Thread: Just a newbie question on sharpness

So hello everyone, I'm new to this, and new to the SRP. But I have a question. I see that people have the same problems with sharpness, but since I don't actually know what constitutes "sharp" (I know that sounds stupid lol) I have a question.

I started shaving with the DOVO shavette. Figured if I did not like it, I wasn't out as much money. So after a few good nicks, I got the hang of it enough that I decided to get a new razor. I got a presharpened dovo 6/8 classic from classic shaving.com. I can shave with it, but it doesn't seem as sharp as the dovo throwout blades. It MAY have been as sharp when I got it, but I don't remember.

Now my question is - should an actual straight razor be as sharp or sharper (if I have done stropping correctly, which I probably have not) than a disposable single edge blade? I didn't notice that the "real" straight edge wasn't as sharp, until I used the shavette the other day.

Any help would be great.

Glenn

I've not researched the microscopic images of blade edges that can be found, but i think it should be at least as sharp. I know the blade manufacturers have very high tech machinery at their disposal, but they mass produce. A good honer is highly skilled & can adapt to get each edge honed to incredible standard of sharpness.
Maybe the edge was a little below perfect, or it may be stropping that's at fault. It takes a while to perfect, so concentrate on technique. Sorry if that sounds a little patronising. It really isn't meant to!
Have you researched in the Wiki?

I have not really went through the wiki. I was just looking to know, should my dovo straight razor, when sharpened correctly, be just as sharp as that disposible blade? If so, then I am definately dulling the blade, and that's fine too. just need to work on it. The blade does shave, and is sharp, but it just doesnt cut through the stubble with the same aggresiveness.

No worries I don't feel like your being patronizing. I know less than most on the subject, and am willing to learn whatever anyone has to teach. Thank you, I'm off to read some Wiki.

I sort of had the same experience...
I started with a shavette and went to a presharpened real straight (I got it from Don so I'm pretty sure it was pretty sharp).. It really felt as if it was less sharp. I dont know why but maybe it is because the edge of a real straight is smoother and therefore feels less agressive. Or maybe because the edge is shorter so the pressure on the DE blade is higher than the pressure on the real straight.

But the shaves where pretty smooth anyway... and that is what counts in the end..

Maarten

Originally Posted by mlangstr

I sort of had the same experience...
I started with a shavette and went to a presharpened real straight (I got it from Don so I'm pretty sure it was pretty sharp).. It really felt as if it was less sharp. I dont know why but maybe it is because the edge of a real straight is smoother and therefore feels less agressive. Or maybe because the edge is shorter so the pressure on the DE blade is higher than the pressure on the real straight.

But the shaves where pretty smooth anyway... and that is what counts in the end..

Maarten

Same here

I think the feeling of the straight being less sharp is because it is so much smoother. I know i wouldnt trade my straight for my shavette...

although i also noticed after a good stropping the razor seems better than after a not so good stropping.

I am new so as stropping gets better my razor seems better

Have a look here, & watch the video's. Razor stropping - Straight Razor Place Wiki If you can correct it soon enough, you should be able to resolve it with proper stropping technique. If not, you'll probably have to get it re-honed.
mlangstr & erictski have a valid point about the smoothness. DE blades can be harsh compared to a straight, depending on the steel of the straight.

I had this same problem with my Dovos and ended up learning to properly hone them with my stone. Ever since then my shaves are increadible. I went from having to shave daily making 4 passes to actually being able to shave every other and only needing to make two passes.

There's just so many aspects to using a straight. I often compare shaving with a straight to driving my wife's Audi: if anything is loose or low the car drives like crap and if everything is "perfect" the car drives like a dream.

The same is true when using the straight! If your face is not prepped properly, your soap's not perfect, your technique not just right, and your blade not it's sharpest..... you will not have your best shave! What makes the learning curve even more difficult is that we are all different.

Just be patient, ask tons of questions, and don't give up! You'll get it soon enough!

I got my first straight shave ready from Sham. It was incredibly sharp. Then it got dull quickly and shaves got harder. I immediately attributed it to my stropping technique, which was lacking. I ordered a new strop from kenrup (the cheapest they have), re-stropped the razor on both sides (30 on the rough side and 100 on the smooth), and shaved with it again this morning. It's sharp again and I got a great shave.

If you have a month's worth of patience (which is where I am now) to figure out how to strop properly, take your time, be careful, and execute properly, you'll see results in no time.

New disposables straight blades are sharper then the fixed straights blades. The fixed straights can get sharp, but not to the point of disposables straight blades. I have both, a disposable straight blade and a Dovo Tortoise straight and I use them both regularly.

To me, a very sharp Dovo Tortoise feels as sharp as a super stainless steel disposable blade on its second or third shave. Performance wise, a very sharp Dovo Tortoise shaves just a close and is more forgiving, but it does required good technique to achieve BBS results.

The disposable super stainless steel blades lasts for about six shaves for me. The biggest difference I had to learn in using both straights is that the disposable super stainless blade required a lot of finesse and a light touch while the Dovo Tortoise required a lot of technique and it would forgive a "heavier" touch.

I enjoy having both and I plan on adding another Dovo to mix.

Pabster