Zeepk – Lick your wounds, warn others, move on. Lots of us here have done it. I corrupted my virginity on a Frost Steel Warrior. Lots of Krieger suckers out there. Life goes on. Don’t pay someone to hone that P.O.S (and I don’t mean Piece Of Steel).

Get a Norton 4000/8000 and you will be set for life for all but maybe one other finer stone. Until Hone Acquisition Disorder hits. Maybe it’s self control but it gets most people who stick around here. Anyhow, the 4000/8000 is a rock solid investment. You’d also do well with a paddle strop pasted with 05 micron Chromium Oxide, and the paddle strop could fill the bill for the “one other finer” clause above.

I don’t know much about the cheap strops, everyone here snarls at them. I would think if there are not breaks or cracks or cupping in the thing it would at least be OK until you got a good one.

If you get a new Dovo or anything else, you are probably going to have to send it to someone to be honed for actual use. Shave ready from the classifieds here or at Badger and Blade is probably your best bang for your buck.