The straight and narrow, or the straight and not-quite-as-narrow?

Ok guys, I think I've pretty much made my choice for my first straight. I've got my eye on the Dovo Special Tortoise, which I hear is a 1/4 hollow ground blade. What I haven't figured out is whether to go with the 5/8 or the 6/8. The price difference is only $4, so that's not a factor. I have a pretty tough beard (a couple of days after a shave, you could use my face as a coarse hone), and I've read a couple of different things on this. I've read that bigger blades tend to be better for tougher beards, but I've also heard that a heavier grind would be more of a factor than blade width.

So my questions are:

1. Is the Special Tortoise really a 1/4 hollow?
2. 5/8 or 6/8?

Either way, it'll be going through Lynn to get honed up. Actually, it's his recommendation that first led me to look at these, and I've seen nothing but praise for them on three different forums. Thanks for any advice you can give me guys!

Joe

Sharpness is what's most important for a heavy beard. Larger razors are somewhat easier to hone (so it's easier to get a keener edge) and heavier grinds reduce the flexing so they can be duller than a full hollow and still shave well.

Opinions vary on this, however...

If you really want a stiff blade, then the TI super gnome is a reasonably priced half hollow. The Wapienica is also approximately a half hollow and is generally well regarded around here. I'm also partial to the Dovo Bergischer Lowe, which is a 5/8-6/8 full hollow razor that is extremely stiff. And the 7/8 Friodurs from www.shavingshop.com are highly regarded among the wirebeards; they are also full hollow but extremely stiff, and like the Bergischer Lowe will take an exceptional edge and hold it even through the toughest beard.

Those Friodurs are gorgeous, but are a bit more than I'm wanting to spend. The Super Gnomes are actually the other razor that I'm considering, but, if I've read it correctly, the Dovo Special is 1/4 hollow, which is between 1/2 and wedge, so the Specials would be heavier. If I've read it correctly, that is! That's one of the reasons I asked here to verify that. All it says on Classic is 'hollow-ground' without being more specific as to how hollow. But if I had more money to spend, the Friodurs would definitely be up on the list!

You know, Classic still has 7/8 Filarmonicas for sale. They're full-hollow, but it seems like they're totally lusted after! Hmm....

Joe

Hi,
I have the Dovo 5/8 "Special" Imitation Tortoise and absolutely love the razor. I use it every day. It's beautiful to look at and shaves great. I also had the same razor in 6/8, but found it less manueverable during the shave. Can't go wrong with either, in my opinion. There is also another very positive review of this same razor at Badger and Blade.
Good luck!
Ron

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Originally Posted by Mojo

Those Friodurs are gorgeous, but are a bit more than I'm wanting to spend. The Super Gnomes are actually the other razor that I'm considering, but, if I've read it correctly, the Dovo Special is 1/4 hollow, which is between 1/2 and wedge, so the Specials would be heavier. If I've read it correctly, that is! That's one of the reasons I asked here to verify that. All it says on Classic is 'hollow-ground' without being more specific as to how hollow. But if I had more money to spend, the Friodurs would definitely be up on the list!

You know, Classic still has 7/8 Filarmonicas for sale. They're full-hollow, but it seems like they're totally lusted after! Hmm....

Joe

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I've got one of those Fillys, and it sure is a nice shave! I can't say much for the plain black handle, but hey, there's always someone who can put on some spiffy custom scales.

Oh, and here's a discount Henckels for under $100 ... what a steal!
http://www.shavingshop.com/index.php...1%26sale%3Dyes

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Originally Posted by Doc4

Oh, and here's a discount Henckels for under $100 ... what a steal!
http://www.shavingshop.com/index.php...1%26sale%3Dyes

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Oh, you're KILLING me, man!! It's still a little bit more than I'd like to spend, but honestly, the only thing that's stopping me from pulling the trigger is, I'm not sure about a 7/8, especially as my intro to straight razor shaving!

Ok guys, I've now ordered up all the goodies I'll need for straight shaving. I decided on the 5/8 Dovo Special Tortoise, sharpened by Lynn, Castle Forbes Lavender cream, one of Oskar's scuttles, a pure badger brush from Shavemac (one of the non-handmade, cheaper ones), and Tony's new beginner strop. That strop is just what the doctor ordered. I was trying to scheme up a way to hang one of the other strops with a swivel mount from a doorknob. So I go to make a purchase this morning, and Tony has introduced a new beginner strop that has a loop for hanging it by a doorknob! And for $25.95, how could I pass that up?

I went to a barbershop yesterday for a shave for the first time. He didn't use a regular straight, I think it was a shavette. It used 1/2 of a DE blade. Anyway, I got the whole hot towel treatment, and he used that hot shaving cream that is pumped out by a machine and applied it by hand rather than lathering with a brush. The first pass was great (his style wasn't what I was expecting though - he used short, fast, repetitive strokes rather than longer, slower strokes), but during the second pass, I could tell that my beard had killed the blade. It wasn't horrible, but I did end up with a couple of minor nicks around my goatee and jawline. Even so, there was very little irritation, and I chalk most of that up to the fact that my face isn't used to having a blade taken to it. It was far better than my Fusion, and just as close as I can get it going ATG with said Fusion. The real test was this morning. Usually, when I do an ATG shave with a Fusion, I have a lot of bumps and burn on my neck the next day. After the shave I got at the barbershop, nothing!!!! Yes!!! I can't wait to get my razor, and get practicing! I figure, even if I don't really get into straight shaving, I can sell the razor and strop, and try a DE, or even just use the cream, scuttle, and brush for a much better shave with a Fusion (though it is HIGHLY unlikely I'll go that route!!!!)

Oh, and I ordered Lynn's DVD from this site last week, just waiting to get it! Thanks for all the advice you guys have given, not just to me, but also to others, that I have been able to read here!

Joe

I'm pretty sure that Dovo is a 1/2 hollow and the Filarmonica seems so to me as well. Both are top end contemporary razors and you'll be happy with your choice I'm sure.

X

I'd always thought the DOVO razors were full hollow ground:shrug: . OH, well, what's most important is a razor that's sharp enough. The DOVO 5/8 Special is a good starting point. With experience I seem to prefer either a wedge in the 4/8-5/8 range or a hollow in the 5/8-6/8 range.

It looks like your off to a good start here and you have made a great choice for a starter razor. Once you see how you like that size (and that is the classic size in vintage razors) you can go either up or down or experiment with different grinds.

Thanks, guys, I'm really looking forward to it! I was actually looking to get a wedge, but it seems like they're incredibly hard to find, which is kinda funny seeing as how it's probably the easiest (read: cheapest) style of blade to grind! I guess it's not too popular though. The only one I could find was a Dovo French point 4/8 SS on Classic, but I really wanted to try a larger blade, and one that was carbon steel, rather than stainless. That may change once I move from the relative dryness of the desert back to the humidity of the Midwest though! Who knows, maybe that'll be the next one I get! Man, I haven't even gotten my first razor yet, and I'm already planning the second. I think I'm in trouble.... :w

Oh, and BTW, I got Lynn's DVD today in the mail, and watched the whole thing straight away. I have to agree with the consensus here, EVERY straight shaver, and anyone giving it a thought, should get this DVD!

Just as a side note, your sig about Sparks reminds me of a joke that one of the priests told during his sermon. It was something like, "A Lot of my family lives in Reno. They say Reno is so close to Hell, you can see Sparks..." I've never been there, but apparently, Sparks is one of those towns that are a bit "questionable" to put it gently. I thought it was pretty darn funny, myself!

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Originally Posted by Mojo

I guess it's not too popular though

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They may not be that popular for modern companies to produce (I mean, they may be easier/cheaper to make, but why do that when you can charge triple for a full hollow or even extra hollow) but many a straight razor user has fallen in love with the feel of the wedge. Personally i like a half-hollow. Stiff, quiet, nice balance.

Yeah, like I said, I'd really like to try a wedge! Supposedly, the Dovo Special Tortoise I have on order is almost a 1/4 grind, so it's nice and heavy. It gets pretty glowing reviews, too!

Joe

It was a good mail day today! This morning I got both my Castle Forbes lavender (WOW is that stuff thick!), and the package from Shavemac with my scuttle and brush! The brush is really nice, and the scuttle is huge! I might just try this stuff out with my Fusion while I wait for the rest of my goodies to arrive.

My strop should be in either tomorrow or early next week. I'm not sure when the razor will get here. It was shipped to Lynn yesterday, and it's going to go cross-country twice before it gets to me!

For anyone that's interested, I got my Castle Forbes cream at http://champselyseescosmetics.com/. They sell it for $30, but shipping was $7.50. It still came out a few bucks cheaper than anywhere else I saw it.

Joe