Thread: 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.

Originally Posted by Marc73

stropping with paste

@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.

Originally Posted by Siguy

@Marc73,

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

Thanks

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.

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.

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.