SAWTooth
The key for me was when I actually HEARD Ron's words and applied them-- brought to light by What JWilliams said is the KEY. (or chi)
You don't quit the coarse stone till it's SHARP!!! It's as sharp as it will get when you quit the course stone...the other stones polish the edge and make it more refined, but not SHARPER...
That was my hardest lesson...lost paitence and wanted to move to next stone...never got sharper... doh!
Roll that burr edge on the coarse, then the other side (if double edged,) THEN...start flipping 20, 10, 5 etc.
Then start all over on the medium stone...all the way thru...and again on the fine.
Kinda tedious, but the results are amazing once I quit taking shortcuts!