Thread: Complete Novice

I'm a complete novice to the world of straight razors and need some advice and help.

I've bought a Dovo of Solingen 'Bismarck' 5/8 straight razor and a Dovo strop along with the other obvious things.

I have a couple of questions:

Is this razor okay (from what I've read I think it should be)?

Is the razor sharp enough to shave with when it arrives? and if not can it be sharpened on a strop?(I realise that I need to strop before and after every shave)

When used correctly should it glide over the face or will there be more resistance that say a gillette razor?

What shaving creams/soaps should u use?

With standard usage will I need to use the canvas side of the strop or will the leather side be sufficient if done before and after every shave and should the strop be held tight or allowed a bit of play.?

Should I put anything on the blade to stop it from rusting after useage?

Do you have any tips or other useful information I should consider?

Thanks in advance for all your help.

Let me answer what I can and others will fill in. The Dovo you purchased is a fine razor no problems there however it probably won't be "shave ready" when it arrives unless you bought it from a member here. However it might be so the best test is to shave with it.
Yes stropping is important however there are differing opinions as to wheither you have to strop after you shave. I'll tell you I don't , only before 30 passes or so.
Resistance will depend on sharpness and angle of the blade.
Creams and soaps are a personal choice (just don't use anything out of a can) In addition to Taylors, Trumpers, Crabtree & Evelyn (available at classicshaving.com-good place to purchase) two member are soap makers Colleen and Mama Bear (Sue) they make a great variety and they are very good. You can find their links to stuff in the vendors section.
I don't use the canvas side of the strop in fact my daily strop doesn't even have a canvas side.
Beard prep is the most important thing you can do. I usually take a hot shower before I shave and wash my face and sometimes put hair conditioner on my beard. Also remember to pull your skin taunt when you shave. The last tip is take your time at first go slow and don't rush. After you have been shaving a while it will go faster.
And lastly have a good picture of your face that the plastic surgeon can use.. lol

A good sharp razor should glide pretty smoothly. Not that you wont feel anything. You will probably hear it cutting and there will be a slight sensation as the razor cuts the hair. However, there should be less resistance then you are used to with the Gillette. Give it a test shave. If you feel pulling or plucking of the hair, then the razor isn't sharp enough. You will know this when you feel it. It is very agitating. Pretty much like trying to take 3 days growth of with a Gillette. If it feels like this, then send it off for sharpening. Lynn offers a service here, and there are few other guys that will do it as well. If you get it back and it still feels like it is pulling, then you know it is your technique, as that razor is going to be as sharp as it can get.

Oh, and welcome to SRP.

Matt

Originally Posted by BSM

I'm a complete novice to the world of straight razors and need some advice and help.

I've bought a Dovo of Solingen 'Bismarck' 5/8 straight razor and a Dovo strop along with the other obvious things.

I have a couple of questions:

Is this razor okay (from what I've read I think it should be)?

Is the razor sharp enough to shave with when it arrives? and if not can it be sharpened on a strop?(I realise that I need to strop before and after every shave)

When used correctly should it glide over the face or will there be more resistance that say a gillette razor?

What shaving creams/soaps should u use?

With standard usage will I need to use the canvas side of the strop or will the leather side be sufficient if done before and after every shave and should the strop be held tight or allowed a bit of play.?

Should I put anything on the blade to stop it from rusting after useage?

Do you have any tips or other useful information I should consider?

Thanks in advance for all your help.

The razor you bought it fine, but I would also suggest that if it has not be professionally hones or purchased from someone on the this site, you should probably get it sent it off to be properly honed. For the most part the strop is only for aligning the "fins" on the blade, and there is a lot of debate about the number of passes, linen and leather, leather only, etc. Go to the strop section, and there is no shortage of different ideas to be exposed to. I would suggest only putting something on the blade if you are going to be leaving it alone for a while. One of the cheapest things is plain old mineral oil, but there are many other products than can be used. Lynn Abram's DVD has a lot of information - if you can get your hands on it that is...

Originally Posted by BSM

I'm a complete novice to the world of straight razors and need some advice and help.

You've come to the right place.

Originally Posted by BSM

I've bought a Dovo of Solingen 'Bismarck' 5/8 ... Is this razor okay (from what I've read I think it should be)?

So should I.

Originally Posted by BSM

Is the razor sharp enough to shave with when it arrives? and if not can it be sharpened on a strop?(I realise that I need to strop before and after every shave)

No and no. It'll need a honing to get going and periodically as well, but the use of an abrasive pasted paddle strop will prolong the life of the edge between stone honings.

Originally Posted by BSM

When used correctly should it glide over the face or will there be more resistance that say a gillette razor?

Glide ... like a hot knife through butter. No pressure, no effort.

Originally Posted by BSM

What shaving creams/soaps should u use?

I like Colleen's stuff best right now. She's member churley, but there's lots of great products out there Like Crabtree & Evelyn (creams, not so much the soaps) Trumpers etc.

Originally Posted by BSM

With standard usage will I need to use the canvas side of the strop or will the leather side be sufficient if done before and after every shave and should the strop be held tight or allowed a bit of play.?

I like to use the canvas for a few gentle laps before going to the leather to warm up the metal with friction so it'll respond to the leather strop better. You don't need to strop after the shave but I usually do a few gentle laps, about a dozen after and 50-60 before the shave.

Originally Posted by BSM

Should I put anything on the blade to stop it from rusting after useage?

Air. Let it sit in the open for about 15 minutes before packing it away. If you can store it in cardboard or cedar to absorb residual moisture that's a good idea too. If you're going to leave it for extended periods, you might consider coating it in mineral oil, but only if it's perfectly dry.

Originally Posted by BSM

Do you have any tips or other useful information I should consider?

I wipe my blades down with rubbing alcohol after shaving to help keep them sterile.

X

The only thing I would second here is to get Lynn's DVD and watch it. It will pretty much answer all your questions. The only other suggestion is just go slow and don't expect a great shave at first. Just do the basic strokes and mainly get used to holding and maneuvering the straight. The shaves will come later. Its when guys get anxious and try and do more than their skill allows that they get themselves into trouble.

When you get that new razor just be very careful when you strop, don't ruin the edge.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

When you get that new razor just be very careful when you strop, don't ruin the edge.

thebigspendur makes a great point here.

I thought my new GEO Trumpers (made by Dovo) 5/8" was shave ready and it wasn't. So I set to with the strop and made it a lot worse (had to go back to my Merkur DE for a couple of days).

As no-one in the UK offers a honing service, I bought a Norton 4k/8k hone a did it myself (very carefully), then back to the strop (very carefully), then a test shave (very carefully). No good, repeat as necessary.

It took me over a week to undo the damage I did with my first stropping.

Where did you get the norton stone from?

I'm also in the UK and have a similar problem with honing.

Originally Posted by BSM

Where did you get the norton stone from?

I'm also in the UK and have a similar problem with honing.

Hi BSM,

I got mine from

http://www.executive-shaving.co.uk/s...waterstone.php

Savage

Thanks I've got one on order.