Thread: New straight razor question

Hi everyone. I have read the forum for awhile, and had been shaving with a Dovo shavette. I recently ordered a Dovo 5/8" straight razor, which I picked up sharpened and shave ready from an apothecary. I have watched stropping videos and tutorials and have stripped accordingly.

Result: so far, I hate my straight razor because it feels like an awful shave. I greatly prefer the shavette. Am I doing something wrong? Is there something wrong with my razor?

Any and all suggestions are most appreciated. Thanks!

Bill

Originally Posted by choirmaster2000

Hi everyone. I have read the forum for awhile, and had been shaving with a Dovo shavette. I recently ordered a Dovo 5/8" straight razor, which I picked up sharpened and shave ready from an apothecary. I have watched stropping videos and tutorials and have stripped accordingly.

Result: so far, I hate my straight razor because it feels like an awful shave. I greatly prefer the shavette. Am I doing something wrong? Is there something wrong with my razor?

Any and all suggestions are most appreciated. Thanks!

Bill

Hi Bill - and welcome to SRP. First thing: hang in there. Everyone struggles to a greater or lesser degree when starting out, but with time, practice, and patience it will get better.

My first question is the source of your razor. An apothecary? I don't know that this would be my first choice in terms of sourcing a shave-ready straight razor. Depends on the apothecary of course, but my assumption is that such businesses tend not to specialize in razor honing.

Now, there are many factors that contribute to a good shave. Face/beard prep, pressure, angles all play their part. But a truly shave-ready blade is essential, and that would be my first suspect in the equation. Where are you located? If we know where you are, it may be possible to suggest someone to take a look at your razor and verify that it's good to go. Another option is to send it to a pro to get it honed. There are a number of honers who advertise in the classifieds here on SRP: http://straightrazorpalace.com/class...wcat.php?cat=4
Getting it honed by a pro won't cost that much, but the difference can be night and day, and you'll at least be able to eliminate that as a possible cause of your troubles.

Another possible factor is stropping. Even if the blade arrived shave-ready it is entirely possible that you dulled the edge when stropping. This is very easy to do especially when starting out. If/when you do send your razor out to be honed, do not strop it before using it for the first time. It will be ready to go and by not stropping it you eliminate the risk of damaging the edge before using. Then you'll have a benchmark for how a shave-ready razor feels/works.

The good news is that the Dovo 5/8 is a very decent blade to start out with, and you don't have to worry about having bought junk.

Good luck!

Are you sure it is shave ready? Did they actually one the razor, and do a shave test?

ideally you want to shave with the new razor, before stropping, so that you have the experience of a blade that is ready for shaving.

Can you elaborate on how the shave was bad? Irritation? Cuts? Not close?
How many passes did you do? Did you go just with the grain, or did you also do across and against the grain?

I've never used a shavette, but I've read that the angle with a straight is much lower, 30 degrees with the grain, less when against (5 degrees? I do one spine width) and across the grain (10-15 degrees?).

Welcome to the forum choirmaster2000. I can only echo and agree with Cangooner. There are so many variables for your poor shave - where to start? Presumably, when using your shavette, you have an established pre-shave routine, you use a brush with cream or soap, so I'm guessing your shavette shaves are ok? That must leave your new razor as the problem. Right? As suggested, send it out to be properly honed and stropped. That's money well spent. Good luck.

Nothing worse than a dull blade.

Hi and welcome. You already have great advice so far so all I add is technique. From reading here apparently there is less need for propper technique with a shavette. With a straight if it ain't right you will know about it. Lower your angle and make sure that you stretch your skin properly. Even try just the cheeks to start till you get it sorted then go from there. Good luck

I too have my doubts about an apothecary being a source of a shave ready razor.

That said, you need to realize that you do not use a straight razor at the same angle as a shavette. If you are used to a shavette, then when switching to the straight you need to keep very aware of the need for maintaining a much lower angle. Keep the spine only about one or two spine widths from your skin.

I think Cangooner said it all for me.

Bob

Hi, there have been a few threads about transitioning from a shavette to a straight. I have not read them, but have noticed them. I presume there is also some difference in operation as far as angle and pressures go. I would not rule out an operational error. The razor issues everyone else mentioned is the other thing that comes to mind.

Welcome to SRP Choirmaster 2000: These are good sharpness tests for your S.R. If it fails the tests your razor isn't shave ready. Send it out to a hobbyist on the forum for honing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93zQP7CToWQ

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...-leg-hair.html