Thread: I just bought a Dovo Best Quality

Hi to all,

I just bought myself a dovo best quality, should I now put a new bevel on it? What I have for wetstons is a king 1k-6k and a norton 4K-8k. What do you think? It's also my first straight razor. Not the first time I use one but this is my first dovo.

Thank you

Frank G.

If you bought the Dovo from a place that hones it to shave ready before shipping you just shave with it.

If that is not the case you can check the bevel with a loupe before you decide to do anything or just strop it and do a test shave to see what is what. You never know you just might luck out and hit a factory edge that is decent.

Bob

It fells like it has a great edge on it already.

Do you know if the Dovo is shave ready? Some places, like SRD, will provide the razor shave ready and you just use it. Others do not.

Are you experienced with honing? Do you have other razors to use (as a fallback, or while this one is down)? Are you willing to potentially wreak the razor, if you're not experienced?

If you're not experienced in honing, and can afford it, consider the following...

Get a second razor (there are ones in the classified usually for good prices).
Have the razor's pro honed and enjoy the straight razor experience.
Read the forums about honing.
Pick the razor that you'd be willing to hone and potentially mess up.
When it gets slightly dull, consider a simple refresh of the edge.
Later, move on to minor dings, dealing with warped blades, frowns, smiles, etc.

Note: that even new razors can have some tricky geometries to hone (I have a new one with a slight warp), so it isn't always a simple task. It's a journey and takes patience (from my experience). There are lots of helpful people in this forum who can provide guidance.

Good luck (from another novice honer who has gone through some of this)

PCM

P.S. There may be mentors in your area who can provide hands on help, which is invaluable (wish there were ones in my area!). Let people know your state/city in your profile.

Before buying anymore razors, I'd advise you to read up in the library. It will tell you to buy your razor shave ready from trusted sources. If your new Dovo turns out to not be shave ready, I would send it away for honing. Before learning to hone, you should be a proficient shaver and adept at stropping. All this and much more information is in the library. Take your time and enjoy the ride.

If you've never honed a razor, don't. I guarantee you it is not as easy as it looks. Developing the skill takes time, and a blade that you won't mind messing up.

I second Bob, PCM, and Wayne's advice.

Thank you I will do that

I have never honed a straight razor before. But I am a chef and and I have done it to my chefs knives. I know it's slightly different but none the less I understand what your tell me. Thank you.

I got my dovo for a good price after looking for a long time and it's one that I'm willing to learn on.

I do have a back up that's a shavet. So if need be I could send mine to someone that can hone it for me.

Thank you.

Originally Posted by FrankG28

I have never honed a straight razor before. But I am a chef and and I have done it to my chefs knives. I know it's slightly different but none the less I understand what your tell me. Thank you.

Thank you.

Do not assume that sharpening a knife and honing a straight razor are near the same thing. They are similar yet very different and should be considered separate skill sets. It is best to approach learning to hone a straight razor with the mindset that you have never sharpened anything before. Good luck to you.

Bob

What Bob said. I learned (as many others have) that sharpening a knife and straight razor are similar, but still worlds apart. A knife just has to cut smooth and clean. A razor has to do that while feeling comfortable to shave with. Sharp is one thing, shaving sharp is another. If you've got magnification you'll find yourself surprised at how small an imperfection it takes to ruin a shaving edge.

But on the bright side, you've got everything you need. Dovo is a decent quality brand, and the hones you have are good as well. Many here set their bevels with a King 1k, and the Norton 4/8 will give you a good comfortable shave. I used 1 razor honed on the 4/8 and nothing else for a good 6 months. All you need now is experience. And maybe some level of magnification if you don't already have it.

Give the Dovo a shave test. If it works, let it ride. If it doesn't, try your hand at honing it.