I thought about putting this in the Honing forum, but I have nothing really to say about technique, just the fact that I DID IT!!!

So here's the story... I've been using a Dovo "Prima Klang" daily for about nine months now, and I've noticed that it just ain't what it was when I first unwrapped it. I realized it was time to get my first hone.

I found a nice deal on a Norton 4K/8K combo. I watched all the videos and read the wiki but I wasn't ready to put the Dovo to the stone. Fortunately, I've got a Timor "Blue Steel" and a vintage Grant (both of which have been masterfully finished by Lynn). I decided to practice with the Grant.

The Grant is pretty sharp already, so I figured I'd try the "touch-up" pyramid. I ended up with a butter knife!

OK, so, now that I know it's really dull, I'll do the full pyramid, slowly and patiently, followed by a good stropping. Well, I don't have enough stubble this evening to effectively shave-test the blade, so I made a short pass on my forearm. Just barely grazing the skin. Just an inch or so...

To my complete shock and amazement, I found a bald patch on my arm! The honing actually worked. I still find it hard to believe. I mean, I hardly even touched my skin and the hairs were just gone. Vaporized.

Needless to say, I'll give the Grant a try tomorrow morning to see how it performs under real working conditions. I'm not sure I feel confident enough to take the Prima Klang to the stones, but at least I know I've still got the Timor, and that, if I completely screw it up, I can plead with Lynn to fix it for me.

Now, what I really need to do is visit a few antique shops...