Thread: low end vs high end razors

Originally Posted by OldFashioned

i have a classic black 5/8 DOVO 1/2 hollow. when i browsed through all the razors, i thought i was getting a good deal since i dont care too much (at least for now) about handles. i just wanted a real good razor. but i guess now i understand that i really just scammed myself out of $70, actually $90 because i added the pre-honing option, and should of went with something along the $250 range to get a good shave

i dont feel like i get good shaves at all. it hangs on ATG. i even tried shaving WTG with my mach3 which is closer than what i would get with the straight now because of my angle/technique issues. even then, it hanged just the same. at this point, the razor might not be sharp so its being sent back to lynn to see if it needs to be re-honed. i do strop before each shave and it feels sharp. if it comes back sharp and it hangs, or it hangs after 2 WTG passes (1 being my m3), then ill toss this razor. i dont make shelf space for nonsense. life's too short for that. on the other hand, if a new razor like i guess maybe a bismarck 5/8 spike point or one of the higher ends does this as well, i guess ill be selling all my stuff because i have no problems with my mach3 shaves. ill chalk it up to the fact that its not meant for my face and thats it. i know it takes time to get real good with it but there should be improvement.

Going ATG with any straight there is going to be more resistance than you are used to. Yes,you must make sure the razor is as sharp as possible. But as has been mentioned, the ATG is pretty tricky with a straight.

I believe that you have just started with a straight?

A straight is a tool that must be learned how to be used for it to really shine. It is not a tool that makes it easier to get a good shave (a M3 is designed to do that) it is a tool that will repay patience and attention to details with a satisfying shave par excelllance, but not at the beginning. It takes time and practice.

You can go out and by a top of the line Gibson guitar, but if you don't study and practice and lern how to use it, you will never make beautiful music, and thus will toss that nice guitar out the window along with your Dovo.

Keep at it if you are interesyed in shaving as a hobby/pastime. If you are just interested in a quick, close shave, a DE or M3 will do the job quite effectively.