Sharpening DOVO, almost there need help!

Hey guys, I am in the process of bringing my DOVO half hollow grind razor up to shaving quality. I have been using a Norton 4000/8000 hone and a latigo leather strop, choices all under the influence of SRP. I have been following the suggested pyramid honing and then stropping, but the razor can't pass the hanging hair test. If I kung fu chop the hanging hair with the DOVO it will cut the hair, but otherwise I'm out of luck. I feel like I'm almost there, but I don't know whether to go back to the hone or strop some more. Any advice would be very much appreciated, I don't want to refrain from shaving and look like Santa this Christmas. Cheers - Jesse Peters.

How well does it shave?

Yea, test shave. I'd probably use some light 8 k strokes to finish the blade off and rotate between the strop and the 8K until it shaves well.

I have only one shave ready str8. It will not cut a hair using HHT. The shave is wonderful, I get BBS shave, and no irritation. From other posts here in Newbies Corner, it appears that the HHT is not the ultimate test; the shave is. The str8 should cut the beard on your cheek, WTG, without pulling.

I hope this helps.

Dave

Hanging Hair Test is not the end all. I have blades that pass that test and will not give me a decent shave. I have blades that will not pass HHT and are good shaves on my face. Also, look at getting yourself a paddle strop with .5 micron Chromium Oxide applied. Will not cost you a lot and you will be amassed at where that takes you from the 8000 Norton.

Oh wow, thanks a lot gentlemen for your expedient responses. I will surely give shaving with this thing a try, and if not I will move on to the 8k and stropping to correct the edge. I may have to try this chromium oxide paste, thank you kahunamoose. I used to shave with a feather but that was just the scariest thing every time. Thanks again fellas. If I don't shave by Christmas, you all have yourself a Merry one. Hopefully Santa is a fan of the straight. Cheers -- Jesse Peters.

I just finished shaving today and the razor was sharp enough for the job, but not anywhere near the effortless cutting the famed straight is supposed to have. I think I'll be experimenting with that chromium oxide paste and some more stropping to get this right, or perhaps to move to a full hollow ground. Thanks again, as always guys for your help. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas. Cheers -- Jesse Peters.

I find mine i also passable but nowhere near the disposable blade shave.
more honing i guess, or chromium or strop.

Sounds like you're close. I find a visual aid saves on shave tests & guess work. I use 30x Jewellers loupe.
If the scratches are even & all the way to the edge the razor is most likely sharp & should pass the HHT at various stages.
If the scratches are also reduced by polishing evenly all the way to the edge the razor will also be smooth.

Any irregularity in the brightness & scratch pattern indicates more work is needed. Talking bout stuff you won't see with the naked eye.

some guys on here have had good luck using a cheap handheld microscope from radio shack to examine thier edge i think you can plug it in to your computer i view the image even bigger :gl:

Sweet, thanks again guys. I'll try it on the 8k more to give it that mirror finish, then strop. I'll see how that goes next time I shave. Have a Merry Christmas guys, and thanks again.