I seriously doubt that there is anything at all wrong with your steel, as Dave most definitely knows his stuff, unless the steel has perhaps been heated accidentally and the tempers gone?
so.........have a watch of
my "How I do it" below then try, try, try again.
[video=youtube;Gj08TL5G724]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj08TL5G724[/video]
There
is a slight knack to it; you're trying to shave steel from the face of the tool, which due to heating by friction, actually more or less ignites like wire wool.I'm sure you'll get it okay.
Good luck and keep us informed.
kind regards
Steve