I have always had trouble getting my blades very sharp and yesterday I finally managed after trying many times to get two chisels to slice paper. But I am still not satisfied as in terms of shaving hair its marginal. It does grab the fingernail and slice endgrain in all better than what i have been getting.

Questions
I have been following this order in stones
400 Diamond plate (Cheaper Carbatec)
1000 waterstone
1000 Diamond Plate (Cheaper Carbatec)
?4000 Waterstone (looks black produces a light grey slurry when flattened works better without water in term of polish but still dulls polish slightly from 1000 Diamond stone?

Is the 1000 Diamond Finer than the 1000 Waterstone?
Is the dulling going to the finer stone possible? Normal? It cost $10 from Carbatec who sold it as fine waterstone they had stacks of them

Thanks

Andrew