Thread: Is this really shave ready?

Gents,

I had my fifth shave today and only had two nicks and slice on the usual trouble spot . Shooting for the BBS but I missed - though got close. My 4th shave was BBS but at a huge price; bloody mess followed by three days of sore face, raw bumps, burning rash.

I am not sure this razor is as sharp as it is supposed to be - DOVO Best Q in a kit from Vintage - Lynn honed.

I prep fine; shower, heavy soap on the beard, hot water, hot water on beard prep, lather - let sit, I strop; 20 on linen, 30 on leather, re-lather.

First pass, WTG, all fine until chin and upper lip. re-lather 1st pass area, 10 strops on leather, WTG on chin and upper lip. Razor snags and pulls the hair on chin and upper lip. No crunchy toast sound, no smooth slices of the beard hair. I have to restrop multiple times after every other pass.

Second Pass - XTG, a repeat; great on the cheeks, neck, under chin, jowels. But chin area stops the blade. I am lowering the angle almost flat.

I do not dobt Lynn's ability at all, but perhaps I need to hone it again? I have a surgical black wet stone inexcellent shape that I use for my high carbon broad heads - water only.

Should I double tape the spine and spend some time putting blade to hone?

Getting a little bummed out so any advice would be great.

Many thanks,

Alpsman

I recommend more stropping preshave - strop until your arm gets tired or at least 60 times. Even if you dont need to it cannot hurt and is good practice anyway.

Then keep practicing your shaving. Take it slow - it takes many shaves for most people before they start getting the results you are expecting so soon. Just enjoy practicing with the razor and finding the right cutting angles, direction with beard growth, pressure, speed, stroke length, etc. And you can get a decent shave in one pass. Lynn has good advice to just shave your cheeks at first and finish with your previous shave method (assuming you had one?). Move on to your chin, neck, etc as your technique improves.

I think you should just keep practicing!

Please don't hone it . At first let Lynn know about it and see what he will tell you .Contact with email etc.

if you start to hone you will do more damage then fix problem. As i can see you want to use arkansas stone on blade.
hope this helps.

Two words of advice: SLOW DOWN!! Even with your fifth shave I doubt you have developed your technique (pressure and angles) sufficiently to be getting your BBS without some major issues. This is not a race. Technique is far more important than achieving your BSS. Develop your skills first, shaving and stropping. 20 laps on the fabric and 50 laps on the leather (I do 60 laps on leather). Again, don't try to strop fast like you see in the movies. Technique is far important than speed. It won't take long before you achieve your BBS with little effort.

P.S. Lynn honed all 5 razors I use. And they remain shave ready today (4 months to 9 months).

Originally Posted by Alpsman

Gents,

I had my fifth shave today and only had two nicks and slice on the usual trouble spot . Shooting for the BBS but I missed - though got close. My 4th shave was BBS but at a huge price; bloody mess followed by three days of sore face, raw bumps, burning rash.

I am not sure this razor is as sharp as it is supposed to be - DOVO Best Q in a kit from Vintage - Lynn honed.

I prep fine; shower, heavy soap on the beard, hot water, hot water on beard prep, lather - let sit, I strop; 20 on linen, 30 on leather, re-lather.

First pass, WTG, all fine until chin and upper lip.

Yes , and what makes you think the razor is not shave-ready . The upper lip and chin are the hardest areas to learn to shave , you shouldn't even be shaving them yet . You should not be trying for BBS . You're trying to run before you learn to walk . I think your razor is fine . BTW I strop 30 (each side) on the linen , and 60 or more on the leather .

Originally Posted by Alpsman

Gents,

I had my fifth shave today and only had two nicks and slice on the usual trouble spot . Shooting for the BBS but I missed - though got close. My 4th shave was BBS but at a huge price; bloody mess followed by three days of sore face, raw bumps, burning rash.

It's no good messing up your face like that. As others have said, you need to temper your enthusiasm a bit.
Just do your intended passes, and aim for a comfortable, irritation-free shave. Don't shave over and over again on the same spot. Accept that it won't be completely close in the beginning. Closeness improves with experience, not with removing the top layer of your skin.

I am not sure this razor is as sharp as it is supposed to be - DOVO Best Q in a kit from Vintage - Lynn honed.

Lynn's edges really are beyond doubt. He's a honemeister. There's as much chance of him sending out a not shaveready blade than you have the chance of buying an unbaked bread at the bakery.

I prep fine; shower, heavy soap on the beard, hot water, hot water on beard prep, lather - let sit, I strop; 20 on linen, 30 on leather, re-lather.

Sounds good.

First pass, WTG, all fine until chin and upper lip. re-lather 1st pass area, 10 strops on leather, WTG on chin and upper lip. Razor snags and pulls the hair on chin and upper lip. No crunchy toast sound, no smooth slices of the beard hair. I have to restrop multiple times after every other pass.

Second Pass - XTG, a repeat; great on the cheeks, neck, under chin, jowels. But chin area stops the blade. I am lowering the angle almost flat.

If the razor shaves well on the easy areas, your problems are technique related. It just takes more practice and exploration what angles and directions work best for you.

I do not dobt Lynn's ability at all, but perhaps I need to hone it again? I have a surgical black wet stone inexcellent shape that I use for my high carbon broad heads - water only.

Honing sounds easy, but most honing rookies stumble in the beginning. It's advisable to not take the honing route before you can shave with some confidence. If it does not work out well, no one will be able to tell if the flaw is in your edge or in your shaving technique.

Should I double tape the spine and spend some time putting blade to hone?

Getting a little bummed out so any advice would be great.

Many thanks,

Alpsman

I think the best advice for you is to be patient. As long as you can shave your cheeks close without problems, the razor is ok. If not, you might want to have the blade checked by a regular straight shaver that lives in your area. Your frequent stropping suggests that you are very focused on the keenness of the razor. That might distract you from shaving technique. Stropping mid-shave, could possibly add some comfort to an ATG pass (most guys generally don't bother), but it sure is not required and it won't solve any major shaving problems either.

Actually it sounds as if you are doing well, except for not knowing when to call it good enough, for the time being.

Best regards and welcome to SRP,

Bart.

Thanks Gents,

It has been 15 years since I have shaved with a straight razor, so some of these things are not really new. I know for instance that my chin was the biggest problem (I had a mustache then- but now I don't), now I have the upper lip to deal with.

That said, reading this tremendous forum and being a SRP member has shown me that even 15 years ago I was doing things wrong.

So, I will slow down (thanks dward . . .again!), and use more passes on the strop. I will not touch the hone. I will focus more on technique. I will not be obsessive in achieving a BBS, I will not be obsessive in achieving a BBS, I will not be obsessive in achieving a BBS, I will not be obsessive in achieving a BBS, I will not be obsessive in achieving a BBS, I will not be obsessive in achieving a BBS, I will not be obsessive in achieving a BBS, Sorry, couldn't resist. I will not shave over and over again on the same spot.

More patient . . . and pay more attention to the stropping technique . . . and shaving technique, . . . and get it in my head that it is NOT A RACE!
Easy to remember . . . .
Thanks so much again all!

Gratefully,

The Alpsman

Hey Alpsman, it sounds like you're on the right
track. Enjoy those shaves!

- Scott

I think most of us tore our faces up at least once , trying to get BBS before we really had the skill to do it right . Keep at it , and soon enough you learn . BTW I don't worry about BBS . A close , and comfortable shave is what I prefer .

Originally Posted by dave5225

BTW I don't worry about BBS . A close , and comfortable shave is what I prefer .

Amen. Initally I was overly concerned with the closest shave possible, and as a result often had a raw face. I now settle for still a close shave, but comfortable. I actually find a single WTG pass is sufficient for everyday shaving. It's all about comfort.