Thread: dovo bismark 5/8 help?

I have been using this razor for about a year and am looking to upgrade to a better razor. I get ok results but still need to work on stroping and sharpening my razor, I feel that i get a good shave but not sure about alot of things. razor burn and razor angle when shaving never seem to get two shaves the same!! I was wondering if a 6/8 would be better, was thinking of a dovo micarta razor. I love using the straight razor but am frustrated by the learning process. I watch lots of videos but if you dont know if your razor is right, feels sharp but is it? shaves good but seems to drag a bit and so on... is there a video or material for us dummies that seems to cover this. I would love to get one done by a sharpening service and see the difference. I guess I am a bit rambling in this post but this is an investment of time and money and I hate to learn on an expensive razor, to learn its not for me ! HELP! because I really enjoy using a straight but its beating me up a bit... thanks.

From teh sound of it, the best possible idea for you is to get a professionaly sharpeend razor so that you have a benchmark to judge your own results, and you'll know what truly shave-ready feels like. Check the classifieds for guys offering that service.

If you are thinking of buying a new razor anyway, perhaps buy it from one of the vendors that offer a pre-honing service (there are a few that are highly thought of here!)

Good luck, and WELCOME!

Broke up, Was your razor "shave ready" when you got it? If not you may want to send it to a honemeister and have a shave ready edge put on it. This just for comparison. I bought a Dovo 5/8 new and honed by Lynn. It is not my best shaver. Perhaps another brand would be a better comparison than another Dovo. I also have a 6/8 Double Arrow that was 1/2 the price of the Dovo and I like it better, better shaver to me and my face. It seems that each face likes different razors and it is really hard to suggest one particular razor to another face. Anyway good luck in your search for the perfect shaving razor. Oh another thing to think about is the razor grind. My DA is a full hollow and my Dovo 1/2 hollow. Perhaps that is the difference to my face and not the brand at all.

I don't know it it makes a difference but I have a super bismark 5/8th not sure on the grind half or full and what are your oppinions on both grinds or even a singing blade?

Originally Posted by brokeup

I have been using this razor for about a year and am looking to upgrade to a better razor. I get ok results but still need to work on stroping and sharpening my razor, I feel that i get a good shave but not sure about alot of things. razor burn and razor angle when shaving never seem to get two shaves the same!! I was wondering if a 6/8 would be better, was thinking of a dovo micarta razor. I love using the straight razor but am frustrated by the learning process. I watch lots of videos but if you dont know if your razor is right, feels sharp but is it? shaves good but seems to drag a bit and so on... is there a video or material for us dummies that seems to cover this. I would love to get one done by a sharpening service and see the difference. I guess I am a bit rambling in this post but this is an investment of time and money and I hate to learn on an expensive razor, to learn its not for me ! HELP! because I really enjoy using a straight but its beating me up a bit... thanks.

The Dovo Be berlin used is mine ,I like it so much I traded a BergisherLowe for it an another blade.
The blade is a half hollow 5/8 made of great steel the only thing I've had to do to mine is a very light touch up on my spyderco ultra finehone after about a weeks solid use.I also own one of the best quality blades but this is also a half hollow.Again an excellent razor.These 2 blades are part of my permanent rotation .they shave me very close with no irritation but they do need to be kept sharp but the plus side is they are very easy to keep in tip top condition. Have you thought of making up a balsa strop & using chome oxide paste as these blades respond very well in my own experience to a pasted strop & this would be cheaper than buying a hone. hope this helps. Paul

Eh. The only reason I traded the Bergischer Löwe is to keep you from doing funny things with its name. *harrump*
But that is not to say that the Bismarck was not a great razor. Quite the contrary. And, as always, sharp and shiny. If you pardon the pun.

another question, should you have more than one to rotate as you say or is only one razor ok? I hear the larger razors shave better ie-5/8 vs 7/8? and is regular stropping all that is needed for maintience and how long before honing 1 month -6months or until feels dull?

You do not necessarily need more than one razor, as long as you are able to maintain it. Maintenance will, at some point (somewhere between three weeks and six months, according to this forum), require the use of a hone, though.

As to widths, I personally find 5 or 6/ths a nice compromise between high manoeuverability and ease of use (as in "I don't have to wipe lather off the blade every other stroke). Outside the customs market, you will be hard pressed to find a new 7/8ths razor, though. This one is truly beautiful (you have to actually see it, it is massive), but the price is a bit steep if you ask me: "Old Sheffield" First Edition, 5/8" - Meisterarbeit The Different Scent:

there are several things here
1) You're not sure your razor is sharp enough
2) You are not sure your technique is good enough
3) You are not sure if your razor is good enough

The way to fix 1 is to either have you razor honed, or buy another razor and have that honed.
Once you get 1 out of the way you can concentrate on 2. You should be able to get comfortable and irritation free shaves.
As far as 3 is concerned, your razor I think is pretty good. May not be the best out there, but it shouldn't be below average. If you send it to be honed you will get the opinion of the person who hones it.
There are probably razors that when honed well you will like better. The only way to know is to try and see. Larger razors do not shave better than smaller ones, they are just larger, which often correlates with heavier as well. Some people find them easier to shave with, some don't.
You do not need more than one razor.

It really is up to you how you want to approach it all.

I agree with all of the others that recommend a professional honing for your blade. This will give you a benchmark to judge your future wants, expectations, and needs.

Fact is a nice shave is never the same for any 2 people. In order to find what is good for you, you need:

1) The sharpest blade that you can handle well. This will change with time, and not always to a sharper edge.

2) A good skin care regime. Learing to care for the skin before applying a blade to it is where most newbies cut themselves short. Sorry for the pun

3) Clean surfaces. I cant stress this enough. Your shaving place is an operating room and should be treated like one. Don't forget to wipe your blade after stropping. Very tiny particles can get lodged in your skin and cause irritation.

4) Patience. You will be doing this for the rest of your life. Take your time and enjoy observing your progress.

Peace.