Thread: 5 Months in and another lesson learned. Penny wise pound foolish.

Lesson 1
Pay a little more and get a better razor.

In September I went to the Art of Shaving store after reading and watching many videos on this sight to purchase a razor. I bought their low end made by Dovo with the plastic scale. About three weeks ago the scale cracked at the pivot pin and eventually broke off. So my only razor was down and out. On a whim I emailed someone named Anne at Dovo and surprisingly to me she answered in about 3 days and asked for a picture. I sent her one and the next day she sent me a return form to send in back for a repair. She said it had a two year warranty and she would take care of it for me. I decided that I didn't want a replacement and have it break in another 6 months so I took it back to the store and they graciously let me upgrade to a Thiers Issard model with a stainless steel scale. Wow, what a difference in quality. The blade is a much better quality and the scale also. I also realized now that my starter Dovo was not really shave ready and the technique that I used on the Dovo was much harder than needed. I thought that I wasn't using much pressure at all, but with the new razor I used the same technique and ended up with 5 or 6 nicks and my face lit on fire. My advice to anyone new like me out there who did not know what "shave ready" is or is trying to save a few bucks is to pay extra and stay away from the plastic scales. I was very careful with my Dovo and dryed it and oiled it after each use and it still broke. I'm not saying all Dovo's are bad, because they make many higher end models, but the TI has really changed my view of a quality razor.

Where do you hold your razor when you strop it?

Originally Posted by moerlien

Lesson 1
Pay a little more and get a better razor.

In September I went to the Art of Shaving store after reading and watching many videos on this sight to purchase a razor. I bought their low end made by Dovo with the plastic scale. About three weeks ago the scale cracked at the pivot pin and eventually broke off. So my only razor was down and out. On a whim I emailed someone named Anne at Dovo and surprisingly to me she answered in about 3 days and asked for a picture. I sent her one and the next day she sent me a return form to send in back for a repair. She said it had a two year warranty and she would take care of it for me. I decided that I didn't want a replacement and have it break in another 6 months so I took it back to the store and they graciously let me upgrade to a Thiers Issard model with a stainless steel scale. Wow, what a difference in quality. The blade is a much better quality and the scale also. I also realized now that my starter Dovo was not really shave ready and the technique that I used on the Dovo was much harder than needed. I thought that I wasn't using much pressure at all, but with the new razor I used the same technique and ended up with 5 or 6 nicks and my face lit on fire. My advice to anyone new like me out there who did not know what "shave ready" is or is trying to save a few bucks is to pay extra and stay away from the plastic scales. I was very careful with my Dovo and dryed it and oiled it after each use and it still broke. I'm not saying all Dovo's are bad, because they make many higher end models, but the TI has really changed my view of a quality razor.

I think it shows good customer service that they were willing to replace the scales. Just because it broke before doesn't mean it would break again. I have had the same razor for the same amount of time and mine is fine...

Did you get your TI from the same AOS store as you got your Dovo? I'm pretty sure that AOS does not sell their razors shave ready (aka honed and shave tested). Your TI may have been sharper than your Dovo but I don't think the Dovo should be discounted because it was sold improperly prepared. You may have had a different experience if you bought it from SRD or Whipped Dog (not that this would have kept your scales from breaking).

Of course some razors are of better quality but my cheap Dovo is still my goto razor and gives me the best shave of any of my razors.

Well I think my time on the soapbox is up :P Glad it all worked out for you in the end and you are having a good shaving experience now!

Happy shaving,
D

The only time plastic scales have broken on me was when I pinned one up to tightly but it was about 80 years old.
TI's are superb razors but you can keep stainless scales. They make razors unwieldy & off balanced for honing & stropping.

I thought about that too. I am a newbie and I probably did strop with pressure at first. It takes a bit of practice to strop well. I took time not to rush but I sure at first I put unneeded pressure on the pin. I also did not want to come across that Dovo is a bad brand, I just had a better experience with this TI. I do have to say scale does fell a bit off balance, but I just figure it is another learning experience for me to learn how to balance the new razor.@dfafs I did upgrade at the AOS store. Also I guess I did not know what shave ready was since I am a newbie, so I as long as whiskers came off I thought it was ready. So lesson 2 would be to send off the new razor to have it honed before I used it. It should have been my second step in the process . I was leery at first to send a $100 razor off to a stranger, but I am more comfortable with the vendors on this website now.

Great customer service.. Too bad about the Dovo though. I'm very happy with my dovo and maybe you just had a bad pick ... Either way it's good you got another razor.. Happy shaving

Originally Posted by moerlien

I thought about that too. I am a newbie and I probably did strop with pressure at first. It takes a bit of practice to strop well.

Lynn says that the number one reason why new guys break scales is because they are holding the scales when stropping and not the tang.

Originally Posted by moerlien

I also did not want to come across that Dovo is a bad brand, I just had a better experience with this TI.

that's how I read it.

Originally Posted by moerlien

I do have to say scale does fell a bit off balance, but I just figure it is another learning experience for me to learn how to balance the new razor.

you get guys that complain about balance with throwing knives too, but it doesn't matter. The difference between throwing a knife and a tomahawk is recognizing the balance point and adjusting. The same with a razor.

Originally Posted by moerlien

I was leery at first to send a $100 razor off to a stranger, but I am more comfortable with the vendors on this website now.

I understand that. I'm still nervous having other people even hold my razors lol.

Glad you are happy with your TI...now imagine how much better it can be if you get it honed well

The sky is big and blue! There are many discoveries ahead.

There are many ways to finish a blade and when it is done right...you will indeed have an "a ha" moment.

Originally Posted by moerlien

Lesson 1
Pay a little more and get a better razor.

In September I went to the Art of Shaving store after reading and watching many videos on this sight to purchase a razor. I bought their low end made by Dovo with the plastic scale. About three weeks ago the scale cracked at the pivot pin and eventually broke off. So my only razor was down and out. On a whim I emailed someone named Anne at Dovo and surprisingly to me she answered in about 3 days and asked for a picture. I sent her one and the next day she sent me a return form to send in back for a repair. She said it had a two year warranty and she would take care of it for me. I decided that I didn't want a replacement and have it break in another 6 months so I took it back to the store and they graciously let me upgrade to a Thiers Issard model with a stainless steel scale. Wow, what a difference in quality. The blade is a much better quality and the scale also. I also realized now that my starter Dovo was not really shave ready and the technique that I used on the Dovo was much harder than needed. I thought that I wasn't using much pressure at all, but with the new razor I used the same technique and ended up with 5 or 6 nicks and my face lit on fire. My advice to anyone new like me out there who did not know what "shave ready" is or is trying to save a few bucks is to pay extra and stay away from the plastic scales. I was very careful with my Dovo and dryed it and oiled it after each use and it still broke. I'm not saying all Dovo's are bad, because they make many higher end models, but the TI has really changed my view of a quality razor.

Maybe you are wording this wrong but you are suggesting that if you want to know what "shave ready" is, then pay extra for something without plastic scales. Scales have nothing to do with being shave ready. Also I would say to get a staight razor from a place like SRD that actually hone the razor before you buy it as opposed to the Art of Shaving where I believe is just straight from the factory if you would like something that is shave ready.

Originally Posted by dfafs

you get guys that complain about balance with throwing knives too, but it doesn't matter. The difference between throwing a knife and a tomahawk is recognizing the balance point and adjusting. The same with a razor.

The trouble with metal scales is that adjusting for the balance point puts you into a less ergonomic position, like the one where people break scales by moving too far back off the tang when stropping ie creates a bad habit. Shaving or throwing is less critical