Thread: Some trouble with a Dovo SS

I've got myself a Dovo SS blade that is giving me some problems. Besides the difficulty of getting a good edge (my carbon steel blade is much happier to take a sharp edge) something is up with the shape.

If I run it straight down the stone instead of using an X pattern, on one side the heel and toe of the blade get sharpened heavily, and the angle is shallow and the edge wide (as in, the distance between the edge and the base of the bevel), while on the other side that happens in the center. Basically, if I sharpen it perfectly straight, the edge comes out wrong. It's almost like the center of the blade is bowed just a tiny tiny bit in one direction relative to the spine.

I can combat this a bit by sharpening in the X pattern, but I feel like that shouldn't be required just for the edge to be right.

I'm also a little bit worried because the spine is just a tiny bit wider at the heel than the tip, which seems to be causing a very slight slope of the edge, rising as you get closer to the toe. I think it may have happened when I was attempting to use some DMT stones that are narrower than the blade, and I must have had uneven wear on the spine. That in itself is not detrimental to an edge, but for everything to settle in to this slanted spine profile, I'd have to take off a lot of metal, and the razor is still almost brand new.

Should I acquire a lower grit stone (lowest grit I have is 4k) and grind straight until the edge is normal? Should I continue with the X pattern? Should I send it to a honemaster who can align all the angles and fix it?

Thanks guys, it's really been frustrating me! ( I know, I know)

I have a Dovo SS I bought new a few years back and struggled to get it right. Finally took it to a knowlegible honemaster who said they probably got the tempering wrong and it was so hard it was very prone to micro chipping. Took him ages to get a half decent edge on it. So maybe you have a dud. Best to get someone to look at it soon rather than getting frustrated and wasting heaps of time like I did.

I have a wonderful vintage Revisor that sharpens up beautifully and gives a wonderfully smooth shave........wish I had bought it first!
Cheers
Anthony

Yeah, sending it off to a pro seems like a good idea. Any particular honemasters you'd recommend, especially ones with the capabilities to deal with the spine and the bevel, not just sharpness? I live in Cali, closer > farther.

What you have describe is most like a little warped blade .
It will be very hard to fix that problem without taking off a lot metal even that wont do perfect job.
The x pattern is a great idea.
Now Sharpening SS blade is a little different.
Some people will argue with this idea but it is my experience.
they will take edge but not as good as carbon steel.
(it has been a lot discussion and argument about it in early threads)
If you know when you should stop and have right stones i don't think you would have a lot trouble to hone it .
But this is your first SS blade and new condition please send to Pro's to hone it for and fix the problem.
hope this helps.

yeah, warped seems like a possibility. Is that worth returning/exchanging the razor over?

yes if it is brand new and you can return the blade get it replaced ( i am not sure about warranty etc or from where you bought etc) of course it is worth it.
Please at first make sure it is in fact warped blade. hope this helps.

It may be a warped blade. You might consider a conversation with the vendor but we are making a guess here based on your description. Warped blades are not uncommon. I have a few vintage blades in that state. Warped blades can be honed and can give great shaves but it is not something for a beginner to try on a new razor. Then again, we don't know how much hone wear you put on the razor to this point. That may also void what the vendor may be able to do for you. Best option, send it to someone that has been honing for at least several years and lists their service here: Member Services - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

Originally Posted by sliverstorm

yeah, warped seems like a possibility. Is that worth returning/exchanging the razor over?

It really depends. If you bought it from a vendor who does honing and if it came shave ready it is probably typical of many razors in that a good percentage of the time they won't have perfectly symmetrical bevels from point to heel or from one side to the other. In that case they will also end up having a bit of unevenness in spine wear. Those characteristics don't make it a defective razor IMO.

Manufacturing a tissue paper thin hollow ground razor with a spine many times thicker than the edge and getting it exactly 'right' is hit and miss. Like any finely tuned instrument there are tolerances to be maintained. So it is with straight razors. Honing with a heel leading 45 degree angle, the rolling x are methods for dealing with these anomalies. These are advanced honing techniques. If you are dealing with your main shaver it would probably be better to send it to a honemeister, or the original vendor if he is one, to evaluate the razor. If it is within tolerance he can hone it and if not replace it. Just IMHO.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

It really depends. If you bought it from a vendor who does honing and if it came shave ready it is probably typical of many razors in that a good percentage of the time they won't have perfectly symmetrical bevels from point to heel or from one side to the other. In that case they will also end up having a bit of unevenness in spine wear. Those characteristics don't make it a defective razor IMO.

Manufacturing a tissue paper thin hollow ground razor with a spine many times thicker than the edge and getting it exactly 'right' is hit and miss. Like any finely tuned instrument there are tolerances to be maintained. So it is with straight razors. Honing with a heel leading 45 degree angle, the rolling x are methods for dealing with these anomalies. These are advanced honing techniques. If you are dealing with your main shaver it would probably be better to send it to a honemeister, or the original vendor if he is one, to evaluate the razor. If it is within tolerance he can hone it and if not replace it. Just IMHO.

Oh, I'm not worried about perfectly symmetrical. It's more drastic than that. If I compare it to my second (very similar, but carbon steel dovo with a chisel tip) razor that I picked up (because of these issues) if I sharpen in a straight line, the bevel is about half as wide as 'normal' in spots, and twice as wide in other spots. It came 'shave ready', and wasn't like that, so I'm guessing the honer that did it was using one of those compensating techniques. However, the edge was nicked in a few spots on arrival, and would rip tiny pieces of leather out of my strop even when drawn away from the edge. So, I had to drive right into sharpening (I could have sent it back, but I have some experience with regular knives so I thought I'd be ok, and it is like a week and a half shipping both ways. Didn't want to give up my first straight razor for another 3 weeks)

I feel you guys though, I know it's hard to make the blade perfect. I've emailed the vendor I got it from, and we'll see how things pan out. Fingers crossed.

As Sham has said, it is warped, if it is new, have them replace it, if not, send it out to get honed.