I'm sorry to keep driving you guys nuts with all my newb blabbering, but I (once again) need some advice...

Quick summary: got my 8E and 8EE dia-sharps yesterday. Bread knifed an old Hill & Sons (Sheffield) blade. Set the bevel on the 8E, sharpened on the 8EE, did 50 laps on a Franz Swaty, then 25 on 1.0 diamond paste, 25 on .50 diamond paste, 25 on .25 diamond paste, then 150 bare strop.

It would *barely* pass the HHT on some areas of the blade. (Side note: does anyone else find it easier to really put a sharp edge on the heel section -rear half- of the blade than the front half?? That keeps happening to me.... back sharp, front not so much). But it was shaving even the finest arm hair with that "velvet squeegie" effect. (love that term, wish I could give whoever coined it proper credit). So I shaved with it.

It wasn't all that great on the first WTG pass. This was on three days growth (which for me makes me look like Grizzly Adams. Or Dr. House for you youngsters). I was able to get everything whacked down, but it wasn't particularly comfortable. Just for grins, I attempted an ATG pass. After I was done shaving, my alum block accurately described the exact location of my ATG pass attempt: "Oh, I see you attempted an ATG pass *right here* with a straight razor you honed yourself, dincha? Fool!" Anyway, I grabbed my Gillette adjustable and finished off ATG with it.

Soooo... Now I need some advice on what I should do with the tools I have to improve the edge. Everything I have is listed above. I do have a Chinese 12k coming from Chris, but it won't be here til next week.

I just have no idea how far back into the grits I need to go... all the way back to the 1.2k and start over? Or maybe the 8K? Swaty? Sheesh, I have no clue.

I'm thinking about maybe 20 heel leading X strokes on the 8k, 25 more on the Swaty, then 25 on each diamond paste. Does this sound reasonable?