Thread: *FIRST SHAVE WITH NEW DOVO -- NOWHERE CLOSE!

Don't worry so much about the hair test, I am sure the razor came to you properly honed. Focus on your angles and pressure as these are what will cause a sharp razor to pull. If you didn't strop before the first shave, it is likely that you are still fine, just take your time and keep adjusting your angle until it is comfortable. Don't use any pressure, you're not trying to scrape the hair off of your face, you're trying to slice it off. Also, make sure you are stretching your skin or the razor can jump and pull. If you need any more tips (i.e. these don't help) feel free to pm me and we can figure out where you're going wrong. I just went through the learning curve recently so I still remember a lot of the things you can do wrong.

During the first shave with this new DOVO, I actually changed angles throughout because I knew something wasn't right. I went from as close as maybe 20 degrees to as far as about 45, and everything in between, and the results were the same (which weren't good at all). I did this on the area underneathe the sideburns, since it's the flattest area on my face for me.

I would also recommend PM'ing Lynn before posting anything else about the hone. He may be a busy guy, but I'm sure he'd rather hear it from you and try to help you troubleshoot than to come across it in a thread.

Here's another question: How was the lather? What kind of pre-shave routine did you use? There definitely is a learning curve to straight shaving...I just had my 7th or 8th shave and finally got it close to right (partly from bbshiver's post about scything/guillotine). There are so many aspects of the shave to keep in mind, besides the razor/angle.

Good Luck!

I did PM Lynn a few minutes ago, but thanks cwrighta. Appreciate the response.

I did nothing but use the razor straight out of the case, and I'm really finding it hard to believe that there's that huge of a discrepancy between shaving with a disposable straight and a DOVO straight that it would give me such a poor result on a brand new, honed razor. The DOVO was giving me poor results from the first stroke. Pressure doesn't change between the 2 types of straight's -- you aim for as little as possible in both situations, and the angle might need to change a bit from disposable to straight, as some posters have stated, which I also tried varying numerous times throughout the shave, but didn't help a bit.

For my lather, and my pre-shave routine, it has been the same since I started. I fill a mug with hot water, leave my brush in the mug to soak in a sink of hot water while I shower -- I get out, make, and apply my lather. Thick, and not watery at all -- it took me a while to get it right, since I use William's which tends to use a lot of water, but I got it a few weeks ago and have been doing it since -- again, no prior problems with shaves at all.

Unfortunately, since I'm fairly new to this as well, I'm at a loss at this point. From what I've heard, people using disposables have had much better results with regular straights.

Maybe some of these resident experts can shed some light on the problem!

Really? That's interesting...I'm hoping some of the experts can aid, because I'm so frustrated lol

To be honest, I dont get a smooth pull free pass with my dovo until the 3rd shave after a hone. The razor gets stropped and for some reason its like the blades have aligned with the planets after the third shave. keep at it, it will get better....Trust me.

Billy

There seems to be quite a number of posts regarding prehoned Dovo's from Classic lately, especially on some other forums. I thought I would just share my 2c of experience.

I got one a few weeks ago (Dovo Special Tortoise), no honing service. It may have just been my razor, but it was passing the HHT out of the box. Now, I am a rank amateur at honing, but I did 3-5 light passes on the DMT8EE and about 30 on a Spyderco UF, and it is shaving like a dream. Now if I can do that, then I would think there is NO WAY Lynn could not. Or even worse, NO WAY he could do a worse job, even with his eyes closed. I would think the only way you could get a dull razor from him would have been if he did something wrong, which is highly unlikely.

The point is, it is too easy to blame the razor (or the honing).

Originally Posted by RayG

There seems to be quite a number of posts regarding prehoned Dovo's from Classic lately, especially on some other forums.

The main gripe coming from the other forum in particular is from a guy who takes purdy pics, but probably hasn't honed 100 razors in his quest to be known as the King Of Straight Razors. The key here is not self recognition or blame, but to help the new guys. Because I test every one, I am confident that they shave. That said, for what ever reason a new person has troubles, I consider it more important to help that person out, re-hone the razor or do what ever it takes to get him shaving. This is not about recognition or me or defammation of me coming from that person in the other forum. You may see my name more only because I probably hone more razors than any one else out there right now at probably over 10,000. That is changing and there are a lot of more people honing. Anyone who gets on this band wagon other than in helping the new person out is not doing our environment any justice or the person needing the help. I have been asked to hone up razors that were honed by Joel and other real experts out there and never said a word. I normally ask the person to check back with the person who honed the razor first and then if no resolution, I will re-hone the razor. I don't post this in the forums or draw any negative attention to these folks. I have always maintained a gentleman's approach to this in this forum and will continue to do so no matter what the other guys do.

You would not believe the amount of guys who have been so anxious to get the perfect shave the first time and then become immediately frustrated only to tell us that after some practice and a few shaves later they are getting there and loving it.

Have fun,

Lynn

Very true as i have found i'm getting ther now and enjoying every minute. cheers gary.