Thread: Cant get my Dovo extra hollow ground as sharp as shavette blades

I have been shaving with a DOVO shavette for a while now, so my technique is pretty good, I use a good pre shave oil, and soap. Recently i bought a DOVO extra hollow ground razor off classicshaving, When i got it, it wouldn't pass the hanging hair test, so I had it professionally sharpened, same thing, wouldn't cut hair properly, so i went out and bought a norton 4/8000 stone, practiced honing an antique razor that i have, and then honed the new one. I got it sharper feeling then anyone else, then i properly stropped it, and it STILL wont cut a hanging hair, or even give a good close shave. Am i wrong to think that i can get the extra hollow ground razor as sharp as the disposable blades that go in the shavette?

I've heard on here that a straight isn't as sharp as a shavette and never will be. Remember a straight isn't meant to take everything off in one pass, that's why there's the WTG, XTG and ATG (if your skin allows it). Its about triming down the stubble on each pass. Some people say it some razors don't pass the HHT but still shave great.

Does the Shavette pass the HHT ????

That will qualify your HHT

yes about 50% of the time the shavette will pass the HHT.

Then your HHT is NOT a good judge of sharpness...

As to actual Micron size of the edge, they are going to be very very close, with proper honing and stropping, there have been quite a few threads and studies deicated to this, suffice to say it depends on a few Variables that are beyond your control to exactly which edge will end up sharper...

The SR should always feel smoother however

thats actually the problem lol the shavette is giving a much smoother shave

Ahhhh well now that is a different issue,, it very well could be the honing of the Dovo, I have to assume you have the shaving basics down if you are getting a good smooth Shavette pass..
There are subtle differences between the two types of razor but in general the SR should actually be smoother and easier to use...

I can't speak for the Honing at Classic as I have no clue who hones their razors any longer, I also don't know how well you re-honed the razor, I do know that a Norton 4/8 will deliver a nice shaving edge on a Dovo razor

You might search the term "JaNorton" there are some good solid tips and tricks about using that exact stone in that thread..

I have only been at this straight razor shaving for just under a year and have never bothered with the HHT. Miraculously I am able to get very good 3 pass shaves even off the blades I honed myself without ever having done an HHT. As good as I can get with my DE. Can you get a good 3 pass shave out of either the razor or are just hung up on the HHT results?

Bob

I can see I need to type faster. Smoothness of a shave may not have to do with how sharp an edge is as Glen has said.

I am surprised no one has said it yet. But there is a very large group that is going to say go shave with it. Doesn't matter if it passes the HHT. The goal is to get a nice shave that is comfortable. As far as honing I use a La Dressante Coticule which is around 13k grit which gets my razor very very sharp and give me a BBS shave everytime. But it doesn't pass the HHT.

My sharpest Revisor (scary sharp) passes the HHT with my girlfriend's hair 30-50% of times.
The G&F I'm actually honing passes 100% HHT before stropping, with MY hair.