with the blade, but at the same time you need to keep the blade flat. I rest two fingers on the blade simply to keep the blade sitting correctly on the hone. If the blade is "rocking" (edge to spine) then you are not getting a consistent angle. Each razor has a slightly different feel. If it is truly strait or if it has a smile, will determine how to move your wrist in order to keep the blade "flat" on the hone. This is the practice part of honing.Quote:
Use a set of calipers and measure the width of the blade from the cutting edge to the place where the spine will rest on the hone. Write that number down. Now divide it by 4 and write that number down. Now divide the measurement by three and write that number down. As an example. If the blade measures 0.75" wide, the two calculated numbers would be 0.1875 and 0.25 inches. This is the range that the thickness of the spine needs to measure with the tape. If the spine is more or less than that range (0.1875" - 0.25") then your bevel angle will not be correct. Adjust the layers of tape to get the spine measurement in that range (use calipers to take the measurement of the spine with tape).
To me it is a check list.
* Make sure the razor is honeable. Some poor quality razors simply will never get sharp. Also, some expensive razors made with "high end, fancy" steels will be darn near impossible to sharpen as well.
* Get the angle correct
* Make sure the bevel is even and consistent with a 1k
* Have a good progression of good hones
* Don't move on to the next grit until all the scratches from the previous grit are removed.
If you get those correct and it still is not working, then all that I can think of that you may be missing is the feel of the blade on the hone.