Thread: FINALLY

Finally got my razor in the mail today i ordered from the invisible edge. Its a solingen dovo "classic" full hollow ground made specially for the invisible edge company. Anyways it was a good first shave. It came "shave ready" and after reading a few posts about people receiving dovos from AOS that weren't shave ready i was worried mine might have simmilar problems. Nonetheless, my shave felt good, but i was worried when the razor passed the HHT once but on the second try it didn't maybe i'm doing something wrong, but i was hoping someone who's either ordered a razor from this company or had one sharpened by them could weigh in here. since this is my first razor i really don't have the best idea what true "shave ready" is.

Welcome! Please don't attempt any more HHTs. It is very damaging to the blade and your confidence.

Save the sharpness tests for when you learn to hone. Those tests are used by experts in razor sharpness to measure progress and determine future actions. Since you have no intention of honing the razor, there is no need to determine what future honing action you need to take.

From your perspective you should concern yourself with acquiring "shave ready" blades and shaving.

Likely, some future stropping should get the blade, if held at the right angle, shaving and cutting hair again.

Big +1, Don't worry about the HHt test. You said the shave was good. That's the true test, and all that really counts.

+1 to not bothering with the HHT. There's only one true test to see if the razor is sharp and that is to shave with it. With the HHT, even some microscopic soap residue could keep the hair from cutting in half. Come to think of it, I think I remember Lynn replying to a threat where someone said they just recieved a brand new shave ready razor that wouldn't pass the HHT. I think he said that it's most likely the razor had been wiped down with camellia oil and this alone will keep it from passing a HHT.

I'm in agreement that a stropping will most likely do the trick. It sounds like you're new to straights so make sure you watch some videos in the Wiki on stropping. The golden rule of stropping is tight & light. Meaning, keep the strop pulled taught but use only light pressure on the razor when stropping. Speaking from experience, it's easy to roll the edge of your razor. By doing the opposite, letting the strop sag and/or using too much pressure, it's almost a sure thing you will roll the edge of the blade. By any means, don't let me get you nervous. We just want to see you have great success in your first stropping because there's nothing better than being armed with knowledge.

Good luck and keep us posted. We always like to hear success stories.

Originally Posted by bkk

It came "shave ready" and after reading a few posts about people receiving dovos from AOS that weren't shave ready i was worried mine might have simmilar problems.

Invisible edge is a very reputable company, and if they say its shave ready, you should trust them that it is.

Just understand that getting a nice shave from a straight takes more than a sharp razor, but solid technique as well. You can give a beginner the nicest, sharpest razor known to man and he still will get a shave that is probably worse than a mach 3. If this man sticks with it and develops his technique, he can take a less than perfectly sharp razor and get a shave so close and comfortable that the shave will not only be better than a mach 3, but last twice as long.

In other words, your razor is fine, it is your technique that is the issue. Don't fret however, just read the wiki and focus as much as you can on developing your technique. Within the first dozen shave you should be getting shaves so eye opening you will wonder why everyone else doesn't use a straight.

wow, you guys are great. no jerks here! you guys are always helpful and understanding especially to noobs like me. I'm just paranoid about it, because i'd hate to ruin or not enjoy my first SR, it'd be like crashing my first truck. Anyways, would you guys also reccommend that when it comes time and the razor needs honing i send it to a professional the first time just to see what level of sharpness i need to get it to? or should i dive in and do it myself? i'm pretty good at sharpening hunting and skinning knives, but clearly these are two different things.

They are two completely different things. My full recommendation would be to get a second razor and learn how to hone a little on the one you have.

Just make sure you read up a bit on how to do it.

People with knife sharpening skills have two likely directions when honing a straight razor. The "I already know it all" direction leading to failure and the "but I'm open to learning a new art", leading to success.

Choose wisely and modestly.

trust me i am open to learning and will choose wisely!! i spent a full month researching SR's before i bought one, and have done hours of reading on honing and stropping and i will do many hours more before i give it a shot.
Thanks for the advise also, that was gonna be my next question. I REALLY wanna get another razor already, but i want something different to mix it up and to compare my dovo against. what would you guys reccomend? i was looking at a wapi because its a wedge and i've heard it gives a totally different feel, but idk. I also like TI's alot, and was looking at a stainless blade, or does that not make a difference?

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

They are two completely different things. My full recommendation would be to get a second razor and learn how to hone a little on the one you have.

Just make sure you read up a bit on how to do it.

People with knife sharpening skills have two likely directions when honing a straight razor. The "I already know it all" direction leading to failure and the "but I'm open to learning a new art", leading to success.

Choose wisely and modestly.

I'd like to ditto this advise. Honing is different than shaving, and having a shave ready razor to compare your own work to is invaluable.

It should take a few months before you need to worry about honing. When it come time, get a new razor that is shave ready so that when 1) you can compare your own work and b) if you bung up your razor somehow, you still have a shave ready razor.

ok, i guess i could start a new thread about this but what would you guys recommend for a rookie like me who wants something different but a good quality, affordable, shave ready razor to compare his work to? For example, TI's, another dovo, a wapi, boker, sheffield??? and also what are your opinions on wedges, or half hollows? do they shave better, or worse? I'm just interested what some of you guys would get in my situation