Thread: Got my first straight razor

I woke up yesterday and on the counter was the box i got from Vintage Blades. I got a
Dovo "Classic Black" 5/8 with the pre-honed option
dovo XL Russian 3-18" Strop
The Sailing Ship Mug and Col. conks bayrum soap
The Vulfix 2233 Super Badger
And Lynn's DVD

So i open it up all excited in the box is a hand written note from Jim ( It's nice to see things like that these days) and unpack everything. When i get to the razor i try the falling hair test and it dosn't work, somtimes it pushes a bit then cuts, other times it just pushes the hair out of the way. So i don't worry about it to much, figure maybe i just need to strop it before it will do it. I watch Lyns dvd last night and today i strop it up, the blade gets sharper but not a lot.

When i tried to shave with it, the blade just tugs on the hairs, so i stopped. Used my fusion razor with the shaving soap and brush. I have to say its the best shave I've had with the fusion.

But it leaves me with a razor that won't shave, i was thinking on going to lee valley and getting a norton 4000/8000 stone and trying to hone it myself.

Hold up on the hone for a moment -- did you
strop the razor before shaving for the first
time?

I'm certain that it came shave-ready sharp to
you, so it may just be technique that is causing
this pulling sensation. If you did manage to dull
the blade by stropping, you should send it out
to be honed while you're learning your technique.

- Scott

I found it takes at least a few attempts at shaving before even a shave ready razor will actually comfotably "shave" -- for me it was techinque problems for awhile, not equiment. Once I started to learn how to use the razor and get a feel, it worked.

The razor is defenitly sharper after i stroped it then it was before, so im comfortable that i didn't ruin the edge. I will hold off on honing it then and see if i can improve my shave.

Thanks for the advice

This is the third post I've read in the past week , when a newbie on thier FIRST straight razor shave , says thier "shave ready" razor pulls , won't pass the HHT , won't shave etc. . I've read many in the past saying the same thing . Usually a week or two later , after a few more shaves they post again saying , that the razor was pleanty sharp , and thier technique was to blame . And to all you newbs ; your first shave will most likely suck , no matter how sharp your razor is . The best way to get a good first shave is , learn everything you need to know BEFORE you put the blade to your face . Of coruse , your first shave may still suck .

Well with all these posts assuring me, im sure i will just be added to the list of newbs that think there razor wasn't sharp enough. And now that you mention it dave i spot out more post dealing with my problem.

And i believe my razor said it was honed by Lynn, and he seemed like a pretty upstanding guy.

Thanks Again

One point to make is that the edge of a shave-ready razor is pretty delicate and couriers can be pretty rough. Even if the razor was properly packed it could have been dulled in transit.
As far as the HH test is concerned it's not foolproof, not least because of the variation between hairs. For instance, I can't prove a razor with one of my own hairs but I can with one of my wife's.

The bread prep is critical as is using the proper razor angle.
The general rule of thumb is the spine should be two spine widths away from the skin, approx 30 degree angle.

Originally Posted by shmore

Well with all these posts assuring me, im sure i will just be added to the list of newbs that think there razor wasn't sharp enough. And now that you mention it dave i spot out more post dealing with my problem.

And i believe my razor said it was honed by Lynn, and he seemed like a pretty upstanding guy.

Thanks Again

Thanks.......

I actually test shave with each one I hone before I disinfect it and send it on so I know that they are able to shave. It's never a problem however, if you need it re-honed or mess it up at first so don't worry at all about sending it back to me.

Lynn

Originally Posted by randydance062449

The bread prep is critical as is using the proper razor angle.

It took me way too long to realize that was a typo!

I had heard of shaving balloons for practice but could not fathom how bread could be used.