I'm having troubles :/

Hi, i need some advise please.
I was given a new Dovo for my birthday, its a 5/8 and im guessing its a full grind. The blade is a modest wedge.
The shop that sold it said it was shave ready, so i tried to shave with it but it just tugged at my hairs and wasnt what i expected. I then sent it to The Invisible Edge for honing. I received it back after 3 long ,full weeks :( and had a shave . It seemed a bit sharper but still not surgical and being only my second shave how could i really judge how these blades should be. It was no where near the sharpness of my feather blades DE.
Today i tried another shave and after about 10 strokes on my cheek without removing all the hair, i gave up.
I jumped on my bike a drove to my brothers house, a good 40 miles away.
I showed him my shaving technique with my Dovo. He then tried to shave with it and straight away said it wasnt me it was the blade. He got out his new Spartacus whatever blade and gave it to me for a try. Bingo clean crisp hair removal. Thats how it should be.
So, he gave my blade a go on his Norton stones and still it was not as sharp as it should be.
The dovo cost £180 . Is that just money thrown away? Is it because of the grind or the make?
Do i have to find £250 for a Spartacus like my brothers before i get a decent shave?
I'd like to hear what you think.. Many Thanks...

Seems strange, that Dovo should shave just fine and I've only heard good things about The Invisible edge. I'd advise that you send it back to them to see what they can do, but now that your brother has had a go at honing it they probably aren't going to do much for you.

I have two Dovo razors, the both give great shaves. One is a Best Quality and the other a Flowing. I use the cheaper Best Quality everyday with no problems.

Russell

Lots of people use razors bought used for less than $50.00, gave them a clean and hone and they shave as well as high priced new ones. No, I don't think throwing money at a new more expensive razor is the solution.
When you got it back from being honed did you strop it before your first shave? If you did you really don't know what the blade was actually like when you got it back. If you are new to straights and stropping you may have degraded the edge by stropping it.

Bob

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Originally Posted by Catrentshaving

Seems strange, that Dovo should shave just fine and I've only heard good things about The Invisible edge. I'd advise that you send it back to them to see what they can do, but now that your brother has had a go at honing it they probably aren't going to do much for you.

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I think the blade is incapable of becoming surgically sharp. It came shave ready and the invisible edge probably did a fine job on it.
I have just bought a Baxters of California blue steel razor . Ill pack up the Dovo and forget about it, i've wasted enough time, effort and cash on it already.

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Originally Posted by JOB15

I think the blade is incapable of becoming surgically sharp. It came shave ready and the invisible edge probably did a fine job on it.
I have just bought a Baxters of California blue steel razor . Ill pack up the Dovo and forget about it, i've wasted enough time, effort and cash on it already.

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Pack it up and send it my way if you are just going to forget about it. :angel:

Bob

Heck I Will Pay For Shipping.... :)

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Originally Posted by Chevhead

Heck I Will Pay For Shipping.... :)

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Thank you, I may hold you to that.:angel:

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

Thank you, I may hold you to that.:angel:

Bob

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Lol I ShouldHaveBeenCLEARER....
SHIPPING to ME...

YOU GOT ME BOB... YOUR QUICK! :)

It is quite possible you rolled the edge with your strop, i would send it out to be pro honed, and try again without stropping it.

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Originally Posted by BobH

Lots of people use razors bought used for less than $50.00, gave them a clean and hone and they shave as well as high priced new ones. No, I don't think throwing money at a new more expensive razor is the solution.
When you got it back from being honed did you strop it before your first shave? If you did you really don't know what the blade was actually like when you got it back. If you are new to straights and stropping you may have degraded the edge by stropping it.

Bob

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Hi, thanks for the comments. I didnt strop the blade before use after it was honed because i think the invisible edge informed me that it was honed and stropped.
Its baffling, i know.

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Originally Posted by Grazor

It is quite possible you rolled the edge with your strop, i would send it out to be pro honed, and try again without stropping it.

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Now that is a way too sensible idea.:angel: Don't mind me, slow Sunday just having some fun

Bob

Above all, don't give up. It can be frustrating, sure, but anyone will tell you that there is a huge learning curve, especially when you have no frame of reference. Trust me, I'm in the exact same boat as you so I know how you feel. Have you read Lynn's article on the first shave? First straight razor shave - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Have patience. I can't get a close shave either, but still make progress and learn every time that I shave. Do what Lynn recommends, shaving from the side burn line to the jaw bone, and then finish your shave with a regular razor.
Again, don't give up! There are countless people here to help and support you in your endeavor!

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Originally Posted by Krusty01

I have two Dovo razors, the both give great shaves. One is a Best Quality and the other a Flowing. I use the cheaper Best Quality everyday with no problems.

Russell

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im going to agree with you on that. just had a bq shave after a long week of sheffield wedges and it feels amazing!

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Originally Posted by kwlfca

Above all, don't give up. It can be frustrating, sure, but anyone will tell you that there is a huge learning curve, especially when you have no frame of reference. Trust me, I'm in the exact same boat as you so I know how you feel. Have you read Lynn's article on the first shave? First straight razor shave - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Have patience. I can't get a close shave either, but still make progress and learn every time that I shave. Do what Lynn recommends, shaving from the side burn line to the jaw bone, and then finish your shave with a regular razor.
Again, don't give up! There are countless people here to help and support you in your endeavor!

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Its not a learning curve problem, i tried another razor today and it was perfect shaving close worlds apart from the Dovo. Its just blunt, even after pro honing.
It is obvious that no one here has an answer. My bro has been using straight razors for time and has a large collection, he is bewildered too. He asked me to report back on what this forum had to say on the matter. I've already told him, they ait got a clue either :)

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Originally Posted by JOB15

Its not a learning curve problem, i tried another razor today and it was perfect shaving close worlds apart from the Dovo. Its just blunt, even after pro honing.
It is obvious that no one here has an answer. My bro has been using straight razors for time and has a large collection, he is bewildered too. He asked me to report back on what this forum had to say on the matter. I've already told him, they ait got a clue either :)

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Ah, my mistake. Sounded as if you were giving up altogether! My 3/8" is seemingly a pain, even after careful stropping. Maybe once I get the razor shooter is sending me I'll have a far easier time as well! I just shaved again with the 3/8", mostly because I'm stubborn lol, and my face feels...not so nice haha I figure that I'll make due with what I have and experiment to try to get the best shave that I can from it. That's awesome that you were able to get a close shave :)

If that dovo is not a warped blade, and you received it brand new it needs the attention of another honemeister IMHO. These things happen when buying from vendors. Since you have spent the money on the blade, i would try a different service. There is a likely chance it can be honed and you will love the shave. There are currently some of the best in the business in the classifieds for honing. I would try one of them and see if it can actually be honed. I am not bashing a vendor here, just saying you may want a second opinion of the situation. good luck friend.

It wasn't your stropping as you later said you did not strop it before use and your technique is fine as the other razor shaved well. Check the razor for some physical defect like a bent tang or warped blade that would make honing difficult. There should be a reason that your bro can't get it honed up as I take it he maintains his own large collection. Some razors are just finicky and a PITA to home, maybe that is one of them. Remember that there is more than one thread on here about getting a brand new razor that was not shave ready out of the box so that is not uncommon or people have trouble getting one particular razor to hone up.

Bob

Did your brother try to shave with it? If he finds it unservicable after his own honing, whereas all his other razors are fine, it would sound like a manufacturing problem to me. Disclaimer: I don't know how often manufacturing problems occur with razors, but it's plausible to me.

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Originally Posted by JOB15

Its not a learning curve problem, i tried another razor today and it was perfect shaving close worlds apart from the Dovo. Its just blunt, even after pro honing.
It is obvious that no one here has an answer. My bro has been using straight razors for time and has a large collection, he is bewildered too. He asked me to report back on what this forum had to say on the matter. I've already told him, they ait got a clue either :)

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I can think of at least a few people on this forum who AREN'T clueless.

This just seems like trolling to me.

Michael

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Originally Posted by mjsorkin

I can think of at least a few people on this forum who AREN'T clueless.

This just seems like trolling to me.

Michael

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I would agree......

My guess is that there was nothing wrong wrong with your blade when it came back from invisible edge. My guess is due to bad technique, handling, bad angle, etc the blade got compromised before your brother got a hold of it. Its most likely an issue with you and not the razor. Regardless of how your brothers razor shaved. Different razors shave differently and can require different angles and different degrees of pressure.

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Originally Posted by mjsorkin

I can think of at least a few people on this forum who AREN'T clueless.

This just seems like trolling to me.

Michael

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Your comment isnt helpful in the slightest, infact it just makes me wanna insult you, so whos trolling me or you?

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Originally Posted by ccase39

My guess is that there was nothing wrong wrong with your blade when it came back from invisible edge. My guess is due to bad technique, handling, bad angle, etc the blade got compromised before your brother got a hold of it. Its most likely an issue with you and not the razor. Regardless of how your brothers razor shaved. Different razors shave differently and can require different angles and different degrees of pressure.

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Your guess is a wrong one. Mt bro tried to shave with it infront of me and on the first stroke said,"its the blade" he then got one of his blades out and showed me how a decent blade should work.

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Originally Posted by Lynn

I would agree......

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You agree with some one whos wrong,hmm, ok thanks for your advise and wisdom

Some razors are just finiky.. that sounds like a plausable answer or maybe the only answer..cheers.... I wish i never asked the question now and just contacted Dovo instead, ive upset some ppl by saying my blade cant be sharpened ha :)

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Originally Posted by JOB15

Your guess is a wrong one. Mt bro tried to shave with it infront of me and on the first stroke said,"its the blade" he then got one of his blades out and showed me how a decent blade should work.

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After you used it or after he honed it? His claim is only valid in the second case. Also, do not expect it to be anywhere near as sharp as Feather blades, very few people are capable of reaching that level of sharpness.

As for the friendly words exchanged, do you want advice or just hear that it wasn't your fault?

I can't say anything specific about your problem straight other than Dovo make fine blades & I haven't heard anyone say anything bad about them. I suspect they are the most popular straight razor currently out there. Maybe it's a one off manufacturing fault, maybe not.

I've got one blade - it's the Invisible Edge classic full hollow, & it was definitely shave ready when I got it. It took 2 months for me & my beginner shaving/stropping before it needed honing. I've also heard nothing but good things about T.I.E. I suppose anything is possible & everybody makes mistakes now & then but you should have returned it to T.I.E. before letting your brother loose on it with a hone. You could try emailing Steve at The Invisible Edge for advice but I'm not sure how much joy you'll get now.

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Originally Posted by JOB15

You agree with some one whos wrong,hmm, ok thanks for your advise and wisdom

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Let me get this straight....you think that you know better than Lynn Abrams? How many razors have you honed, stropped and shaved with? I'm 100% sure that Lynn, and 99% of the other people here who offer you advice out of kindness, know what they're talking about far more than you do.

The fact that you seem to think otherwise and choose to voice it in such a cheeky manner just makes you sound like a narcissistic princess. Sorry if that's rather blunt but the truth is the truth.

Why do you bother asking when you're clearly looking for a particular answer and don't want to listen?

:popcorn:

Some pretty harsh attitude coming from someone asking for advice.

Closing this for Mod review. There doesn't seem to be an acceptable answer and it's just turning confrontational.