Thread: A few questions...

You have bought a fine set of hones.
They should be able to provide great results, after you have learned to use them properly.

1.
You set a bevel on a razor that fails to respond to less intrusive methods first.
That includes a pasted strop, a touch-up on a fine hone or any other method prior to a full honing progression.
For your new razor, I would try a touch up with a finisher first, then give it a good stropping and see where that leads you.

Adding a layer of tape on the spine will create a micro-bevel. This is because of the new and slightly more obtuse angle it creates.

2. Yes. start with that and see what that does!

3. Yes, I would highly recommend that. It will aid in dinging or riding the razor on the edge of the stone.
And that is something you really don't want to see

Good luck with it!