Advice on technique?

[binder]

I have some questions about sharpening; would like some advice about technique.
- When pushing away honing I hold the razor on the sides of the shank. I have trouble keeping the edge down. It wants to lift up. I use some torque to hold it down, but don't know if this will cause too much pressure.
- Is it better to use various strokes when sharpening a razor so the scratches are in different directions. I have heard that this will give a smoother edge because the scratches won't be as deep. I'm unsure about the reasoning of this, so I wanted some feedback. From my understanding this wouldn't matter except maybe the last stone. Also would it matter which direction the scratches are when finished?
- I had trouble getting a sharp edge off the 8k, until I tried using a double bevel, about 80 light strokes on the 8k Norton, which made the edge noticeably better. What would I need to change to get a good edge without the double bevel?
- I also used .03 chromium oxide after the 8k. Is this too much of a gap?

Thanks for help