Thread: Bevel's, tape & strop

I have a new Pearlex Dovo that I just started shaving with and it has some fine nicks in the blade...I'm really careful, but?? Do these straights chip easily?

I also bought an Alwin from ebay. I taped the spine and carefully honed it, stropped it and shaved with it this morning, I don't think it was as sharp as it needed, my neck burns a bit more than the Dovo!

Do people ever tape the spine when stropping? Wouldn't taking the tape off change the angle? Or does it not make a difference due to the softness of the leather?

I want to hone the Dovo, but I'm scared because it still shaves better than the Alwin...what to do?

Is there any way possible to get a pic of the edge on the Dovo???

To answer the question of taping the spine, NO you do not need to tape for stropping, even paddle strops have enough give to compensate for the minute difference in the angle...

If the Dovo has chips I would send it off so you will have a reference when you hone the other razor...

What do you use to hone your razor? In the wiki there are great articles how to hone your razor and if you have questions there are amazing guys over here to help you out..

Maarten

Now I know some guys say their beards are like steel wool but even if that's the case shaving will not chip a blade in the least. So that leaves two possibilities, it either came that way or you nicked it or did something to cause it.

Yes the steel is very brittle and will chip very easily if your ham handed with it.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Is there any way possible to get a pic of the edge on the Dovo???

To answer the question of taping the spine, NO you do not need to tape for stropping, even paddle strops have enough give to compensate for the minute difference in the angle...

Here is a pic of it...not the best, but the best my camera will do. there are two small nicks in the edge, right below the O and the L. I think I'm going to try honing it. I changed my stropping technique a bit with my Alwin and got it to cut astrand of hair passed perpendicular to it. It gave a nice shave too

Is there anything special I should know about honing this one vs the Alwin? The Alwin seems like a more sturdy blade than the Dovo. Thanks.

Oh yes, another thing to mention, the redness I was getting on my neck goes away much faster now....being light on the pressure certainly does wonders for my skin!!

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Now I know some guys say their beards are like steel wool but even if that's the case shaving will not chip a blade in the least. So that leaves two possibilities, it either came that way or you nicked it or did something to cause it.

Yes the steel is very brittle and will chip very easily if your ham handed with it.

Very likley it was me! I know that I had it closed once and dropped it about six inches onto the counter....could that have casued it?

Those little nicks should come right out on the 4k.... Whoops I guess you never mentioned what hones you are using????

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Those little nicks should come right out on the 4k.... Whoops I guess you never mentioned what hones you are using????

I have a DMT that I think is a 600 and I have a spyderco 302f and a 306uf. They did wonders on the Alwin. Although I do think I need something close to a 4k, it was a slow process going from the DMT to the 302f.

But ya know, it sure was fun sitting in my chair carefully honing my straight, very soothing!!

I am not all that familiar with how the Spyderco's cut to properly help you out... Hopefully one of the guys that use those can be of assitance....