Thread: Newbie needs some advice on honing...

I recently purchased a Dovo "Tortoise" 5/8" which, when it arrived said “does not need stropping prior to first use”. The blade did not pass the HHT or a wet thumbnail test.
But I thought “Hey, nobody would send me a razor that wasn’t sharp enough, right?”
I carved up my face pretty bad, then I used a 4000/8000 wetstone to sharpen. I had watched all the SRP videos on honing and stropping on youtube.com prior to doing anything, but now the blade is worse.
Any suggestions

Send it out to get it honed, while you're waiting read the Wiki... HHT is not important for a beginner, and you ruined the edge if you did a thumbnail test.

ai yi yi....

Did you do the shave test before or after you tested the sharpness with your thumbnail?

Also, Have you contacted the vendor?

btw... check out the links in my sig line.

I guess the huge flashing Neon sign that we put up that says "Tests are for Honing" must have fell down again

Somebody go tack that thing back up please...


Just kidding a bit here,
but yes you did ruin a finely honed edge with that thumbnail test most likely... Then by jumping right to honing, you probably tore it up even more...

You are not the first, nor will you be the last, that does this, we keep trying and trying, but will still get these stories..

Get it honed, learn to shave first, then learn to hone later...

It may be unfortunate, but thank you for reporting it here, and possibly saving me from the temptation to do the same thing.