Is it Sharp?

I have recently bought 4 new razors (I know, but I'm rich), 2 TI's from The Invisible Edge, and 2 Dovos from SRD.

With the first 3 razors, 2 TI's and 1 Dovo, I simply rinsed them off and shaved, absolutely no problem. Prior to getting the Fourth Razor (Dovo) I had been reading through threads on this site where people were having problems with new expertly honed razors, not passing various "sharpness tests".

Anyway, I received the latest Dovo, thought I would see how sharp it was. Wiped off all the oil, tried the HHT, couldn't get it to cut, I even pulled the hair onto the blade by holding both ends of the hair and yes eventually it did cut, but it would have done so on a butter knife.

I tried popping hairs on my arm, absolute failure.

I then soaped up my face, minimum prep, just a wash and 1 minute of brushing. Did it shave? Absolutely, hot knife through butter.

So if you buy a razor to shave with, then that's really what you should do with it.

Just saying.

Wholeheartedly agree.

It is, however, one of the biggest variables when starting out. You can give someone a degree with which to hold the angle, tell them to make lather like whipped cream, but it's difficult to describe how something should be extremely sharp.

Well said, however!

Shaving is really what it's all about. Thats THE test.