New Razor, first shave, I'm sure something's wrong...

I bought a brand new Dovo stainless razor a couple of days ago. The shop keeper told me that I shouldn't have to hone it as it's shave ready (Is this my first mistake?). I was also informed that I shouldn't have to strop that razor for at least a month so I opted not to get a strop (I guess this is the second mistake?).

I've had a couple of attempts at shaving with and one full shave, after which I got a serious case of razor burn. I've tried to keep the blade close to my face and didn't exceed the 30 degree angle (well as fas as I'm aware anyway but I'm sure that's not truly the case).

The razor also pulls like hell, now I did do the prep work as best as I could and tried a couple times on the side of my face but it still pulls.

My conclusions are:

1. The razor is not honed properly.
2. I really should strop it before I shave.
3. I'm seriously bad at using a straight blade (which I doubt as I've played with very sharp knives before and shaved a few bits here and there - not beard though).

Any advice would be much appreciated.

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Originally Posted by Eben

I bought a brand new Dovo stainless razor a couple of days ago. The shop keeper told me that I shouldn't have to hone it as it's shave ready (Is this my first mistake?). I was also informed that I shouldn't have to strop that razor for at least a month so I opted not to get a strop (I guess this is the second mistake?).

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Indeed! IMO you are right on both counts. If the razor came with a factory edge, it could very well be less shave ready than desired.
There are many coming on here telling the same story, more or less, and a lot of the time the tools were not up to snuff.
Get it professionally honed, and get a strop. You'll need both to get a good shave eventually.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Eben

My conclusions are:

1. The razor is not honed properly.
2. I really should strop it before I shave.
3. I'm seriously bad at using a straight blade (which I doubt as I've played with very sharp knives before and shaved a few bits here and there - not beard though).

Any advice would be much appreciated.

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Yes, your conclusions are spot on I'd say.
The 2 first points are correct. (again, if the edge was as it left the factory)
Re. number 3, this way of shaving requires a set of acquired skills, but you'll get there soon enough, just remedy the first two, and get to practice the shaving:)

Probably more #3 than anything else, based on my own experience moving to straight razors. It is a new skill set, and thinking you can get a decent shave the first time is, well, unrealistic. The first time I used a straight, I followed some advice given me, and just shaved my cheeks, and used my old razor to finish. Next time, I did a little more, until I was totally shaving with the straight in about a week.

In order for you to know for sure it's your technique, you need to make sure the razor is actually shave ready.

Remove that part of the equation by having it professionally honed by someone on this list:

Member Services - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

When you get it back, do nothing to it but wipe off the oil. It will not need to be stropped, so don't strop it. Just use it.

As an alternative, buy an inexpensive shave ready "classic" from Whipped Dog so you can compare shaving with it to your Dovo and see if the shopkeeper was right about it being shave ready. If you want, get the $48 "sight unseen package deal" and get a strop in addition.

Whipped Dog

Welcome to the ranks of straight shavers.

Rick

Thanks for the advice,

How ever it's a little conflicting as to sharpness of the razor. The razor was opened before I bought it, it was sitting in it's little tin case in the display cabinet.

Would I be foolish in assuming that the honing was done to an adequate level (otherwise I'll probably have to acquire some stones and do my best - I live in Auckland, NZ).

I'll get a strop and that will probably make a difference.

I'll just keep at it, but likely not daily as I don't think my face would be forgiving enough (which means I'll have to use a *gasp* cartridge razor in the off days).

I've already spent a fair chunk of change and my better half would seriously question if I bought another straight now..

Wow I qm going to disagree with you all, but if the razor was in the package brand new chances are it was not shave ready. Secondly if the guy in the store told you it was shave ready but you dont have to strop for a month, then he is completly clueless.
You need to strop the blade everytime before you shave, the only exception is if someone hones and strops the blade before sending it to you, then you get to shave once without stropping.
Please send this razor to gssixgun for honing, ask him to finish it on the escher. Get yourself a strop too, cheap one will do, you will nick it anyway so just get something between 30 and 50(srd has a great one for 49)

An aside: nicking a new strop isn't necessarily in the cards. I have two that I used when I began and nicked neither. It's just a matter of careful technique and being mindful. Much like using the razor on your face! :-)

NZ !!!!! don't send it to me :) I am on the other side of the ocean :rofl2:

Fire a Pm to Oz/Onimaru54, Grant/Baldy, or Jimbo they know their way around a hone and are also Down Unda

It ain't shave ready from Dovo, they and TI have made great strides in the sharp dept. but coming from the factory compared to coming from a Honemiester are two different levels or sharp and more importantly smooth..

Good Day hehehe and Welcome to SRP

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Eben

Thanks for the advice,

How ever it's a little conflicting as to sharpness of the razor. The razor was opened before I bought it, it was sitting in it's little tin case in the display cabinet.

Would I be foolish in assuming that the honing was done to an adequate level (otherwise I'll probably have to acquire some stones and do my best - I live in Auckland, NZ).

I'll get a strop and that will probably make a difference.

I'll just keep at it, but likely not daily as I don't think my face would be forgiving enough (which means I'll have to use a *gasp* cartridge razor in the off days).

I've already spent a fair chunk of change and my better half would seriously question if I bought another straight now..

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As it was opened and on display, there's no telling what abuse may have been done to the edge. Someone may have thought it was a neat letter opener.

Stropping is useful only to refine an already shave ready edge. If the edge has been abused, stropping will not improve the situation.

If you have a magnifier of any type, preferably a 15-20x jeweler's loupe, inspect the edge for damage such as nicks or chips. Also, hold the razor under a light with the edge up and look for reflections off the edge that would indicate dulling.

It is going to be difficult to learn how to hone without having experienced what a shave ready razor is like.

I agree that the best thing to do is to try to find a member in NZ who can help you out. If you have no luck finding anyone and you'd like to have a shave ready razor to judge your razor against, PM me and I'll send you one of my old "classics" gratis.

Rick

What kind of shop did you buy the razor from? Was it a dedicated shaving shop or a knife vendor?

If the answer is the latter, just be careful. Knife guys like the think that they can sharpen razors, and you could end up with multiple bevels on top of each other and other ugly issues. If that's the case you will almost certainly need an experienced razor honer to bring it back to life.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dps

Please send this razor to gssixgun for honing, ask him to finish it on the escher. Get yourself a strop too, cheap one will do, you will nick it anyway so just get something between 30 and 50(srd has a great one for 49)

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With all due respect to Glen, who has honed four of my razors and has done a wonderful job, why does it have to be specifically him? There are many qualified guys in Australia (or perhaps even in New Zealand), which makes more logistical sense for the OP than to ship his razor across the world.

For the OP: Best bet would be to search the classifieds for honers offering their services Down Under....

Edit: Looks like Glen beat me to it :D

I bought it from these guys: Shaver Shop It's a mostly dedicated shaver shop, they do sell a few other bits and pieces (they only had 2 straights in there which makes me a little weary as they seem to mostly deal in DE's and other sub standard razors (read electric and cartridge)).

Ideally I'd be able to find someone in Auckland to have a look at it as I'm just keen to get shaving properly, I'll try to harass a few members who's local and see where I get with that...

Hopefully one will put his hand up so I don't have to go down the stalker route...

If you're after someone in Auckland then get hold of Scott.
Send him a PM and he'll be able to help you out. Being in Auckland you may even be able to meet up with him and get some pointers as well as a honing :)

Thanks nzFuzzy, I've sent him a PM hopefully this will help me out a lot!

Hi Eben,

Don't let this discourage or throw you off. As soon as you get your razor properly honed, you can get a new start. In the meantime, make sure you read all the wikis on shaving with a straight razor. If you take it slow, things will work out fine.

It takes a certain amount of time to learn the skill of using a straight. I started eight months ago, at the age of 67. If I can do it, anyone can do it. Don't expect to get perfect shaves in the beginning. Go ahead and use your normal method of shaving to finish up. Before you know it, straight shaving will become natural to you AND I can testify that it is an exciting and wonderful way to shave.

Wishing you good luck and Happy Shaving!!!

Don't worry about me giving up, I'm very stubborn and obsessive about things, this is probably going to be the next thing I'm going to go all out on. I won't be happy until I can get a perfect, or as near to it as I can get, shave!

I've just acquired a strop so I'll strop the razor and give it another whirl, if it's still no better I'll get it honed (at which point I can only blame my lack of skill).

Thanks for your words of encouragement!!

Hello Eban,

Like you, I'm very lucky to have found SRP. If it weren't for this forum and the internet, I doubt I could have found anyone with the skills and experience to help me with straight razor shaving. Welcome to the forums.

I didn't notice where anyone had actually placed a link to some nice stropping videos. It's because of these that I've yet to nick a strop. I know I'm new, and I may be calling on the fates to strike me down, but all this really cool information has helped me to avoid mistakes I would have otherwise blundered into.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...ing-video.html

I found watching this very helpful to me.

Good luck to you.

-Mark

Hi Eban, and welcome to SRP.
I can only agree with the previous posters - get your razor honed properly and feel the difference.
My experience with the vendor you mention (in Brisbane) is such that they wouldn't know what shave ready is (meaning no disrespect).
The guy in my local shop has only had one straight shave and that was for his high school formal, done by a barber.
I spent some time talking with him and he was really clueless when it came to straight shaving, unfortunately.
It's just a training thing with this outlet, I think.
Read the stickies here, ask questions, look at the videos, practice and, most of all, hang on and enjoy the ride.
It gets better every time.
Geoff

So I've just had another shave after I stropped the razor, it seems to be a little better but only a little. I also spent a bit more time on the prep work and went the steamed towel route which may explain the difference.

I'm still waiting to hear back from a local member to see if he'd be kind enough to check my razor out and give it a finishing hone or something.

Definitely looking forward to getting a comfortable shave in the near future...

Hope it all works out.
Stubborn and obsessive seems to be a good thing with straights.
Scott did one of my razors for me and it shaved fine (not that I have anything like the US honemeisters to compare with)
My first razor was sharpened by the House of Knives (the Petone store sent it to their guy in Akld) probably not as good as Scott but another option and had no problem learning to shave with that edge.
Let me know how you get on. :)

I found someone on TradeMe who will hone it for $20, hopefully they'll let me drop by and watch...

Still waiting on Scott to get back to me (does he sell razors on TradeMe?)

Just a quick update...

I've dropped my razor off with a guy who'll hone it for me, he confirmed that the razor is not sharp enough. In the mean time I'll just play the waiting game and get shaving once it's honed...

Thanks to everybody for the great advice.

Got my razor back after Gentlemanzblade honed it for me, I'll have another try in the morning and report back. He did confirm that my razor was in fact not shave ready so that's good news for me in some way I guess. From here on out I can only blame my technique.

Just for the record if there's any Kiwi's reading this he also sells razors etc, not to mention that he actually knows what he's talking about unlike the only other razor shop I've visited. I know where I'll be getting my next razor from.

Being stubborn and obsessive is why I'm still here! its the two most important parts of learning straight shaving! but always take your time and technique is EVERYTHING in straight shaving. I've been going 18 months now and still consider myself a beginner, maybe intermediate at best, and I've read wiki's and articles on the web a million times over and I'm going to read them a million more. Keep looking at the wikis throughout the learning process so that it sticks in your head, and admit when somethings wrong, being stubborns good but it can sometimes blind you to yourself being at fault which is how I ended up being frustrated with either stropping technique or honing or something else that I was missing in my technique so many times.

but its fun, so I wouldn't change it for anythin'

regards Alex

Good luck for that shave after the rehone Eben! No shame in taking it slow the first few.

Anyway hope your DOVO performs now, would have offered to hone it for you had I seen the thread earlier.

EF

I guess I'm only just had my first shave now that the razor is sharp. I didn't strop it as I assumed it was most likely done after honing and just gave it a bit of a wash and had at it.

It's like night and day. It still pulls a bit but I suspect that's either because I have tough beard (which I didn't think was the case but it might be) or my technique.

I have to say my skin is sensitive at the moment so I might skip and day and suffer a heavy beard for a day. I did get much closer at some points than I ever have with any other means of shaving so that's a good start. I also did have to clean up with a cartridge razor afterwards but it didn't take much off since the shave was closer than it could get already.

Now that I know I've got the right setup I can just work on improving my skill. I did nick myself a few times but no worse that I'd do with a cartridge razor when I'm rushing things. I'll give the razor a good stropping and try again in a few days.

On a side note, when I was asking the older guys in the office about getting a straight razor honed people's interest piqued, seems a lot of people are rather fascinated by the art of straight razor shaving. The looks on their faces when I told them I've already shaved with it a few times is priceless, they seem to think that you'll cut your face off or something. Of course I don't correct them on the danger perception, it's entertaining...