Stick with one or rotate?
I'm about to receive my AOS Dovo back from honing, possibly later today (thanks, Lynn!). I've been using a Boker Tree Brand which I purchased in shave-ready condition and have been using since sending out the Dovo.
I'm still beginning, with just a few (maybe 12) shaves under my belt and am wondering whether to start alternating between the two razors or whether it would be better to set the Dovo aside and continue with the Boker until it is in need of honing and then switch. Both blades are the same size & shape (4/8 round, if memory serves) so it's not really a question of getting confused by the blade. I think my stropping technique is pretty good (I'm doing 25 strokes each way on linen and then on leather) and I'm having no trouble at all taking off whiskers with light pressure and leaving behind good smoothness in WTG passes.
Let the debate begin. :popcorn:
Valid concern - possibly not with the blades you describe
Wortman,
I've wondered about the same issue, having acquired/traded a some blades in pursuit of what works best. 3 nicks last wkend made me think of this again. 5 antique store finds of varying condition. 3 in good shape - clean up and hone. In testing, committed carnage on face. Maybe some of that is being rushed, but not much. To find preferences, I'd try all sizes, grinds, steels - so the variation is big. I think this does affect the learning curve for the shaving. The blades you mentioned are close enough that I doubt the differences are big enough to give much trouble. Both same size, grind, steel, point. There may be some differences in the hardness of the steel just due to tempering, but probably one doesn't feel THAT different from the other. I'd go a head and use both.
When comfortable, I'd try other sizes and grinds.