Alright, well the multi-quote button doesn't seem to be working for me right now. I'll try to address everyone's input (which I appreciate, by the way; thanks.)

@Larry: I'm using a bare horsehide strop. That's all.

Quote Originally Posted by MickRussell View Post
I've read over this thread several times and am becoming more and more suspicious that the original poster is using a jig to hold the razor and control the bevel angle. I am also strongly suspicious that this jig is designed for sharpening knives and so holding the razor spine substantially above the hone.
Not at all. When I said "built in jig," I just meant that you lay the razor down on the hone, and the spine and bevel sets the angle for you. The "angle jig" is "built in."

@AFDavis11: The X-Pattern is where you set the blade on the hone and during the pass, pull the razor across the width of the stone, correct? I am doing that.

I'll whip out my microscope and have a look at what's going on under the hood. Thanks.