Thread: I had to try this.

I really don't know if I can afford that right now, even though I would like to do so.

And I just got a mail that the package is shipped

I think if you asked nicely, you could arrange to have a razor shipped to someone overnight, honed and sent back overnight that same day. So...3 days? Just ask real nice and be willing to throw the person a few dollars for their trouble.

And before you ask, no, I don't hone. I wouldn't dare hone my own blade yet. I like it too much and don't trust myself enough to hone. I barely trust myself enough to shave with the durn thing!

Originally Posted by flyboy

This is what I have ordered:

DOVO Best Value Ivory Yellow Straight Razor 5/8"" Full Hollow Ground

Standard Pure Badger Shave Brush Off White Handle

Styptic Pencil

Shave Soap

DOVO German Razor Strop Leather Conditioner

Illinois Razor Strop 2"" x 20"" Top Grain Cowhide with Handle

Thiers Issard Low Grease White Paste for Razor Strop (for canvas side?)

Col Conk glycerine shave soap

And I am thinking about ordering a 4000/8000 Norton

Does this sound like a good start?

Sounds just fine.
I started out with a Dovo. I believed the little note that came with the razor, stating that it was ready to go, out of the box. (after being stropped). I hadn't discovered SRP yet, so I had no reason to doubt Dovo's note.
Guess what? The shaves went just fine. I did about 15 shaves before the edge started to shave uncomfortable. I'm not alone in that experience. Hence my advice is to read about stropping, and try the razor first. Try shaving a bit of arm hair. If it does that with ease, try shaving your beard. If you can manage to get parts of your face smooth, it's okay. If not, send it to Lynn.

Originally Posted by flyboy

I am used to both being patient and using a fine touch. It might be a bit optimistic, but I am an optimist and don't see any reason why I cannot do this.

Originally Posted by flyboy

How long time does it usually take when a blade is sent out for honing?

I am slightly impatient

I think we have that in common.

I don't recommend learning how to hone before you have gained some confidence shaving with a straight razor. You need shaving skills to assess your honing results.

Good luck with the Dovo,

Bart.

Originally Posted by flyboy

I really don't know if I can afford that right now, even though I would like to do so.

And I just got a mail that the package is shipped

well, depends how busy the person is, with thanksgiving tomorrow there's another day...
mail will take 2-3 days each way, then honing i'd say between 2 days and 2 weeks, so I'd say you're looking at a week to three week period. ask the person who you're sending the razor to for an estimate.

being impatient would suggest you want somebody else to hone your razor, it'll probably take you much longer to get as good of an edge. i guess you'll have your hone by monday (if it was shipped usps), then you can try honing your razor for the rest of the week and if you're not getting anywhere i'd say send it out.

G'day & Welcome flyboy.
If you plan to hone your own I'd add a microscope or 30x jewellers loupe to your list.
You may find visual confirmation of your edges helpful.

Welcome my friend to the world of straight shaving and to the forum.
I will have to agree with others and recommend that you get your razor honed the first time so you know what a sharp razor should feel like. You can waste a lot of time and endure quite a bit of pain not knowing whether the problem is your razor or your technique. It is just a matter of paring down the number of variables in the early going.

Enjoy the journey!

Great advice here - you'll do well to follow their advice.

Welcome, your shavs will far outpaced and be far more comfortable than you ever though...eventually.

Keep us posted on how you're progressing.

Mark

P.s. Patience is really a virtue. Take your time with this, if not you'll become frustrated and do damage either to your razor or yourself.

Now it looks like the stuff might arrive tomorrow; really looking forward to it!

My plan is to first try to strop it like Bart suggested, if not there is a barber-shop here where they sell straights, if I ask nice they might help me out. (only thing is that it looked really pricey) And as a last resort sending it in to someone for sharpening.
Does it sound like a plan?

if the barber shop can hone the razors, that's a good option. if they just sell them i would just send it out.

Now I finally got my stuff. I was exited like a little kid on christmas when I started stropping it. After like 100 draws on each side of the strop, I tried the hanging-hair-test. It popped hairs all along the edge, so I figured it had to be shave ready. Am I right?
Then I Made some nice lather and stropped some more. I started out with the sides of my face, but got a bit exited and did the whole face. I got a small nick (2mm) on the left side of my mouth, but that was all. The left-handed part under my nose was a bit tricky, so that was where I cut my self.

I am overall happy about it, being my first time and all.