Thread: New Dovo on 8k?

My new Dovo Ebony finally came!! (stainless steel spike point). Its like Christmas has come early for me Unfortunately I have already shaved so won't be able to test it until tomorrow or the day after (passes thumb test).

I've attached a pic and the blade seems straight apart from a slight rise before the point.

Since I know that 'shave ready' from Dovo does not mean shave ready I am wondering whether I should give it a few strokes on the Norton 8K? I know I need to tape the spine since its gold but won't this screw up the bevel?

Where did you get the razor? If you purchased it through Classic Shaving with the sharpening service then it should be very much shave ready.

If not then it will probably have to be honed. Now you should tape the spine when you hone it so how it effects the bevel doesn't matter so much because you have to tape the spine regardless.

Taping the spine won't "screw up the bevel" so much as it will alter it, it will still be a fine razor.

If you have confidence if your honing abilities then go for it. Tape the spine and use the marker test to see how the blade is making contact. Assuming the blade contacts the hone fine then do some light pyramids to bring it up to speed.

While there are finer hones out there you should be able to get a fine shave off the Norton 8K.

Goodluck!

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately not from classicshaving and not honed.
Hmm well I haven't failed in honing anything yet. More accurately, I haven't honed anything yet so my confidence rests on this
Luckily I know how a sharp blade should feel so I'll try shaving with it first and based on this go for the taping and magic marker test

Two thoughts:

1) The shoulder isn't gold, why would you need
to tape the spine?

2) If you do tape the spine, it's possible that you
would need to go down to the 4k to get the edge
even and sharp.

- Scott

You will likely need to put the bevel on it. If you are using an 8K you will be honing until the next ice age. Unless you've already got the hones, send it out for honing.

Taping the spine WILL effect the bevel. It will put a double bevel on the edge (not a bad thing, more comfy shave that way). Do not tape it while using the norton 4k/8k. Only if you go to a barber hone and then chrome-ox or paste. Then remove the tape before stropping on the leather. I'm not sure if you should do 4k without tape, then maybe 8k with the tape if that's the only hone you have. I would ask Jockeys or the other experienced hone dudes out there. I'm still fairly new to honing so...

My Ebony Spike Point is at my house... but i'm still not
4 more days till i'm home. Goodluck with the honing!!!!

My factory-fresh Dovo needed a fair bit of work on the Norton 4K then 8K. If you tape the spine this will probably mean you need to do much less honing - instead of having to grind away at the whole bevel, you will be creating a new, thin second bevel just at the blade edge.

Also you are right, tape will avoid scratching the gold on the back of the spine as you turn the blade over for each stroke. This can be avoided without tape if you are careful, but when you are new to honing that's easier said than done.

Try shaving with it before you do anything. That way you'll know if you have improved it or made it worse!

Wow, lots of new replies! I didn't check this thread for a while. Great info guys. I still haven't shaved with it yet but only a few hours to go until I do; so will update you

From what's been said I'll definitely be taping the spine and almost definitely going down to 4k to do a few pyramids if its not sharp enough.

Originally Posted by cessnabird

Taping the spine WILL effect the bevel. It will put a double bevel on the edge (not a bad thing, more comfy shave that way). Do not tape it while using the norton 4k/8k. Only if you go to a barber hone and then chrome-ox or paste. Then remove the tape before stropping on the leather. I'm not sure if you should do 4k without tape, then maybe 8k with the tape if that's the only hone you have. I would ask Jockeys or the other experienced hone dudes out there. I'm still fairly new to honing so...

If you use one layer of tape it will not put a double bevel on it. You need multiple layers of tape to do that. I also wouldn't be redoing the bevel unless it is seriously messed up. Lastly, if it is typical of most new razors the 8K will be fine. Just do about 40 strokes and test. Unless you got a real stinkeroo I would bet maybe 100 strokes max is all you will need on the 8K.