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

Hello everybody,

I am a beginner who started few months ago with a "shavette" and has moved to a brand new Dovo #3580 Bergischer Löwe. In the shop they told me that it was "shave ready".

I know that I am still in the learning curve, especially coming from a "shavette". Shaves are getting certainly better. However, the difference is quite big and I am starting to consider using the green part (with the paste) of the dovo hand paddle strop I bought as an alternative to send the blade to hone now. My guess is that "touching up" could potentially increase the sharpness of the blade and I could quickly assess whether the cause is, in certain measure granted my inexperience, the blade.

Comments welcome.
Many thanks!

It wont hurt to try. I suspect it will not be enough to get it shave ready. Pasted strops are good to provide a finishing touch after appropriate honing or to refresh a blade that was already shave ready.

Agree. Found that "Green" pasted strops are great for placing a shave able edge on a razor. The one I use is of heavy cotton belting material.

Here is a Beginners tips Article that I did some time back that discusses this exact issue it might give you a few more ideas


http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...ry-2012-a.html

Wisdom in a can, great article.

Thanks to all of you for your great suggestions.

I did strop last night with the green paste and again this morning, followed by subsequent leather stropping. The results are just amazing. Another different World and experience.

I want to add that the "Perfect Storm" article by gssixgun is the greatest opportunity a beginner may have to speed up the learning curve. The "only" requirement is perseverance, openness and willingness to learn. In my case, my skin got sooo bad that I also learned about cold water shaving...Now cold water is the new standard for me. The experience got better but not ideal. I kept trying and my strokes got better but also kept wondering about the sharpness of the blade. Did some research, got help on stropping with paste and done. Again, now it is my new standard. Result: A good enough shave ready blade that makes my shaving experience wonderful and most importantly has hooked me into looking forward to learning more about simply everything.

So, all in all, thanks to all who help out and to fellow beginners, one stroke at a time and one thing at a time. Enjoy the little things shaving brings to us.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Marc73

stropping with paste

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@Marc73,

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

Thanks

Did the shop sharpen it or was it Dovo?
I have yet to see a shave ready razor from Dovo, I don't know why they say they are.
It will make people believe that's the best shave they can get from a straight and it's far from the truth.
You might want to send it away or if you got someone close who can get it truly shave ready.

Quote:

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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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I used the green DOVO one. At purchase, the shop gave me the paddle strop with both the leather side and green side as the kit I should use. This is what I used. This is what I had. I am considering expanding to red and black pastes as I have read they make the blade sharper.

You may get help from more experienced members in a likely paste sequence. I am far from recommending anything (yet). It did work for me with the blade I had.

Hope you blade gets sharper and your shaves better.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lemur

Did the shop sharpen it or was it Dovo?
I have yet to see a shave ready razor from Dovo, I don't know why they say they are.
It will make people believe that's the best shave they can get from a straight and it's far from the truth.
You might want to send it away or if you got someone close who can get it truly shave ready.

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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.

Quote:

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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 :)

Quote:

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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.

Quote:

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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.

Quote:

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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.

Quote:

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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.