Thread: Bevel setting

Originally Posted by Charliebrian24

I recently purchased a dovo best quality that was "shave ready"

From where did you buy it? I ask because it may inform us as to whether or not it actually had been honed.

Originally Posted by Charliebrian24

but still took it to get honed. Twice.

Took it where it get it honed? Did you take it to a razor honer or a knife sharpener?

Have you successfully shaved with a straight razor yet? If so, then your face can be your benchmark, as an edge properly honed on the 1k can shave your face. If not, then you really should hold off on buying those hones. Actually, you probably should do that anyway, since the Norton 220/1k is not the best option, nor is the flattening hone.

Wow! So much helpful info. I think I came to the right place. Much appreciated. Thanks everyone! I think I'm gonna go with Lynn Abrams instructions. I've already read it top to bottom several times. Set bevel then pyramid hone.

I took it to a knife sharpening store in Nyc that supposedly hones straight razors as well according to various internet sources but the razor doesn't seem to work any better.
The razor is a 5/8 dovo best quality I bought brand new from pastuer's pharmacy in Manhattan so to be honest I'm not even sure if it was "shave ready" but assumed it was as ive read that usually dovos come that way straight out of the factory.

D*mn. Knife sharpeners don't know how to sharpen razors. Period.

The only exception is if they happen to shave with them. Otherwise, they hone them like knives and trash them. I strongly suggest that you either forget they ever existed, or else ask them if they actually shave with a straight razor. If they have a website, would you please send me a PM with the information? I'm just curious.

Well the store is Henry westphal in Nyc. I don't know The website offhand but the info and website is easily found on Google.

HAVE you been able to shave with any razor? I ask because the first step is to figure out of the honing is the reason you cannot shave or if the fact that you cannot shave (yet) is the reason you cannot shave.

If you have been able to shave with some other razor, then that razor probably is not shave ready, and so step one would be to get your money back from Henry Westphal and then send that razor and some of the money to someone in member services in the classifieds of this site or else use that money toward buying your own hones, but again I suggest that you hold off on that until you definitely have successfully shaved with some other straight razor.

No I have not been able to shave with it. I tried as soon as I took it home from the store (stropped it first of course) and it didn't even remove ANY hair at all. It glided along the whiskers fairly smooth I guess. And even after 3 passes it didn't do jack sh#t. After having it honed twice, it still performed the same way. No better, no worse.
And yes, I've been able to shave with other razors better but they too weren't quite shave ready and not honed, but at least did something unlike the current one. I know it's not my shaving or stropping technique.

From the sound of it you razor needs a proper honing from bevel set on up. I'd suggest you follow Utopian's suggestion from post #16. Once you get if back from a reputable honer I would not strop it before the first shave. That way you do not possibly damage the edge by improper stropping and can see what the edge is like as supplied.

Bob

Originally Posted by Charliebrian24

I took it to a knife sharpening store in Nyc that supposedly hones straight razors as well according to various internet sources but the razor doesn't seem to work any better.
The razor is a 5/8 dovo best quality I bought brand new from pastuer's pharmacy in Manhattan so to be honest I'm not even sure if it was "shave ready" but assumed it was as ive read that usually dovos come that way straight out of the factory.

Yeah, factory edge is not shave ready. As other's have stated, send it to a good sharpener (see classifieds or try places like SRD) and get it pro honed. Make sure to ask them to assess the razor, as they can tell you the condition of the edge (and the razor, since it has been honed by people who clearly don't know how to hone a straight razor).

Once you get it back, shave w/o any stropping. Note how it shaves, as that will be your benchmark. Any subsequent honing (which, once you've got things down pat, will be infrequent) should match that result.

It should be great, and if not, will likely be a technique issue. It takes quite some time to become proficient at straight razor shaving, and to become good at stropping. Just keep an open mind, if you encounter a problem with the comfort of the shave with a properly prepared razor.

You mentioned having shaved with other straights? If so, and you still have them. I would send them out too for pro honing. This way, you can keep one razor (assuming your other razors are not toast) as a reference, and then can also compare the shave feel of your other razor, after stropping. Also, when one becomes dull, you can send it out for honing (or hone yourself, once you learn how), and use the other razor.

Be sure to take advantage of the tips from members here, as it'll save you lots of time and trouble (I wish I had, early on ).

You'll get it sorted out...