So last night I did an experiment. I had two razors in similar condition--once great shavers, with edges that deteriorated and started pulling beyond acceptable tolerances.

I had previously rehoned them with the pyramids, and there was improvement but still not to the point where I wanted to use them every day. The only addition I made was the Japanese Natural that I got from my barber.

So last night, I rehoned them again. I went back to the 2K to smooth the edge out, then using magnification I took them both through the same routine--move up to the next level until the previous hone's scratch pattern was gone. I did this with 4K, 8K, and then 10K lapping film.

However, at this point I diverged the pattern--with one razor, I finished on CrOx and leather.
The other, I went to my Nakayama with slurry (as advised by my barber) in alternating 5 set patterns of circular and x strokes, up to 20 laps. Under magnification, there was no change, and the slurry did not change color at all, so I honestly don't know if there was anything going on. Then I finished that one on the CrOx and leather.

The shave test this morning? The First razor, with NO Japanese Natural, was FANTASTIC. The best edge I've ever achieved.

The second razor, however, was still pully and on nearly as sharp as I would like. So I figure I MUST be doing something wrong...any ideas?

I figure the stone itself is a good one, as my barber used it for years to maintain his razors, of which I have 7, and the edges are all lovely...could the hone be glazed? Should I lap it?

BTW--Both razors are good, clean steel, sizes and grinds are different though.