Thread: According to Dovo, I'm doing it ALL wrong...

As grazor said, there are a pile of threads about this topic already.
I don't feel that the advice is particularly sound but it might be interesting for someone (not me) to try it.

Personally I would just follow their instructions to the letter, and prove it to yourself, then down the line when this question comes back around you can answer it from experience with conviction

But yes most of us have found that stropping before a shave yields a better result

I stopped reading their BS when it said it was honed shave ready at the factory...
Somebody with a full beard that hasn't shaved in 50 years wrote those "helpful" instructions.

That is why you can't put much faith in Dovo,s instructions, they claim the razor they just sold you is shave ready! Plus let's think about it, why did a barber need a strop during the day? He could have just shaved a few people before wasting his time on stropping, I've done the test, I skipped the linen for a bit and then even skipped the leather a couple times ( left strop at home). The shave was not up to par. YMMV. Tc

Sounds like some old wives got together and had a bs competition.

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

That is why you can't put much faith in Dovo,s instructions, they claim the razor they just sold you is shave ready! Plus let's think about it, why did a barber need a strop during the day? He could have just shaved a few people before wasting his time on stropping, I've done the test, I skipped the linen for a bit and then even skipped the leather a couple times ( left strop at home). The shave was not up to par. YMMV. Tc

The issue of "Shave Ready" I am going to definitely sort for myself. My first razor comes from SRD, with a pro Lynn honing. I purchased an inexpensive but effective microscope, and documented the edge as thoroughly as possible at 370x. I now have some new Dovo's coming from another source, factory "shave ready". I will also take numerous pictures of THAT edge. They will all be in my store of images if anyone is interested in comparing. In addition, I am close enough to my first SRD honed blade, and these "factory shave ready" blades, to be able to discern the difference.

I am the curious sort, and truly like to know the difference between rain, and someone peeing down my neck. I'll have the answer to THIS question for myself, very soon. In fact, right after Daytona Bike week, when I get home to my new gear.

Originally Posted by Moueix

The issue of "Shave Ready" I am going to definitely sort for myself. My first razor comes from SRD, with a pro Lynn honing. I purchased an inexpensive but effective microscope, and documented the edge as thoroughly as possible at 370x. I now have some new Dovo's coming from another source, factory "shave ready". I will also take numerous pictures of THAT edge. They will all be in my store of images if anyone is interested in comparing. In addition, I am close enough to my first SRD honed blade, and these "factory shave ready" blades, to be able to discern the difference.

I am the curious sort, and truly like to know the difference between rain, and someone peeing down my neck. I'll have the answer to THIS question for myself, very soon. In fact, right after Daytona Bike week, when I get home to my new gear.

Will be interesting to see results. It is all very subjective though, depending how many shaves you have completed and how competent you are. The only true test is the shave test, observing the edge through a 370x microscope will most likely look like you are about to shave with a bandsaw...

Originally Posted by Grazor

Will be interesting to see results. It is all very subjective though, depending how many shaves you have completed and how competent you are. The only true test is the shave test, observing the edge through a 370x microscope will most likely look like you are about to shave with a bandsaw...

The images I've seen of comprehensive blade studies, are WELL beyond 370x magnification. Best that 370x can accomplish, is reflecting the mirrored edge plus "scars" from less than successful atom splitting. I have no idea what magnification I'm looking at when looking at the micron views I've seen, but it is WAY more than 370x.

I tried shaving a few times in a row without stropping to see how it went...and it was not good! As mentioned, there are lots of threads on this topic. I was curious so I tried varying my stropping routine and material and also the above mentioned skipping stropping. The best advice I can give you is to experiment and see what works best for your razor and your face

The advice there sounds like it's from one of the early 1800s treatises on razors.