Not really sure "shave ready" and considering green paste DOVO hand paddle stropping

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Originally Posted by Marc73

My guess is that it was factory sharpen.

I am starting to believe that perhaps the "shave ready" standard refers to a "touch it up" a little, "make it your own" with very little effort standard.

If I ever buy another brand new razor I will just be open to sharpen it from the start.

Perhaps we all should recommend beginners to expect this situation and learn light duty paste stropping before.

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I feared this when you posted your first thread. It has happened to me once too, a barber telling me that a razor was shave-ready while it would barely cut arm hair! Perhaps this is pure economics: add a certain keyword to your product to sell more. And you're right, we tell all beginners to look for a hand-honed razor. It's just that some people cannot be trusted on their word, which is a damn shame.

I certainly encourage you to buy the red paste, it's quite an improvement over the green, whereas the black gives a minor improvement over the red. You will need an extra piece of leather to apply it to, if your paddle strop is also used for daily stropping (for which you need clean leather).

I think you need to put in on a stone!
The Dovo factory edge won't really improve from Crox on a paddle, you need to get a fresh start with a good edge, then you can use the paddle to keep it there!

Factory edge; "Well, there's your problem!"

The DOVO green paste is a lot coarser than .5 crox, I believe in the region of 6 microns. I used it myself with good results until I got my Shaptons.

Marc, if the paste does not get the edge where you want it, my offer for free honing still stands. Again, I'm not an expert, but I had one heck of a fine shave this morning with my home-honed ERN :)

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Originally Posted by Laurens

The DOVO green paste is a lot coarser than .5 crox, I believe in the region of 6 microns. I used it myself with good results until I got my Shaptons.

Marc, if the paste does not get the edge where you want it, my offer for free honing still stands. Again, I'm not an expert, but I had one heck of a fine shave this morning with my home-honed ERN :)

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Wow, I haven't tried it, just thought that it was like any other "green stuff".
Well if it's like that you sure can give it a try.

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Originally Posted by Laurens

The DOVO green paste is a lot coarser than .5 crox, I believe in the region of 6 microns. I used it myself with good results until I got my Shaptons.

Marc, if the paste does not get the edge where you want it, my offer for free honing still stands. Again, I'm not an expert, but I had one heck of a fine shave this morning with my home-honed ERN :)

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I will do the red paste and I will visit you. I was confident to strop my blade but not enough to do a stone with the gold spine. I need an expert.

Thanks and see you before year ends!

I have no experience with goldwash on the spine, but I would use a layer of tape when honing. I hope more experienced people will have an answer to that.

After almost two months I finally got myself a two sided paddle strop and stropped my razor with both red and black dovo pastes.

I shaved thus morning and the difference was impressive. All in all, I can say I have shaving with a non shave ready razor since September. I guess I have waited too long but the added difficulty has speed up my learning curve quite considerably. Also I have learned to appreciate cold water shaving with smother results.


In summary, here there are some interesting conclusions for beginners:

1. Buy a shave ready razor
2. If it is factory shave ready, then also buy a 4 sided or 2 x 2 sided paddle strops for green,red,black,lubricant pastes (or grit equivalent). Paddle strops are much more forgiving than hanging so less risk of ruining the edge. You will eventually need them for touch up (or stones). Right now I am more than happy with my paddles.
3. Experience with cold shaving
4. Buy an alum block. The Alum block is the best proof of a well performed shave. If it stings... Need some improving. These past two months have been hellish BUT today barely nothing!
5. Stretch at the max your skin
6. Prepare your whiskers quite thoroughly. I lather with my hands while massaging my face. Then I strop, prepare all. Rinse and lather this time for the shave.

I guess I now start another stage of enjoyment!!!

Thanks to all for the rec's.

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Originally Posted by Siguy

@Marc73,

curious what paste you used. I'm in a similar situation with question about my edge.

Thanks

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Check my latest post. I think that the combination of green, red, black did the trick for me.

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Originally Posted by Marc73

... These past two months have been hellish BUT today barely nothing! ...

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I would add: if it's hellish, change something! Sure, most people are bound to carve some new features into their faces when they start out, but if it's hellish, don't do it. Cuts and nicks go away with practise, but a tugging razor needs honing - and sometimes a little technique: less pressure and different angle.

Hi marc,
Did you ever take Laurens up on his offer, as far as I can tell, you have one factory honed razor that you have managed to maintain and use for a few months with only a selection of pastes. I have never had a new razor, and only once did I shave with a razor that had not been purchased honed, subsequently I have done light refreshes myself. Neither have I ever tried pastes.
You may find that if you do have someone (and in your vicinity there are a few) give your razor a proper honing that the experience will change again. I find that the first few shaves after honing give the razor a slightly harsh feel that will mellow with a few uses and some stropping in between.
Do you use the pastes after/before every shave or just intermitently? I refresh once in a while and other than that I just usr a normal strop.
I also cold water shave, actually I keep everything in the fridge, shower before my shave make my lather and apply, I dont wet my face first or anything.