Trouble honing a Dovo razor. Can't get smooth shave.

Hey everyone.

I have a Dovo Prima Klang (5/8 full-hollow) razor I recently bought that needs some touch-up honing (at least that's what I'm thinking).

When I first got this razor it would pull and leave behind a lot of uncut hair. I bought it professionally honed, but it's "not quite there".

To fix this, I did the following:

I honed it on my 12k Naniwa stone, followed by chrom ox and stropping. Much better, but still not 100%. Razor shaved a lot better, but left behind a fine layer of stubble.

Next, honed it on an 8k Naniwa stone, followed by 12k finishing stone, then chrome ox and stropping. Much smoother, feels like a well-honed razor, but is still leaving behind a fine layer of stubble -- couldn't get a nice smooth shave.

On my other Dovo's, I get super-smooth with one or two WTG passes. After the 8k/12k/chrome ox/stropping, I can't get that smooth finish, though it does shave well, with no pulling.

Any suggestions on how to finish this razor up so it can give a nice smooth finish to the shave? Any ideas why it may feel nice and smooth shaving, but not "do the job" and remove stubble close to the skin?

Thanks!

I'll assume that 1)you know how to shave; so I'll leave discussion of technique out of this one.

For something like this razor, I would go all the way down to 3k if, under magnification, you notice that the bevel has been properly set. Work up from the 3k until you get to 8k...remember that you have to kinda 'sneak up' on a good edge, it's not like pocketknives where you can force an edge in using whatever technique works for you. Ultra-light strokes.

The Prima Klang is extra hollow, so it takes a more delicate hand to shave with (and to hone). Keep that in mind as you go.

I should have said in orig post: yeah, I'm set in the "how to" straight shave department. I've been doing it for while and am quite good at it. I own several other Dovo prima klang razors - they are my preferred shaver. Its just this one razor that gives me trouble.

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Originally Posted by red96ta

For something like this razor, I would go all the way down to 3k if, under magnification, you notice that the bevel has been properly set. Work up from the 3k until you get to 8k...

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Interesting. Since it was supposed to be already professionally honed, I was thinking that I'd only need to do something no coarser than 8k. I will examine the bevel like you mention. I was wondering if the problem with this razor is due to incorrect bevel, since it seems to be plenty sharp.

Well, if it was professionally honed the answer is send it back to be reprofessionally honed.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Well, if it was professionally honed the answer is send it back to be reprofessionally honed.

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Yeah, I was going to, but then I thought... why don't I just take care of this one myself? If it was my only razor I would certainly do that, but I'm thinking that this is a good learning experience.

I know how to keep an edge on a razor that has been perfectly honed to start with - been keeping all my other razors up nicely. In my quest to be self sufficient (shave-wise) I want to fix this puppy myself.

Since I own Naniwa 8k/12k/ stones, and crome ox strop, would you say then that my next stone to get is the 3k? Then, with the 3k/8k/12k and crome ox (assuming the bevel is set correctly), this should be all that's needed (hone-wise) to get this razor to be a smooth shaver like my other Dovos?

With the 3x added to your arsenal you should have all you need to do a basic honing, I would think.

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Originally Posted by march

Hey everyone.

I have a Dovo Prima Klang (5/8 full-hollow) razor I recently bought that needs some touch-up honing (at least that's what I'm thinking).

When I first got this razor it would pull and leave behind a lot of uncut hair. I bought it professionally honed, but it's "not quite there".

To fix this, I did the following:

I honed it on my 12k Naniwa stone, followed by chrom ox and stropping. Much better, but still not 100%. Razor shaved a lot better, but left behind a fine layer of stubble.

Next, honed it on an 8k Naniwa stone, followed by 12k finishing stone, then chrome ox and stropping. Much smoother, feels like a well-honed razor, but is still leaving behind a fine layer of stubble -- couldn't get a nice smooth shave.

On my other Dovo's, I get super-smooth with one or two WTG passes. After the 8k/12k/chrome ox/stropping, I can't get that smooth finish, though it does shave well, with no pulling.

Any suggestions on how to finish this razor up so it can give a nice smooth finish to the shave? Any ideas why it may feel nice and smooth shaving, but not "do the job" and remove stubble close to the skin?

Thanks!

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Since it improved you are doing something right
so do it again 'lightly'.

I would revisit the 8K/12K hones using a pyramid and go easy on the CrOx
if at all prior to stropping on leather.

It is possible that you are "over honing" the razor so keep the pyramid
rather short to start.

prima klang are great razors i have one. I honed several times on my coticule and it never fails me. If i was in a situation like you.I'd just start again and quikly reset the bevel. Then resharpen and polish bit won't harm trying that. If t was me i would shave of the 8k and only move on untill i was happy there. the same again on 12k. Then add cr.ox if you feel the nead. My prima klang seems to take a sharp edge easily and does'nt need paste. You should not need any more than 5 to 10 laps on paste

Probably is bevel. If you have 3k, go on it, than sharpening on 8k, polishing on 10 or 12k Naniwa, and finish on CroX 8-10 laps.
Better solution is (if you have) 2 side paddle strop with diamant pastes 0.5 and 1 micron. I quarantee that diamant pastes 0.5 and 1 micron can replace Shapton 16k or 30 k, but, this is too much costly investition.

So, my procedure is next:

- before shaving I stropping a razor
- after every 12-15 shaves put razor on Paddle strop with diamant pastes 0.5 (15-20 passes) and 1 micron (15-20 passes)
- finish on CroX 5-8 passes, and stropping

When diamant pastes can't sharp razor anymore, than she go on 8k Naniwa (15-20 passes), 10 k Naniwa (20-25 passes), again on Paddle strop with diamant pastes 0.5 (15-20 passes) and 1 micron (15-20 passes), CroX 5-8 passes, stropping and voila, straight razor is ready for shave.

I hope, this will help.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gary haywood

prima klang are great razors i have one. I honed several times on my coticule and it never fails me. If i was in a situation like you.I'd just start again and quikly reset the bevel.

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If the bevel was not set properly to begin with, would I be able to get any kind of shave from the razor at all?

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Originally Posted by march

If the bevel was not set properly to begin with, would I be able to get any kind of shave from the razor at all?

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The razor may scrape hair off somewhat even if the bevel isn't set well. The shave would be quite subpar and not comfortable at all.

I agree with Gary. Go ahead and reset the bevel and take it from there. If the edge wasnt quite there to begin with, then all you're doing on the higher grit stones is polishing a dull edge.

As holli4 says, the Prima Klang is an extra hollow ground razor, so make sure you keep your pressure ultra light and even when you hone as it will be easy to flex the blade with too much pressure.

most of the work is done on the bevel. after that your refining the edge as fine as you can. i use a coticule so my aproach is differant as i do all the honing on one hone and not jumping up grits with manmade hones. I just vgo through the process by gradauly diluting slurry to plain water then i finish on linen , leather. if i need a little extra i can hit diamond spray or paste or cro ox etc .normaly coticule is sufficent unless i get a stubborn razor or i missed out a little keeness on the way.

When i have had a razor that shaves but does'nt feel right. I normaly start a gain if a thew touch ups don't work. once bevel is set you should be able to shave leg hair . i use tnt once i get a good drag across the nail i will test on leg hair i also use tpt. After that i just hone on coticule i test hht of the hone then after stropping if its all good for me i test shave. Shave is normaly fine .

Check the bevels closely with a loup to see if they are uniform. If the bevel becomes very narrow in places that may indicate some concave sections that aren't feeling the hones much. If so, then a narrow hone would help.

There are two other factors I will mention, only because I haven't seen them mentioned yet:

1. The hones are not lapped completely flat. This may be unlikely as the OP seems to have experience.

2. The blade has a slight warp to it, just enough that it doesn't sit flat on the hone at all times. Although I don't own a Prima Klang I believe this can be a common problem with extra hollow blades. Regardless, it isn't anything an alternative stroke couldn't cure.

Thank you to everybody for your great advice, information and responses. I'm in the process of examining this razor very carefully with an eye to the information that you all provided. I'll formulate a plan, then let you guys know how it turned out.

Thanks again!!

-matt