Thread: Cutting my teeth on a Cut-Throat

Witch Hazel is good addition. I like the stuff and it is a good astringent to use after a shave.

You will like the septic pencil, I use it on all types of small cuts and it works well, burns a little but works well.

Originally Posted by Bodach

Greetings, I've lurked on most of the shaving sites I could find for months now and I've finally decided to take the plunge. At my stage in life, I am fortunate enough to have more money than sense, so I jumped in the deep-end and picked up everything I think I will need. If anyone is interested in critiquing the setup I would appreciate knowing where I went wrong or what dangers I should look out for with what I picked up. With that, here is the setup:

Razor: Professionally-Honed DOVO All Stainless Steel, 5/8
Brush: Rooney Shaving Brush, Style 3, Medium, "Super Silvertip"
Strop: American Made 3" Extra Wide Mountain Strop
Shaving Cream: Castle Forbes Essential Oil Shaving Cream
Oops Stick: Pinaud/Clubman "Nick Relief"

Now, if you will indulge me, I have a couple of questions that I could not resolve in my research.

1) Is the "Professionally-Honed DOVO All Stainless Steel, 5/8" shave ready? They had "factory honed" and "professionally honed", but I'm still not sure that means shave-ready.

2) On the recommendation of the wiki here, I did not buy a hone at all. Am I naive enough to believe that you can, for the life of the razor, merely keep it sharp using the fabric and leather sides of the strop? This was one aspect of the whole straight razor business I found a hard time finding an answer to.

Other than that, I'm looking forward to liberal use of the styptic pen as I wander down the road of straight razors as I will use it for both my head and face.

Regards,

Bodach, cut-throat in training

I've continued to research this topic and I found a website in the UK, Dovo Razors UK, that has an 11-page informational PDF for new users on general knowledge for the new buyer. The bookmarks include:

1) Buying Your First Straight Razor: Some Points To Keep In Mind
2) Using your straight razor.
3) Preparing for your first shave.
4) Stropping the razor.
5) Honing the razor.

This link will take you there and you can download it for some information that may or may not be common knowledge to you guys. I love this forum, thanks guys.

Originally Posted by jeffegg2

No problem, it's your money. The Filly is a good quality strop to learn on, and makes a nice pasted strop when you move to your "best gear". It was sound advice when given to me, and I only passed it on to you.

Jeffegg2,

I just found an article on a "paddle strop". All I seem to read about stropping is to keep it tight and straight and use no pressure. Well, wouldn't buying a "paddle strop" eliminate keeping the strop tight? What don't I know about a paddle strop? It seems the best of both worlds.

Bodach

Yeah, I realize I'm replying to my own post, but can you shave every single day with a straight razor? I've gone back and forth from a single blade disposable up through the 5-blade Gillete Fusion ProGlide. Currently, I can only shave every other day or two no matter what blade I use. Is the straight razor, with appropriately conditioned skin (never had a brush or anything but can foam), shave me ever day and not ruin my skin?

Originally Posted by Bodach

...can you shave every single day with a straight razor?

I normally shave Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Mostly because I am lazy... But since I have ditched my disposable and caned foam I am desiring a daily shave.

Not sure if my skin can hold up to it yet.

The second shave was a strange mixture of delight and frustration. I prepped my face as I did before in this thread, but I now have another razor. My first shave was with the full stainless steel Dovo 5/8 full hollow ground that was 'shave ready'. I also ordered a Dovo Bergischer Lowe 5/8 from Lynn. As I understand it, the SS is well, a stainless steel blade, but the Bergischer Lowe is a carbon steel blade. I thought it might behoove to try both to experience the difference.

My second shave was two days after my initial shave so I really do not think my 'technique' took a fabulous leap forward; however shaving with Lynn's blade made an enormous difference.

I started with my dominant hand cheek, used pure WTG short strokes with the Bergischer Lowe and it was very comfortable and did not tug and pull and hurt like the stainless steel blade did. I noted my angle and pulled out the SS blade and continued from where I was and low and behold it tugged and pulled--yes I had my skin taught this time. Is this tug and pull a by-product of the stainless steel blade or might I have received a less than shave-ready blade in the Dovo SS? As this is only the second time I've ever put a blade to my face I don't have the knowledge or experience to know the difference, and that's where I'm relying on you guys.

The Bergischer Lowe blade from Lynn was scratched to hell and looks terrible, but it shaves well. What do I mean by 'scratched to hell'? The curve of the blade is lined with vertical scratches from the spine to the edge all along the curve of the blade. Maybe this is part of honing and sharpening to get 'shave ready' or maybe it isn't, I just do not know. I am not blaming anyone, I simply do not know enough about this yet to know if this is common and normal or if it came that way from the factory or if something else happened. I really do not like the way the blade looks all scratched up, but again I am relying on you guys to let me know if this is normal.

Since the second shaves first pass on my dominate hand went so well with the Bergischer Lowe I lubed up my off-hand side and went for it. I actually used my off-hand and it was shaky but it worked fairly well. I did the side burn section as well as just a bit of the main cheek. Again, the Bergischer Lowe was really pretty smooth and the SS Dovo tugged and was more uncomfortable. Naturally, as this is my off-hand I nicked myself a couple of times, one which is still bleeding after 20 minutes, but it's a small price to pay for me.

After my second shave, my follow-on questions are:

1) Are SS and carbon steel blades inherently different in how they shave and the angle needed etc. or did I get a bum SS? They are both 5/8 full hollow ground from Dovo.
2) Is a professionally honed blade supposed to come with scratches all over the blade from spine to edge?

Do not misunderstand this post, I love the idea of using a straight razor, I am going to continue at it, but I do have some questions. By the way, for any new guys reading this thread, the Castle Forbes lavender cream is incredible!

Regards,

Bodach

Many like the paddle strop, and I see how it would be much flatter. I like the hanging strops because they look so "classic" and the coolness factor.

Originally Posted by Bodach

Jeffegg2,

I just found an article on a "paddle strop". All I seem to read about stropping is to keep it tight and straight and use no pressure. Well, wouldn't buying a "paddle strop" eliminate keeping the strop tight? What don't I know about a paddle strop? It seems the best of both worlds.

Bodach

I think you probably are feeling the difference in honing method. You are really kinda knew to be a judge of "sharpness". If I were you, I would continue to use the blade that "feels right" until you are much more solid in your technique. Then sometime you can return to the other blade to better judge it's feel and sharpness.

I received a razor honed by Lynn, and it felt just a tad harsh. I gave it a few strokes on a CrOx'd strop and it has been my favorite ever since!!

.

Originally Posted by Bodach

After my second shave, my follow-on questions are:

1) Are SS and carbon steel blades inherently different in how they shave and the angle needed etc. or did I get a bum SS? They are both 5/8 full hollow ground from Dovo.
2) Is a professionally honed blade supposed to come with scratches all over the blade from spine to edge?

Do not misunderstand this post, I love the idea of using a straight razor, I am going to continue at it, but I do have some questions. By the way, for any new guys reading this thread, the Castle Forbes lavender cream is incredible!

Regards,

Bodach

Originally Posted by Bodach

1) Are SS and carbon steel blades inherently different in how they shave and the angle needed etc. or did I get a bum SS? They are both 5/8 full hollow ground from Dovo.
2) Is a professionally honed blade supposed to come with scratches all over the blade from spine to edge?

1) SS blades or Carbon blades both shave great when optimally honed.
2) No a honed razor should not be all scratched up but you seem to be unsure if it came that way from the factory..