“looking for a bit more ATG. But... I'm also looking for other things to try out - partly for the fun of it.”
If you cannot get a smooth shave ATG, it is a sharpness issue. Period.
Look straight down on your edge with magnification, if you see any shiny reflections, your bevels are not fully meeting.
Depending on what you see will determine how far back you need to go. 95% of honing is FULLY setting the bevel. The rest is polishing the bevel to polish edge. You cannot polish an edge that does not exist.
There are no magic stones, it’s in the hands.
Almost full set bevel
Fully set bevel, no shiny reflections
If you cannot get a smooth shave ATG, it is a sharpness issue. Period.
Look straight down on your edge with magnification, if you see any shiny reflections, your bevels are not fully meeting.
Depending on what you see will determine how far back you need to go. 95% of honing is FULLY setting the bevel. The rest is polishing the bevel to polish edge. You cannot polish an edge that does not exist.
There are no magic stones, it’s in the hands.
Almost full set bevel
Fully set bevel, no shiny reflections