Thread: Shave ready, my @rse!

I received a very kind present from my inlaws at Christmas which was a gift voucher for George Trumper's in London. last week I went in and had a shaving lesson and bought a new razor, a Dovo Bismarck, which is beautiful. I was told that it was fully shave ready.

This evening I shaved with it.

OUCH!

Took two passes on one cheek and put it back down. Finished with my other razor.

Couldn't believe how much it tugged and hurt. So now I have to decide whether to go all the way back to 1000 grit waterstone and start from there or at 4000 or 8000 on my Nortons. I took a few passes on the 8000 and it improved a bit but not enough.

Be grateful for suggestions of where to start with a razor like this, it's the first time I've bought one brand new, my previous razor was an ebay special which shaves very well, but I took it to 1k and up through the process as it was past it's best when I bought it.

Alternatively, I could send it to a honing specialist and have it done properly first time so I have something to judge it against.

Justin.

It is rare that a Dovo will shave well out of the box regardless of claims made. I normally start on the 4K with a new one followed by an 8K and 12K with a finish of 10 strokes on Chromium Oxide or diamond paste and then strop and test shave. There are a few guys close to you who hone razors and it might not be a bad idea to have one of them hone it for you first time.

Have fun,

Lynn

It sounds to me as if that razor needs a proper bevel set on it.
If it is new, and the bevel has never been set properly, that's what I would do.

Another route is to go down to your 4K and up from there, see how that changes things.
It could be all that is needed, but as I said earlier, I would wanna start off with a properly set bevel and hone it from there.

Edit:
Lynn is fast)

My first razor was from Trumpers and it definitely was shave ready. I'd say it might be technique but if you have a blade that you honed that shaves fine then its possible the DOVO needs honing, rather than shaving technique.

Personally I would start with the 1k. You dont know what was done to the blade beforehand and I find its easier to simply start again from the beginning with a known bevel that you've put on and go from there. Just make sure that you can shave arm hair off the 1k and that the bevel is totally set before you move onto the 4k. If its not then the higher grit stones wont do anything other than give you a highly polished but dull edge. It doesnt take much on the 1k, but for me thats just what I prefer to do.

If you want an independent honing I'm happy to hone her up for you for the cost of postage. Just PM me if you're interested!

EDIT: Lynn really is fast! Also, theres a http://straightrazorpalace.com/get-t...-razorcon.html gathering on the 16th of July which is worth coming along to as there will be a load of honing going on there.

The main thing is that you knew something was wrong, and knew how to find out what to do about that. Some people must buy them and just assume straight razors are all like that. If straight razors, brought properly into use, were a more frequent repeat purchase, the makers might protect their interests better.

Months ago I bought a Dovo Bismarck and it was shave ready by the factory. No doubt about it

Originally Posted by Stubear

If you want an independent honing I'm happy to hone her up for you for the cost of postage. Just PM me if you're interested!

EDIT: Lynn really is fast! Also, theres a http://straightrazorpalace.com/get-t...-razorcon.html gathering on the 16th of July which is worth coming along to as there will be a load of honing going on there.

Thanks Stu for your offer, again, this is why this place is such a cool place to hang out...you guys should meet up with as close as you guys are. I checked the maps and would make for a nice evening...

Justin, you should try to make the meet if at all possible, would definitely be worth your time!
Scott

Thanks for all the replies, great advice. I've found this morning that the metal edging around inlay on the handle is coming away, so it'll be going back to Trumpers for replacement. I'll try the new one when I get it and then either send it out for honing or take it to my 1k and work up from there.

I've been shaving on and off with a straight for about 3 years, so my technique is reasonable and I can always use my shavette to test against a known sharp edge. I've never managed to hone my straight to be as sharp as the shavette, but I'm certainly getting edges a lot better than that of the bismarck I bought.

Stu: I was at the razorcon a couple of years ago, which I think was the first, up in Birmingham. Didn't make last years and this year I'm away filming until the 15th, and that schedule may push further, depending on unforeseen things happening once we're on location. I might be able to make it if I'm home, as I live up near Harrow so it's not far away, will very much depend on filming and how tired I am after travelling back.

Cheers,

Justin.

Originally Posted by mr_magicfingers

I was told that it was fully shave ready.

Forgive them for they know not what they do. Your thought about sending it out to a honemeister is a good one. As you said, so you'll have one to compare your own efforts to when you hone your others.

I've been pretty fortunate with the new razors I've purchased. I couple weren't entirely shave ready. I just had to go to the 8k and finishers to get them ready. The worst is a TI that has a really long blade and a worked spine. I'm not even going to mess with it. Just going to send it out to the pros.