I have been sharpening two plane blades and can’t seem to understand what is happening.

I start with one blade using a DMT blue diamond stone which is rated at 45 micron-325 mesh.  I use it to flatten the back of the blade.

Next I move to the DMT green diamond stone which is rated at 9 micron 1200 mesh.

I work in both stages until the blade is covered from side to side with the same size scratches.

From this point I use W/D sand paper in the following grits, 1000,1200,1500, 2500 and at 2500 I have a very good surface with small lines but it makes a very good mirror.

At this point I use 4000,6000,8000 polishing paper and the shine improves and after the last one there are very few small lines.  When looking directly into the blade it is very shiny and if it is angled to one side or the other you can see the very small lines but it still looks good to me.

I then went to a synthetic water stone rated at 12000 and after using it the surface is degraded and is not as reflective as before.  To me this says that it is equivelant to something below 2500 because I can go back to the 2500 and get the shine back I had before using it.

I went today and got a Japanese water stone rated at 800/4000 and when I use the 4000 after the 2500 paper it makes it cloudy again. 

I noticed that when using the water stones that the metal takes on a grey look.

I allso noted that when I have the blade at 90 degrees to the stone and move it side to side the sides of the blade are effected first which tells me that the stone is not square.

When I use the DMT stones this does not happen.

If I have the blade running parallel to the water stone and move it side to side it marks the whole plane.

This is my first time with the plane and also waterstones.

I have both planes now without using the water stones and they are both very shiny.

I appreciate any help you can give me.