I am very new (6 shaves on a self-honed antique store razor). I spent a lot of time and was getting good shaves (HHT pass) on a JA Henkels razor.

I wanted to see what a professionally honed razor was like, and also wanted a nice Dovo for backup. I ordered the Green Pakka Wood and last night pulled it out to shave. I did a TPT and thought it didn't seem too sharp. However, being new, I figured it was my inexperience since most tests still give me mixed feelings about sharpness. I decided I would slowly strop it, but just a little. I then started my shave and after 3 or 4 passes (swipes), I decided it was too painful and just not working. I pulled out the JA Henkels and it went so much better. I finished the shave with it.

Today I decided to strop the new Dovo about 50 times or so, but carefully. After doing so, it now can pull up some arm hairs, but barely. It mostly glides over most hairs, and then grabs one every now and then. It's better than before, but not quite there. BTW, the Henkels will pull lots of arm hairs and easily pass HHT after stropping. I have gotten the Dovo to pass the HHT once after 20-30 attempts.

I do know that the professional honemeisters are magnitudes better than me. However, I just wonder what I got and is it what is to be expected. I guess that maybe I learned that my honing is good and that I should just give this thing a few passes on the Chinese 12k I have. I really didn't want to touch this new Dovo to a stone for months, after I have done the Henkels a few more times. Maybe I will need to.

Advice?