If you want to learn to hone, do so with the Dovo or any razor that does not have “issues”.

Get some magnification 60-100x Carson MicroMax, ($10-15). Once you get your magnification, compare the edges of one of your kitchen knives to your Dovo and the Dovo to the micrograph in the post above, (My second try at Honing). Match your bevels and edges to those of those of the honer in the post at each stone in the progression. That is exactly what your bevels and edges should look like.

If you compare your edges, probably even of your Dovo, they will not look anything close. Note it is not about getting smooth shiny bevels, the goal is to polish the edge, not the bevel.

You will quickly see that sharpening a kitchen knife is nothing like honing a razor.

A bevel set razor is where, 1. The bevels are ground flat. 2. Ground in the correct plane/bevel angle. 3. The bevels meet fully from heel to toe at the intersection of the two planes/ bevels.

There are a number of “tests”, many are subjective. The only test that is definitive and easy to learn is the visual test. Look straight down on the edge with a strong light behind you. If you see any shiny reflection at the edge, the bevels are not meeting.

Again, look at the Second Try at Honing thread. Post 42, Photos 4 & 5 (upper right-hand corner) show and edge that is close, (not fully set). Post 51, first photo, shows a fully set bevel.

Once you can get a smoking shaving edge on the Dovo, then attempt the two problem children.