Thread: Dovo’s honing method

I hone a lot of new Dovos, very few are close to shave ready.

Dovo used to claim honing on Coticules. The yellow stone looks like a King Ice bear 8-10k hone on a wooden dai. The other stone is likely a 325-diamond plate. Have you ever heard of a 325 grit synthetic stone?

Dovo has use the convex stone for years and one of their dealers is a proponent of convexing stones to match their technique. He is also a Coticule vendor. Dovo used to claim honing on Coticules

A convex stone will hone a warped razor easier for those who lack technique. The downside is a smaller contact area, notice the swarf pattern in the middle of the stone. That is how much of the razor is on the stone. Remember the goal is a flat bevel and straight edge. Which will make a flatter bevel and straighter edge honing a ¼ inch of the edge at a time or 3 inches?

You can accomplish the same thing by allowing the heel to hang off the edge and using a rolling X stroke and you will have more stone contact.

Dovo makes a nice razor for the money, could they improve? Sure, time equals money.

I think that some of the Dovos, especially the lower end ones, have the hollow itself overground in the middle of the blade. I have one like this and a Herder Constant that’s the same. While it is not technically a frown, it has to be honed like one because that area is lower than the rest of the blade. So I think that the convex hone was/is a solution to getting razors that aren’t ground the best ‘out the door’. It’s functionally the same as a narrow hone and can over hone the middle unless you watch what you’re doing.

DOVO’s honing method gets discussed from time to time on this forum and others. The addition of new pages on their website is interesting. It was thought the hone they use is the ice bear 8-12k depending on what you call it. It’s convexed so the blade always travels uphill helping with contact yet on a smaller width. If DOVO has changed their honing method I would like to see video proof of it. I’m not too convinced.

Originally Posted by Steve56

I think that some of the Dovos, especially the lower end ones, have the hollow itself overground in the middle of the blade. I have one like this and a Herder Constant that’s the same. While it is not technically a frown, it has to be honed like one because that area is lower than the rest of the blade. So I think that the convex hone was/is a solution to getting razors that aren’t ground the best ‘out the door’. It’s functionally the same as a narrow hone and can over hone the middle unless you watch what you’re doing.

I honed one yesterday and the middle of the blade did not touch the stone.. I honed it off the side of the stone..
Pretty gold wash but a bogus grind :/

Originally Posted by JOB15

I honed one yesterday and the middle of the blade did not touch the stone.. I honed it off the side of the stone..
Pretty gold wash but a bogus grind :/

Yep, you’ve got one.

Not sure if this is true but I heard Dovo send their razors off to the Ningbo Razor & Scissors Manufacture Co and are honed by Master Shifu...

Originally Posted by markbignosekelly

Not sure if this is true but I heard Dovo send their razors off to the Ningbo Razor & Scissors Manufacture Co and are honed by Master Shifu...

Bob

Post 2356 here:

https://theshaveden.com/forums/threa...8#post-1760459

Glen’s seen it too.

Originally Posted by Steve56

Post 2356 here:

https://theshaveden.com/forums/threa...8#post-1760459

Glen’s seen it too.

I wonder what happened to the pic from the post


Found it and replaced it


Dear #Dovo

Stop trying to be cute with your honing
Bad enough you cannot hit Shave Ready on most of them, but your BS routine is putting out mostly frowned edges

Factory Black Star today




#honetowardasmile

Enough already

This should be one of the first test you do on a razor about to be honed. Just like looking at where the edge ends on shouldered razors.

Once you know the issues the razor has, then you can correct them, then hone properly without fighting the razor.

On Dovo’s like these I lightly bread knife, (you do not need to remove much material,(it is thin), correct the heel, ink the blade and see if you are making full contact.

Heels are another common problem, even with new razors. Moving that corner forward a ¼ inch can save you a lot of grief.