Thread: Newbie questions

I ordered a presharpened Dovo 5/8 ebony and silver steel from classicshaving.com and started last week. It does seem like the razor should be much sharper. I'm thinking about sending it out to someone to go over it again. I'd like to have a benchmark to compare to, I'm just not sure that this is it.

I've got a few issues with this particular razor. 1) It seems to be too long to easily get between my sideburns and goatee. 2) I think I might prefer a heavier razor. It seems a bit lighter than I imagined.

Are their any razors out there that anyone would recommend?

Most straights have 2 1/2 - 3" long blade edges.

One exception is this with a 2" blade: Straight razor Weltmaister 3/8 NOS - eBay (item 130283303269 end time Mar-24-09 09:17:40 PDT) but that is much lighter too.

Check the classifieds for shave-ready razors, look for half or 1/4 hollow or wedge blades.

1) You dont need to get the whole blade on your face. Try using the toe and heel areas of the blade on their own where applicable.

2)Before you decide that a razor may be too light/heavy, get yours properly honed and then try it , from there you will be able to see which way you need to go.

3) Just noticed the blade was honed by classic, I dont know how many shaves youve done with a straight but it could be a matter of technique rather than the blades edge. Are you stropping adequately before the shave, beard prep etc..

Yeah, I definately allow for the fact that my technique could be to blame. I just really wasn't sure about the honing. I was just hoping someone could let me know if classic usually gets them done right. I'm pretty sure that they do, but just wanted the piece of mind.

I ran it over the linen strop about 15 times each way, and then over the leather about 30 times each way. Kept the edge and the spine flat without problems, so I think that should be fine. The strop is an Illinois 835, and I assume I should be using the smooth side of the leather.

As for using the heel and toe, I figured that part out, but I still seem to catch some sideburn keeping the razor at 30 deg. and lined up with the grain on my cheeks. I could probably trim my sideburns down and keep that in check, but I usually wear them on the longer side.

Oh and my whiskers are very course. I prepped by washing my face in the shower then applying hot conditioner for about 10 minutes in the shower. I rinsed with hot water for about two minutes in the sink just before applying my soap. I might try steaming a towel and setting it on my face for a few minutes tomorrow. I might try some of the preshave products in the coming weeks.

Try stropping it real good. I bought a Thiers-Issard from the same site and it was pre-sharpened by them. It was shave ready but I stropped it after my second shave and on my third shave I definitely noticed a difference. I have no doubt they pre-sharpened and did a fine job. Give your new blade a chance before you send it out.

Well, your beard prep seems to be adequate. I would up the laps on the strop to be more like a minimum of 30/30 leather/linen. Sometimes after a good honing its advisable to strop a blade 100x each on both linen and leather, it will take some of the harshness out of the edge eliminating any pulling/tugging.

This is my face prep in the AM and I think it can help you out.

Soak the brush in really hot water.
Shower with brush still soaking.
While in the shower wash beard and then condition. Leave the conditioner in.
Wash body, then after that rinse out the condition. Then I apply a very hot water wash cloth on my face and hold it there tight for five minutes, if it cools down, reheat it under the water.

Once out of the shower I rub preshave oil on my face, or EVOO, and massage it in.
Reapply a hot wash cloth to my face and hold it there while the oil sits underneath.
Work up lather ON MY FACE (not in a bowl) and work it in for about five minutes while adding water so it doesn't dry out.

Strop razor about 70 times while the lather sits on my face. If it drys a little just work more in that is more hydrated, then shave.

I know it may sound excessive but the hot rag on the face thing really makes a difference for me and I have a heavy beard, it shows through the skin even when I'm BBS.

Remember to REALLY stretch the skin when you shave. Everyone's face is different and you may need to stretch in ways other people don't.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for the advice. I didn't realize that there was a benefit to stropping that many times. I'll give it a try and report back.

I don't think you can really over strop unless you going into 200 strokes or something. I find less than 50 can make a difference in the shave though.