I started about 2 or 3 weeks ago with a brand new DOVO Classic Special and Illinois hanging strop from ClassicShaving, and a DMT D8EE. I had already started honing the DOVO when I noticed that the blade was warped and on one side would not lay flat on the hone. Both ClassicShaving and DOVO vetoed returning the blade for repair/replacement (DOVO said their razors are shave-ready from the factory and don't need to be honed...). So I've been working on it off and on, and have been getting what I'd consider decent shaves with it. It's got major hone wear, with more to come, but I'm making gradual progress on getting the blade to lay flat.

So I bought Wildtim's bench strop/glass-bed hone kit, and some CrO from ChrisL. All I can say is, dang. The glass-bed hone and 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper made setting the bevel on my recently acquired Simmons a piece of cake. Took it to the D8EE and smoothed down the rough edge, then finished on the bench strop with the CrO. All of the sudden a razor that would _maybe_ if I held my mouth just right and picked just the right spot pass the HHT (my DOVO) and a razor that 8 hours ago would maybe cut a hair if I sawed on it (the Simmons) are scaring hairs in pieces just by proximity. Can't wait to shave with them...

So a GREAT BIG thank you to Wildtim and ChrisL for helping a newbie make some good progress.