It's been a while since I've been able to sign onto the forum, but here's a story for you.

I've been slowly saving up for some decent honing equipment and I finally got outfitted with what I was comfortable with to take the honing dive. I received and ordered a 6x2 coticule and belgian blue, 4x7/8 1200 grit dmt, and a Wapi from Mike. The goal was to sharpen my 6 month razor which I had originally honed when bought to the same status as the brand new Wapi. Well, I practiced getting the techinque (using the marker test) of honing using a Zeepk razor to make sure my hand was steady. I found that I had good technique (even wear of the line) so I moved onto my daily use razor. I ran 15 X laps on the blue and 15 X laps on the yellow. Stropped for another 30 and found results but still not up to what I wanted. I did another 10-20 using the same system (blue then coticule) and 30 on the strop and found that it shaved off a two week beard with no pulling and a very close shave on a first WTG pass. I was pleased to say the least.

I then moved onto setting the bevel on the Dovo (EEK!) that Sharp&Shiny graciously gave to me. It needed a decent amount of work and on the small DMT it was a test, but I think I did a good job. After a total of 270 laps on the DMT and tests throughout the whole proces (blue, coticule, strop, HHT for sharpness) I did a small test shave on just part of my neck comparing the wapi to the Dovo and I was, again, pleased.

I wanted to thank Paul for the gift of the Dovo. I really appreciate it. I can't wait to get around to getting a full shave with the Dovo. Was 270 too many laps on the DMT? It being my first honing/bevel setting experience and only being a six month straight user I'm hopefully not being too naive in thinking it was the right amount.