Thread: Help with my new razor

Hey all. So I just got a new to me SR. It's a Geneva 5/8. My first razor was a full hallow dovo best quality 5/8 round tip. I'm about 12 or so shaves into this journey and I'm really getting ccs on a regular basis. When I'm in the mood I'm able to get bbs with a 3rd pass xtg. I feel like I have made descent strides in my technique. I don't come away from shaves with nicks or cuts or irritation now. The question is might I need to change my technique with this new razor? It's much lighter than the dovo. I ask because I tried it for the first time today. I got very poor results though. I purchased the razor from a reputable store who I did research on and found its one of the stores known for delivering true shave ready razors. I spoke with them directly to explains I wanted to make sure this blade would come ready to go as I wanted to use it as a gauge to how badly I messed up the dovo with my rookie strop technique. I've since refined my stropping to where I got the dovo back in good shape with croox. With the new Geneva I made my passes as normal but it was not taking off the whiskers. Please advise if it might be my technique that needs to change for this razor or should I send it back out for re hone. I guess I kind of know the answer. I Will probably send it out to SRD unless you all have some ideas on what I might need to change. Thanks.

I would contact the seller and double check they did make it shave ready, if so explain the issue and see what they advise.

If you are happy with your technique, and it is at least developing, then it should be at least cutting. I would guess that it is either not shave ready or it was and maybe you took the edge off on the strop?

Good luck sorting sorting, its a beautiful razor!

Nice looking razor, did you strop it before you shaved with it?
Look at both razors edges with magnification and a strong light. If you see any shinny spots reflecting back, the bevels are not meeting.

The Dovo may need re-honing, a touch up, to get the edge back.

The Geneva’s heel looks a bit wonky and there is some extra wear on the spine towards the heel. Hard to tell from the photo but the stabilizer may be hitting and keeping the heel off the stone. That would explain the wear pattern on the spine.

Look at the edge and see if the bevels are meeting all the way to the heel.

It does have a nice grind and should be a great shaver.

I did not strop the razor before its first use. I actually explained to the seller that I was hoping to receive it in shave ready condition with no stropping needed because I wanted to compare it to my dovo. The dovo works great even after my first rookie mishap stropping. Like I said I feel I got it back into descent shape with croox and strop. I was hoping the Geneva would have been my replacement for daily use while I sent the dovo out for a hone. Guess I'll just have to send them both out and be without a shave for a while.

Shave ready razors should shave no matter the size grind etc. There might be slight difference in techniques but nothing that should affect that much.

Originally Posted by eddy79

Shave ready razors should shave no matter the size grind etc. There might be slight difference in techniques but nothing that should affect that much.

Yes! +1 it is probably not shave ready.

Shave ready is a term tossed around like a ball on a play ground. Not saying anything against your vendor but I would contact them and let em know your not happy. Send it out to have it evaluated and keep using your Dovo. When it comes back see if you notice a difference. As you are in early learning I don't think you could tell the difference between an 8k finish and a 30k or higher but that being said you do know what will work and what doesn't. If you have used different angles and pressure and it still doesn't work, I bet it needs a hone. A lot of us advise getting more than one razor so you can keep shaving if one needs a fixin' . God , don't go back to the disposable.

Originally Posted by 10Pups

Shave ready is a term tossed around like a ball on a play ground. Not saying anything against your vendor but I would contact them and let em know your not happy. Send it out to have it evaluated and keep using your Dovo. When it comes back see if you notice a difference. As you are in early learning I don't think you could tell the difference between an 8k finish and a 30k or higher but that being said you do know what will work and what doesn't. If you have used different angles and pressure and it still doesn't work, I bet it needs a hone. A lot of us advise getting more than one razor so you can keep shaving if one needs a fixin' . God , don't go back to the disposable.

Definantly not going back to disposable! haha I am completely hooked on SR shaving. Put aside the fact that when I really take my time and do just the two passes I get the best shave I have ever experienced. For me it's the experience of it all. A chance for me to slow down the day and enjoy the shave. The prep, the lather, the smells, the music (I like classical for my shaves) all of it is a very enjoyable experience. The old school of it is something of interest for me too. Hence the purchase of this old school razor. I have contacted the vendor and hope he will resolve the issue. He seemed like a really straight up guy so I'm confident he will make it right.

If he doesn't send me a pm. I'll fix it for the cost of postage.

Originally Posted by 10Pups

If he doesn't send me a pm. I'll fix it for the cost of postage.

I would skip the vendor as that seems to be an unknown variable and take up 10pups on that offer. Then you KNOW it will get done right!

Edited to add: By the way that is a beautiful razor with some character. I really like the look of it.