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To check for warp or twist, Lay the blade on a stone and see if it wobbles. If not try slipping a small strip of paper under the blade at the heel, middle and toe. Do the same for the spine.

Most...

Yes, when you joint the edge, the bevels are already flat and in the correct plane, you just need to get the very edge to meet again, the 8k will easily do that in a few laps.

It may be that blade...

Post photos of the blade, both sides. Still seeing pitting on the bevel, (dark dots) and not honing to the edge fully or the steel is not holding the edge.

Yes, more time on the 5k will clean up...

Also, as an aside, your Kita bevel looks like it could be refined more. Working the slurry with the razor, more laps, as Joseph suggested or using a hard tomo and working that well, with the tomo and...

Yes, chippy edge. Those scales are notorious for Cell Rot, it usually begins by eating the edge.

Your second and third photos show pitting on the bevel and edge, also some deep stria that was not...