I had this same problem. couldnt work out why when it was flat it wasnt really doing anything. tried allsorts. I think I finally got somewhere when I realised I wasnt being light enough. you can hold it up, and it will feel like its cutting. and you can lay it flat, and it`ll feel like its doing nothing. then you can be even lighter than that, letting the blade balance itself, and you`ll start feeling feedback, and it`ll be noisy and feel like its cutting again. but it takes a little more than 10 laps.

Someone said to me here, as a n00b, you can do everything right and still be doing it wrong.

I`m still a noob. Utopian made you on hell of a kind offer, I think you would be mad not to take him up on it. just so you know if its a fault with the razor or your technique.