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Thread: Dovo vs Bengall

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    There is no charge for Awesomeness Jimbo's Avatar
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    Default Dovo vs Bengall

    Hello All,

    Long time lurker, first time poster

    I have, hopefully, a quick question/comment. I bought a new Dovo about 6 months ago (cheapest, white plastic handle, 5/8 - I think...). It now needs a hone, and I bought a Norton 4k/8k combo stone after reading some posts from the group. My father-in-law gave me his grandfather's (!) old Bengall 3/4 to practice on and things went really well - I'm shaving with this now.

    However, I've noticed that the Dovo is taking considerably longer to sharpen than the Bengall. I'm thinking (hoping) this is just a matter of the different carbon compositions of the two blades, but I'm not sure. Does anyone have any experience sharpening Dovos?

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    Knife & Razor Maker Joe Chandler's Avatar
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    I've got some experience sharpening both Dovos and Bengalls....usually the Bengall is much harder to hone, unless you got a stainless Dovo. The Bengall is a much better razor, IMO.

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    Joe,

    Thanks for the reply. I'm guessing that my Dovo must be stainless steel - I don't know this for sure, but would make sense in light of your comment. I also agree that the old Bengall is a much better razor than the Dovo I bought (I wish I knew then what I know now...).

    Anyway, if the Dovo is stainless it will still sharpen, just take a lot longer?

    Thanks,

    James.

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    The Hurdy Gurdy Man thebigspendur's Avatar
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    I have a dovo stainless and I believe all the dovo stainless razors are so marked. Yes thay take longer to hone but not really tremendously longer. I would think the bengall would take about equal time as the dovo stainless.
    No matter how many men you kill you can't kill your successor-Emperor Nero

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    OK. I'm at work at the moment and can't check my razor, but I'm pretty sure it isn't marked anywhere as being stainless steel. I know I should know what my razor is made of, but I received very little info. from the people I bought it off - I think they may have had even less idea than I had at the time, but that's a story for another time and forum, I guess.

    The Dovo is definitely taking more work than the Bengall. Perhaps I am subconsciously pulling my punches with the shiny new Dovo

    James.

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    Electric Razor Aficionado
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    Is it marked "inox" or some such? That's a common stainless indicator on german razors.

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    I have come across an occasional Dovo that didn't come up to the edge I like, but have never come across a Bengall in decent shape that didn't sharpen up really nice.

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    FXR
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    James

    I have a dovo that has been reluctant to hone, however I have always found Bengall's good to hone. If you are still having ihoning ssues with the Dovo razor and you want to discuss, PM me as I just happen to live in Brisbane and may be able to assist.

    John

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    Senior Member Gregg's Avatar
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    You may be "pulling your punches" on the Dovo. I have a tendancy to think the new shavers should be quicker to take a shave sharp edge but in many cases they do not. I purchased a Straight Razor Place Thiers from Classic Shaving. It was a pain in the butt to get sharp in comparison with other razors I have honed.

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    Hello everyone,

    Sorry for taking so long to reply, I've been away from my computer for a few days. However, I've done some research in that time and my Dovo is definitely not stainless steel.

    After reading your replies (thank you - this forum is excellent) I went away and exhibited some patience. I'm happy to say that I've got the Dovo "shave sharp" - perhaps even better than when I first bought it (feels that way, anyway).

    Just as an aside, on the weekend my father in law gave me another two razors: another (very rusty) Bengall ("+Extra+ Hollow Ground" - just looks bigger to me, but I'll have a read around) and a "Geo Wostenholm" in pretty good shape. Looks like I'll be gettin plenty more honing practice before I'm through .

    Thanks again,

    James.

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