Thread: New razor trouble

So I bought two more razors to give my basic Dovo some rest from its daily workout.

The first one was the Dovo half-hollow ebon-handled silver steel 5/8", which shaved just fine out of the box.

The second one I bought at my local drugstore, who does have a side business in shaving supplies, including high-quality Solingen razors. It's a beautiful unbranded razor, highly polished steel with a rosewood handle. According to the shopkeeper, it *is* german made even though it is unbranded.

So I tried to shave with it. It tugged, it scraped, it HURT. It was, in other words, horribly blunt.

Honing it got it a little better, but still not shave ready. Then I applied my diamond pastes to it. It cut a hair immediately, but it still doesn't shave right; it cuts the hairs on my cheeck and just under my jaw just fine, but it still struggles on my chin.

So, what could be wrong with this razor? And how do I get it shave ready, short of sending it off to my barber?

Mart

it is certainly not a bad idea to send it out to have professional honed.
If it's a bad made razor they can tell you for sure and you know where you are with it.

regards
Stijn

Hello, Mart:

I am not sure what to say about that second "unbranded" German razor. Or is it German at all? Perhaps one of the experts at SRP can shed light on it. Either way, having it honed professionally will help.

Regards,
Obie

Your very lucky the first one shaved out of the box. Getting a shave ready razor like that makes you a very lucky guy.

The second one is more typical and you just have to hone it. If it's a problem send it out. Without seeing it to know what the bevel looks like and the edge it's hard to advise you.

Hi Obie,

I have no reasons to doubt the shopkeeper. The shop in question does a lot of business in high end Solingen razors (forget the brand name, it's Hans <Something>), so if he says he gets it from his regular wholesaler and it's a Solingen blade, I tend to believe him.

Before sending it off, I think I am going to have a talk about this troublesome blade with him.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Your very lucky the first one shaved out of the box. Getting a shave ready razor like that makes you a very lucky guy.

I dunno. Even my first razor, DOVO's most basic and cheapest straight, shaved right out of the box.

It sure shaves a lot better after honing, but it was fine when I bought it. It's just getting a little tired doing a daily shave for almost a year.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The second one is more typical and you just have to hone it. If it's a problem send it out. Without seeing it to know what the bevel looks like and the edge it's hard to advise you.

Yah. I'll just run it over the hones and the paste one more time. If that doesn't help, I'll go and have a talk with the shopkeeper. If the blade really doesn't want to take and keep an edge, I may try to get my money back.

Otherwise, it's off to the barber with it.

Originally Posted by Mart

Hi Obie,

I have no reasons to doubt the shopkeeper. The shop in question does a lot of business in high end Solingen razors (forget the brand name, it's Hans <Something>), so if he says he gets it from his regular wholesaler and it's a Solingen blade, I tend to believe him.

Before sending it off, I think I am going to have a talk about this troublesome blade with him.

Hello, Mart:

Thanks for your note. Yes, have a chat with him. That's a good idea. Also, if you can post a photo of the razor, the experts here at SRP might be able to give you some important information about it. These gentlemen really know their stuff.

Regards,
Obie

Is it a "German Style" razor? Or an actual razor from Germany? I have a no name razor that gives me a sweet shave.

As already mentioned, razors right out of the box are generally not shave ready, unless you personally know that is professionally honed (like buying one from SRD or another like source). I was in an "Art of Shaving" store last month and the salesman was trying to sell me a TI (nice razor by the way). When I asked him who honed it he gave me blank look. He had no idea what that meant.

Originally Posted by dward

I was in an "Art of Shaving" store last month and the salesman was trying to sell me a TI (nice razor by the way). When I asked him who honed it he gave me blank look. He had no idea what that meant.

I got a chuckle out of this. I dropped by the local AOS store to try some of their shaving cream. I noticed they had a few straight razors in the display case. I can't really have a conversation with shopkeepers because I'm profoundly deaf, but I do okay with yes-no questions. I asked if he sold water stones for honing the razors. He shook his head no. I asked if there was someone he recommended his straight razor customers to send their razors to be honed. Again, he shook his head no. There was no need to continue that conversation (smile). I would imagine that straight razors are a very small part of Art of Shaving business.

And this occurred before Gillette bought out AOS.

Mart, it's possible that your new razor is made of stainless steel. I'm no honemeister, but it's my understanding that stainless steel is more challenging to hone to shave readiness, but stainless steel razors will hold an edge much longer than carbon steel. Consider sending this razor to one of the honemeisters here.
Namaste,
Morty -_-