Thread: Shave Ready - What does it mean?

I am very new (6 shaves on a self-honed antique store razor). I spent a lot of time and was getting good shaves (HHT pass) on a JA Henkels razor.

I wanted to see what a professionally honed razor was like, and also wanted a nice Dovo for backup. I ordered the Green Pakka Wood and last night pulled it out to shave. I did a TPT and thought it didn't seem too sharp. However, being new, I figured it was my inexperience since most tests still give me mixed feelings about sharpness. I decided I would slowly strop it, but just a little. I then started my shave and after 3 or 4 passes (swipes), I decided it was too painful and just not working. I pulled out the JA Henkels and it went so much better. I finished the shave with it.

Today I decided to strop the new Dovo about 50 times or so, but carefully. After doing so, it now can pull up some arm hairs, but barely. It mostly glides over most hairs, and then grabs one every now and then. It's better than before, but not quite there. BTW, the Henkels will pull lots of arm hairs and easily pass HHT after stropping. I have gotten the Dovo to pass the HHT once after 20-30 attempts.

I do know that the professional honemeisters are magnitudes better than me. However, I just wonder what I got and is it what is to be expected. I guess that maybe I learned that my honing is good and that I should just give this thing a few passes on the Chinese 12k I have. I really didn't want to touch this new Dovo to a stone for months, after I have done the Henkels a few more times. Maybe I will need to.

Advice?

i would say talk to the person who honed it and see if they've tested it after honing. i'm pretty sure most guys will be happy to take another look and if they've made an error, rehone it.
don't put it to the hone yourself yet.

all henckels razors i've had i've liked better than the current production dovos, but all of them have been capable of providing a smooth and comfortable shave. of course i've shaved a lot more than 6 times, so i think i'm fairly proficient with the process and it makes quite a difference.

I would contact the seller of the razor , first .

The issue is that shave ready to me may not be shave ready to you, and vice versa. I am in the process of honing a razor that is identical in shave readiness as one of the razors a honemeister did for me, but I don't count it to be shave ready. It'll do a good shave, but it's just not at the level I want it to be at.

Shave ready to me means that, with a good lather, I can slice through the beard without having to really work. The best razor I've had I can't even feel as it slices through the beard.

I just did 30 passes on the cloth side and 50 passes on the leather. I did this to both razors and they seem to cut arm hair similarly now. I'll do the shave with both tonight, which in the end is what matters.

BTW, the new razor came with an oil on the blade. The oil was very heavy and partially solid in many places.

I'll take the advice and not touch it to stone at all. Thanks.

Shave ready to me means it will give a BBS with two passes. Any less and its back to the hones for me.

Just to be clear, I do not question the quality of the razor, the hone, nor the oil/gel put on it. I am just trying to understand what I should expect.

After the stropping, I must say that last night's shave went much better. Stropping made a world of difference. I shaved with both the self-honed and the Dovo I ordered. The results were that they shaved similarly. Not the same, but I can't say which is better. I think the Henckels shaved a bit easier, but the feel of the Dovo is more heavy/solid. To be honest, I think the Henckels razor is better for beginners. It is lighter and easier to maneuver. It could be that I just got used to it first though and the Dovo is a change, both in stropping and shaving.

I still have chin shaving problems. I just can't figure out how to make my chin into a flat surface for the blade and it pulls instead of cutting. I still blame it on beard prep and shaving technique...for now.

My advice is simple. Send a razor to be honed by a pro honemeister to find out what you are aiming for. You will appreciate your shaving SO much more!

I will tell you one fact (maybe two):

The sharpness and keeness of a razors edge will be different from one honemeister to another. - I, also, realize there will, also, be a difference in shaving technique, prep, and quality of stropping from one shaver to another. Yes, there are a lot of variables at work here!

Regards,

Steve

If you paid extra for a shave ready razor then the vendor is responsible to provide you with one. If it was one of the vendors who sponsor SRP they will stand behind the product. As previously suggested contact the vendor and send it back for special attention. If it was not one of the vendors who sponsor SRP then I don't know what to tell you. You may be better off sending it to a known honemiester found in the SRP classifieds "member services" here. Lynn has honed a number of my razors and they were all outstanding shavers.