Are new dovo's shave ready?

Hello,
I am new to this and have just purchased a new dovo 5/8 silver steel ebony straight razor.
The razor has not yet arrived but after reading a lot of the wikis and posts on this site I am concerned it will no be shave ready (starting to wish I had purchased from this site).
Is this the case, if so what will need to be done to get it shave ready?
If it needs honing should it be taped, is that what they do when setting the bevel in the factory?
Hopefully someone can help me out here, what an awesome site. For anyone looking to make their first purchase, do this site in detail first.

Looking forward to getting into real shaving!

Cheers

welcome to srp

out of the factory they rarely are.
if it's not you should have somebody with hones and the skill to use them do it.
no point of taping it, they come with a spine wear from the factory already.

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Originally Posted by gugi

welcome to srp

out of the factory they rarely are.
if it's not you should have somebody with hones and the skill to use them do it.
no point of taping it, they come with a spine wear from the factory already.

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This pretty much somes it up!

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Originally Posted by nun2sharp

This pretty much somes it up!

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I agree...Wholeheartedly. Don't attempt to hone the razor yourself. Find a person who has experience/skills with honing to make your new Dovo shave ready.

You won't be disappointed.

Thanks everyone I will track someone down and get the job done properly.
I think I saw someone in aus on the classifieds on this site.
Cheers

Imagine if you went to buy a new car and after driving 1 mile all the tires blew out and you were told oh you need a new set of tires at your expense.

That's how I feel about dull razors being sold new. We shouldn't tolerate it. Back in the day they didn't.

Everyone else is right you will need to have it honed.

Where did you buy the razor from? If you bought it from Straight Razor Designs or Vintage Blades LLC, then the blade is already shave ready.

In AU get hold of Onimaru55/Oz or Baldy/Grant by pm they both can hone and are both downunder...

Welcome to SRP :D

Thanks, I purchased the razor on ebay (i now know this is not the best idea). So I am thinking it will not be shave ready. I have already been in touch with Onimaru thanks for the advice.
Cheers

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Originally Posted by Sweeney79

Thanks, I purchased the razor on ebay (i now know this is not the best idea). So I am thinking it will not be shave ready. I have already been in touch with Onimaru thanks for the advice.
Cheers

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It's perfectly fine to purchase straight razors on eBay. Just don't expect them to be shave ready.

And please keep me posted on your experience with the blade, i'm going to get the same one....

No worries I will let you know how I go.

Welcome to the SRP! I would have to say that many razors sold as new are dull as a butter knife. My first straight had a minimal bevel and could not be used. I sent mine to Utopian and he did a great job. I would caution about buying off of ebay. Many of the sellers do know what shave ready is. I would send it off to be honed. I would suggest having the spine taped during honing as this minimizes the wear on the spine. I bought a Dovo special as my second razor and it was not shave ready either. I know the frustration. Good luck .

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Originally Posted by Sweeney79

Hello,
I am new to this and have just purchased a new dovo 5/8 silver steel ebony straight razor.
The razor has not yet arrived but after reading a lot of the wikis and posts on this site I am concerned it will no be shave ready (starting to wish I had purchased from this site).
Is this the case, if so what will need to be done to get it shave ready?
If it needs honing should it be taped, is that what they do when setting the bevel in the factory?
Hopefully someone can help me out here, what an awesome site. For anyone looking to make their first purchase, do this site in detail first.

Looking forward to getting into real shaving!

Cheers

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The real answer might be that it depends who you ordered it from. Some of us, when we're starting out, are so ignorant (I was) we don't even know when we've done something RIGHT.

I ordered a dovo from a merchant and then regretted it because I thought it wasn't hand-honed. But I went back to the site and found their policy statement and sure enough, they hand-honed their razors before shipping them to the buyer. One site lists the same razors as either "factory honed" or "professionally honed."

So no, it's not shave ready from the factory. But if you ordered it from a vendor who includes a honing with the price, you might still be okay. If the vendor is a mass-market source like Knifecenter.com or the like, it's just the factory edge I'm sure. But some of the specialty websites do hone the razors they ship.

Ask the vendor, or check their site, before you have anything done to the razor.

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Originally Posted by Diederik

And please keep me posted on your experience with the blade, i'm going to get the same one....

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The razor is great. Had to get it honed though. They are definitely not shave ready. Got it honed by onimaru55 and would definitely recommend his service, he also provided heaps of excellent advice.

End of the day though fantastic razor.

Cheers

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Originally Posted by Sweeney79

The razor is great. Had to get it honed though. They are definitely not shave ready. Got it honed by onimaru55 and would definitely recommend his service, he also provided heaps of excellent advice.

End of the day though fantastic razor.

Cheers

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Thx! To be honest, on my b-day two weeks ago my friends got me a Dovo Best quality. I had the same experience concerning the shave-abilty, i send itout to get honed to Bart of Coticule.be. Should get it back next week i think.

Still thinking of getting the silver steel one one day, once I get my shave act together you known. I'll think i'll use one to practise honing and all.

Anyway thanks for the info, i'll definitely keep it on my "I wants it!" list.

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Originally Posted by Sweeney79

The razor is great. Had to get it honed though. They are definitely not shave ready. Got it honed by onimaru55 and would definitely recommend his service, he also provided heaps of excellent advice.

End of the day though fantastic razor.

Cheers

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+10 on Os's honing (onimaru55) he does a great job and is easy to talk to and very helpful!

My Dovo Bismarck was shave-ready from the factory.

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Originally Posted by Slur

My Dovo Bismarck was shave-ready from the factory.

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may be that's the exception that proves he rule...

Ebay is alright for vintage stuff. I have bought a couple and had 2 out of 3 come shave ready. One was so bad that it went to Max for a restore. Buying new razors go with SRD, Vintage Blades or The Superior Shave. Also some great buys on SRP.

you have gotten good advice from the srp members just remember when you want a shave ready razor buy it from the classifieds or srd

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Originally Posted by Sweeney79

Hello,
I am new to this and have just purchased a new dovo 5/8 silver steel ebony straight razor.
The razor has not yet arrived but after reading a lot of the wikis and posts on this site I am concerned it will no be shave ready (starting to wish I had purchased from this site).
Is this the case, if so what will need to be done to get it shave ready?
If it needs honing should it be taped, is that what they do when setting the bevel in the factory?
Hopefully someone can help me out here, what an awesome site. For anyone looking to make their first purchase, do this site in detail first.

Looking forward to getting into real shaving!

Cheers

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This search is what ultimately led me to SRP. I purchased a new Dovo 5/8" Full Hollow Ground from The Art of Shaving at Woodfield Mall (Schaumburg, IL). Cocobolo Dark Wood Razor: Straight Razors From The Art Of Shaving

I'm new to SR shaving and totally took a leap of faith with this product. I have tried it out a few times in small areas and feel a lot of tugging and irritation. Despite the agitation of not having a comfortable shave yet, I remain excited and eager to keep on trying it after a visit with a honemeister.

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Originally Posted by iFly

This search is what ultimately led me to SRP. I purchased a new Dovo 5/8" Full Hollow Ground from The Art of Shaving....

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My understanding is that razors from TAOS, are rarely if ever shave ready. You'll want to send it to someone to be honed properly.

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Originally Posted by iFly

This search is what ultimately led me to SRP. I purchased a new Dovo 5/8" Full Hollow Ground from The Art of Shaving at Woodfield Mall (Schaumburg, IL). Cocobolo Dark Wood Razor: Straight Razors From The Art Of Shaving

I'm new to SR shaving and totally took a leap of faith with this product. I have tried it out a few times in small areas and feel a lot of tugging and irritation. Despite the agitation of not having a comfortable shave yet, I remain excited and eager to keep on trying it after a visit with a honemeister.

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Don't worry, I found exactly the same when I got my Dovo, prior to getting it honed. Since getting it honed it is 100% and a totally different shaving experience.

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Originally Posted by Sweeney79

Don't worry, I found exactly the same when I got my Dovo, prior to getting it honed. Since getting it honed it is 100% and a totally different shaving experience.

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And I concur, before honing pulling tugging and razor burn (but it still worked as a razor...) the i sent it out for honing. Still waiting for it to c....whatwasthatnoiseatthedoor? Sounded like safely packed razor falling on the ground? :angel:

(I'll get back on you about how it shaves when i used it :))
-edit- it was the newspaper, dang!

There must be loads of threads concernings this topic, but what does "shave-ready" mean ??

I have bought a couple of new razors (one Dovo, one Revisor, one Wacker). Although the shave sucked, well, technically I could shave with them. So in that sense they were "shave ready". They were of course far from ready in the sense that a newly honed razor is. In that sense they weren't shave ready.

Oh, Diederik, you'll enjoy the razor once you get it back, Bart's good at what he does !!

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Originally Posted by decraew

There must be loads of threads concernings this topic, but what does "shave-ready" mean ??

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"Shave ready" means that it's been properly honed by someone with the necessary tools and skill, so that you can get the closest and most comfortable shave that your skill level will allow.

I too was ignorant. I bought a Dovo Prima Klang from a well known online store. They do not have their razors professionally honed. Their reason for this is it voids the warranty. I had to have it honed, took it to my local guy and he had it in shape in less than 10 minutes and didn't charge me. I now hone myself and if I have a particularly tough vintage blade I take it to him. By the way I shaved with my PK last night an it was the best shave I've had yet.

Rrrrright, got it back and the shave was very different. Before honing it was more like a rasp, you the type you turn a whole cucumber into very small pieces. Now it feels more like an eraser, the hairs just go away! Smooth! So GET YOUR NEW DOVO HONED

Wickedly sharp though, i had more trouble shaving than when it was not honed (but that was definitely a crappy shave). Fist of all because it was SHARP and it was soooo smooth, no effort to remove the hairs, and secondly because it was SHARP and i cut myself 3 times.

I definitely have to learn to do this much better, that will come. It was BBS here and there, some razor burn where i had trouble with my left hand. Very comfortable btw.

Concerning the 3 cuts:
-Don't switch hands when the razor is touching the chin :w
-If your face is not flat/straight, remember your razor is STRAIGHT
-Your nose, beware of your nose!

(and decreaw: yes bart did a very nice job, its very smooth! Thx!)

I was lucky enough to get my 1st "Store Bought New" Str8 at Straight Razor Designs, it was shave ready, PTL!! I also bought a few from the SRP classifieds and they were quite good right out of the shoot, smoth shavers all. Lost of good Honsters' out there on SRP, shouldn't have a problems finding one for you down under.
By the way Sweeney79, LOVE your Avatar!!!

tinkersd of SRP!

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Originally Posted by Diederik

I definitely have to learn to do this much better, that will come. It was BBS here and there, some razor burn where i had trouble with my left hand. Very comfortable btw.

Concerning the 3 cuts:
-Don't switch hands when the razor is touching the chin :w
-If your face is not flat/straight, remember your razor is STRAIGHT
-Your nose, beware of your nose!

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Hey Diederik,
The good thing: now you know what kind of edges are possible to reach. You also know how it was honed (dilucot).
So you got all the necessary elements to learn it yourself.

Errr, you actually cut your nose ? :gaah:
Never heard of that one happening ... :D

upper lip ATG, the thingy that keeps your blowholes apart..... was small one though.....:angel:

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Originally Posted by chipvj

I too was ignorant. I bought a Dovo Prima Klang from a well known online store. They do not have their razors professionally honed. Their reason for this is it voids the warranty.

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Utter rubbish. The warranty concerns defects in manufacture and is not concerned with honing - although of course if the blade is ruined by some ham-fisted attempt (or by, say, using it to take the lid off your coffee jar) you could hardly expect Dovo to replace it!

All ours come shave-ready - customers have a right to that!