Thread: getting the razor shave-ready

I recently got a Dovo hollow ground straight razor. After looking up instructional videos and stropping with a filly strop, i still felt the razor tugging at the beard as i shave. As the razor was only honed in factory, i'm guessing it needs to be touched up to be shave ready. Would a finishing stone (10-12) grit suffice or would i need to use different/ multiple hones to get the razor shave-ready? Could anyone recommend a good hone for the job that wouldn't break the wallet? Any advice is appreciated!

I agree, I have been at honing a month now and can still barely get a razor sharp enough to shave, and only sometimes. I got some ebay razors and got them pretty sharp so when I got my brand new Hart I figured I would be able to get it shave ready since it was new. Now its got a scratch and is still not shaving like my pro honed ones. If its new I would def send it off. If for no other reason than the fact it will give you a point of reference to what shave ready really is. I do agree that the Norton 4/8k. Most people say its the only stone your really need, and all others are just for that little extra and for trying different methods. A lot of guys who are pros on this board say its the only stone they honed with for years. Its a great stone and at this point I can get a better edge off it than some of my Nanis I just bought. You can set a bevel on the 4k side too if you don't have the funds for the 1k, especially if its a new razor.

Originally Posted by ccase39

I agree, I have been at honing a month now and can still barely get a razor sharp enough to shave, and only sometimes. I got some ebay razors and got them pretty sharp so when I got my brand new Hart I figured I would be able to get it shave ready since it was new. Now its got a scratch and is still not shaving like my pro honed ones. If its new I would def send it off. If for no other reason than the fact it will give you a point of reference to what shave ready really is. I do agree that the Norton 4/8k. Most people say its the only stone your really need, and all others are just for that little extra and for trying different methods. A lot of guys who are pros on this board say its the only stone they honed with for years. Its a great stone and at this point I can get a better edge off it than some of my Nanis I just bought. You can set a bevel on the 4k side too if you don't have the funds for the 1k, especially if its a new razor.

One of the few smart things I have ever done is buy some practice razors. Cheap, blades still in decent shape, but with nicks in blade, and dull. Never intending to shave with them, I could try any and everything I had been told to do with them and see the results. Work on it for hours and still dull? Well, I will try to get a bevel set then. Didn't matter if I dulled it more getting there, this steel was cheap. By the time I was done I can take a razor and have it "razor sharp" in about 45 minutes, nothing to brag about, but I felt pretty good knowing I could do it myself. One thing I learned is that if the bevel is not adequate, all the 4 and 8k honing in the world doesn't make difference. Find some cheapies and hone away, follow all the advice here, find what works for you. You can do it.

Originally Posted by midstream

One of the few smart things I have ever done is buy some practice razors. Cheap, blades still in decent shape, but with nicks in blade, and dull. Never intending to shave with them, I could try any and everything I had been told to do with them and see the results. Work on it for hours and still dull? Well, I will try to get a bevel set then. Didn't matter if I dulled it more getting there, this steel was cheap. By the time I was done I can take a razor and have it "razor sharp" in about 45 minutes, nothing to brag about, but I felt pretty good knowing I could do it myself. One thing I learned is that if the bevel is not adequate, all the 4 and 8k honing in the world doesn't make difference. Find some cheapies and hone away, follow all the advice here, find what works for you. You can do it.

Ive been honing away on cheapies from ebay. Since I didn't spend a lot on them and they are in good shape Im going to do like you said and just keep honing the hell out of them. Ill get them as sharp as I can and then dull them gently and keep trying. Im getting close, and can shave without discomfort, but the ones I have honed don't shave like other ones I have had done professionally. I have to make more passes and sometimes can't get BBS on places where I could with one of my professionally honed razors. They also seem to loose its edge a little during shaving and I have to strop. I know it takes time, and its fun trying. At this point I have gotten them all as sharp as I can get them and have been scared to try it again lol. Ill keep trying. Its definitely fun.

Dovo factory honing is not such bad, before sending it to a honemeister try stropping 100 times (very low pressure) or more

As Zib said, it seems to vary from razor to razor. About a month ago I bought my first new dovo, for me it was enough to use my naniwa 10 k stone to get it shave ready.

i've had quite thew dovo best latley and rehoned factory edge ..there pritty good nower days it can vary ..I did plenty of work on just water on coticule and it made world of differance along with good stroping....