Thread: Dull new Dovo stainless blade; advice needed!

Just got a new (not NOS) Dovo 5/8 with a stainless steel blade. All my other razors are carbon steel with or without addition of silver. This Dovo arrived new in box, and I perhaps foolishly assumed that a few laps on linen and then leather hanging strop would be all the prep this pristine blade needed to be ready for shaving. But it was duller than dull, nowhere ready to pass HHT.

I then took it to a Thiers-Issard paddle strop, on which the felt side had been dabbed with the TI Razor Sharpening Paste (don't know the micron count - it's the "grease stick" that comes in a tube, made with diamond and aluminum oxide) and did several X-pattern passes. I saw almost no improvement at all.

Does a stainless blade require different treatment? I've been resistant to do any honing beyond the pasted paddle since it's pristine. What would you suggest should be my next steps?

Thanks!

Have you shaved with it?

And did the seller promise a shave ready razor?



If yes to both, then the next step is to contact the seller.

If no, then you may want to contact a professional razor sharpener here on this forum. You may locate one in the members services section of the classifieds

I did try shaving, and had to stop after a few minutes and switch to another. It was barely making a dent. There was no promise of shave readiness; I was simply going on the assumption that a new Dovo razor, sealed in the box, would arrive fairly shave ready after a bit of stropping.

From what I hear, new Dovos rarely arrive shave ready straight from the factory. Your razor needs to be sharpened by a professional razor sharpener. And then you will be good to go

Originally Posted by mrgad

I did try shaving, and had to stop after a few minutes and switch to another. It was barely making a dent. There was no promise of shave readiness; I was simply going on the assumption that a new Dovo razor, sealed in the box, would arrive fairly shave ready after a bit of stropping.

new Dovos are NOT shave ready. you have to hone them, and if they're stainless, it'll take a while. you'll need to go down to 1200 at least to set the bevel. follow the second link in my sig to see me sharpen a stainless Dovo.

Thanks so much for the info. Clearly, I had no idea this was the case. Off to the sharpener it goes!