Thread: Is my Dovo sharp enough?

Unfortunately, I'm another one of those suckers that fell for the Zeepk trap. Was gifted the 7 piece set for x-mas, and like I'm sure you've all heard before, got two letter openers and a heap of other junk instead.

So, went ahead and got a Dovo Classic 6/8 from classicshaving, a Straight Razor Designs 2" Red Latigo Strop w/ Webbed Fabric, and a 4/8000 Norton stone. I was so excited when they came in that I immediately stropped up the razor and went to town on my face. Other than absent-mindedly touching the very edge to my cheek at one point (lesson learned!), I didn't suffer any other casualties, other than slight razor burn, on par with what I got from usual shaving. It wasn't the cleanest shave, but I figured I would get better with practice.

Well, I went to shave again today (two days later) and it seemed harder this time. Quite a few nicks, and more severe razor burn. I'm not sure if it's sharp enough, or if my technique is just that off. As you lovely folk weren't in the bathroom with me, you'd be hard pressed to answer that second part though (no doubt I do have plenty of room to improve). My hopes are that I really just am a noob and need to learn to do it right.

My question, to cover the other variable, is whether or not my razor is shave ready or if it needs a good honing. Classicshaving advertised it as "Pre-sharpened"; does anyone have experience with razors from them and whether or not this means shave-ready to you?

Question number two is: If it needs more sharpening, should I try giving the stone a shot? I've been practicing stropping and honing with my zeepks, and I've gotten them from Greek strigil to slightly better than pocketknife sharp. I'm pretty good with details and a light touch (painter by profession), but I just can't tell if I should make the jump. I'd rather not send it out to be sharpened; I'd like to be able to do this myself as I got into straight razors for the sake or self-sustainability. At the same time, I don't want to own three dull metal sticks. Anyone have similar beginning stories? How worried should I be about ruining my Dovo?

When you got the Dovo was there a small sticker on there that said
"This razor has been professionally sharpened"

Or was the factory seal still in place????

There was a clear sticker that said that on the blade when it arrived, and the seal of the box had been broken, so it definitely was pre-sharpened by someone. I'm just not sure if "pre-sharpened" is the same as getting a blade that is "shave-ready".

Here are my thoughts, and I'm more of a newbie than anyone, so for what it's worth: While stropping, you may have rolled the edge which is very common in beginners. Also, you may have pressed too hard while shaving. Make sure that you let the razor glide across your face, and don't press it into your skin. Lastly, make sure that you are constantly keeping the razor at a 30 degree angle to your face. That may explain the dificulty. Hope this helps!

That razor is sharp enough. I bought the Best Quality 6/8 from SRD 3 months ago and I haven't even thought about honing it yet. Lynn Abrams hones those razors and you're not gonna do a better job than him out of the gate.

Have you stropped the razor since the last shave? If you have, I'd check your technique on that. Keep in mind that even a perfectly honed razor still needs to be stropped and used correctly when you shave. If it's between a razor honed by Lynn being sharp enough or your technique being off on your 2nd shave, the answer is your technique is off.

Give it a good stropping and focus on getting your shaving technique right. Obviously if the first shave went pretty well, you've got it in you to do it, it's just a matter of being consistent. Focus on good shaving and stropping technique for now, and you can worry about honing in a few months.

Good luck and welcome to SRP!

Originally Posted by BingoBango

That razor is sharp enough. I bought the Best Quality 6/8 from SRD 3 months ago and I haven't even thought about honing it yet. Lynn Abrams hones those razors and you're not gonna do a better job than him out of the gate.

Have you stropped the razor since the last shave? If you have, I'd check your technique on that. Keep in mind that even a perfectly honed razor still needs to be stropped and used correctly when you shave. If it's between a razor honed by Lynn being sharp enough or your technique being off on your 2nd shave, the answer is your technique is off.

Give it a good stropping and focus on getting your shaving technique right. Obviously if the first shave went pretty well, you've got it in you to do it, it's just a matter of being consistent. Focus on good shaving and stropping technique for now, and you can worry about honing in a few months.

Good luck and welcome to SRP!

Paul,

I think the razor came from Classic Shaving. The strop came from SRD. If the clear Dovo factory sticker was still on the razor when it was received, I don't think it was professionally honed by anybody. If that's the case, then the razor needs to be sent out to somebody to be professionally honed to make it "shave ready."

If it had the clear sticker on the blade, I would agree that it had not been sharpened. I have quite a collection of those stickers which are removed when honing the razor. When done, it only gets a coat of oil and wrapped back up.

Lynn

Given that your blade seems to be appropriately honed, all evidence seems to be pointing to your stropping technique. A poorly stropped blade may lead to an improper shaving technique. Your shaving technique is compensating for a poorly stropped blade. Cause and effect.


On the stropping issue. Keep it taunt and do not apply too much pressure. You should let the strop do the work, it is not a forceful job really. If you physically feel like you are applying pressure on the strop, back off a bit. It should be a very smooth operation to avoid curling the edge.

The difference between a excellent VS a poor stropping job can be dramatic. If you are not easily cutting your wiskers, you may have the tendance to work too hard while shaving, thereby applying too much pressure while shaving. The result will be a post shave condition as you are describing. If the razor does not feel good on your face, something is wrong and you should stop and go back to the strop.

EDIT: Ok, forget everything I said. Lynn just posted saying that the blade was likely not sharpened. Blade shapening supersedes my point.

Originally Posted by jhenry

Paul,

I think the razor came from Classic Shaving. The strop came from SRD. If the clear Dovo factory sticker was still on the razor when it was received, I don't think it was professionally honed by anybody. If that's the case, then the razor needs to be sent out to somebody to be professionally honed to make it "shave ready."

Oh Wow! My Bad!

I must have read that wrong - I thought it said the razor was from SRD. Looks like Lynn came down to set me straight...

Sorry existart.

Now I feel like a dork. Went on the CS website and found one answer:

As a customer service, the razors in our Dovo inventory labeled "PRESHARPENED" have been additionally honed in the USA by a ClassicShaving Sharpening Expert before being returned to our inventory. The razors without this description have been sharpened by DOVO in Germany and have not recieved additional sharpening.

I did find the sticker, and it was the DOVO factory one warning not to touch the edge. However, I bought it presharpened so it was either honed with it on or replaced afterward.

I will most definitely take notice of my shaving and stropping technique and get back to you when I get to take another go at it. I have a feeling I might have been too aggressive with my shave; my second beard was more of a short stubble and I might have been too gung ho about getting it close (I tend to shave better when the hair is grown out a tad more). I'll keep practicing the stropping too, I've been obsessively cautious about rolling the edge but there might be something I'm doing wrong that I haven't noticed yet.

The good news is, I can't wait to shave again, I really want to get this right!