Thread: First straight razor shave

Well, my Christmas presents finally came in.

Dovo Light Horn razor
Rooney Silvertip brush.
Assorted TOBS soap, pre shave gel and cream
3" strop, linen and leather etc...

Took the razor to the only place I know that hones in my area, the guy took it out and looked it over and dropped a hair on it and said it didn't need honing, just strop it. Did that, not sure how effective it was.

Hot toweled, used the pre shave gel, hot toweled again, whipped up some cream and gave it a shot. No nick, no cuts, but also no shave. Could hear the blade hitting the whiskers, but wasn't cutting them off. Relathered, tried different angles with the blade, no change. Not sure what I was doing wrong or if the guy who said it didn't need to be honed was in need of a rocking chair.

It takes the hair off the back of my hand after stropping, but them ain't whiskers.

We'll give it another shot tomorrow. At least I got a real close shave with my fusion using the gel and cream. Gotta look at the bright side :-)

Where did you get the razor? Some places sell the blade unhoned, and some hone the razor for you. Not sure who the guy was and no offense, but if all he did was drop a hair and hand it back...don't let him touch your razor again; he obviously from that statement doesn't know how to properly test a razor edge, or know much about them b/c if he did he would know that the HHT is the most useless test there is. Some guys can pop hairs off a bevel set, and I wouldn't shave off that. Check w/ your vendor first. If it wasn't honed by them, or by someone for them, then it needs to be; if it has, then it may be technique.

Hey Caspyr,

That's a frustrating story. 'Wish it had been different. Your beard prep sounds serious, your instinct to try diff blade angles is good. Maybe its a factory edge? There are many that would be glad to help on the honing. Rather than a close brick & mortar store, the criteria should be someone who shaves w/ a str8 daily and who's honed a few hundred blades. Dovos usually do wonderfully, providing the person w/ the stones does their part. The vendor section has guys that are proven w/ the stones. There's likely a number of others. Pm me if you have trouble connecting w/ a someone that hones.

Just try the side of your face and just barely move the spine of the razor away from your face.

If that doesn't shave the side of your face it needs to be honed.

Thanks all.

I ordered a new razor from Lynn today so in a few days I'll have one I know is well done. Even if it didn't work today, I kind of enjoyed the whole routine of it so I'll need more than one anyhow right :-)

Kind of like preferring vinyl to cd's. There is a zen thing to selecting, reading the cover art, removing the vinyl, cleaning, dropping the needle etc... that I enjoy more than just hitting play on something.

gcbryan, where in the Seattle area do you get your razors honed? I'm close to your neck o' the woods, actually I'm out in the woods in your neck o' the woods....

. . .
Took the razor to the only place I know that hones in my area, the guy took it out and looked it over and dropped a hair on it and said it didn't need honing, just strop it. Did that, not sure how effective it was. . . .

Bad advice!

. . . If it was shave-ready, he should have said "shave with it".

. . . If it wasn't shave-ready, he should have honed and/or stropped it until is _was_ shave-ready.

When you stropped it, if you didn't hold the spine flat against the strop during the whole stroke, you may have dulled the edge.

Wait for Lynn's blade, see what happens . . . that's how I learned what "sharp" meant.

. Charles