Hello all from the Dallas area!!

Here's a warm greeting to all the contributors on this site that make it the jewel of information that it is.

I'm not new to wet shaving as I've been DE shaving for over a year. That has been fun and rewarding but the straight razor bug bit me a few weeks ago and my journey has begun.

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I picked up a like new Dovo Special 5/8 which is beautiful in my eyes anyway (proud new parent). Anxious to use it, I found reference to a cutlery shop here in Plano that supposedly hones razors so I took it in yesterday. An hour and $10 dollars later I rushed home to have my maiden SR shave.

First I'll admit that my first SR shave was much more of a fine motor skill challenge than I thought it was going to be. I was convinced after watching countless videos that this would be a breeze. I was humbled, especially trying to use my left hand which I abandoned quickly (for my first shave anyway). I didn't nick myself, but I was surprised at the pulling and discomfort I had.

This is where I don't know what to attribute to form and what to attribute to the edge of the razor. Good beard prep is not new to me so I can comfortably rule that out. The razor could not pass the HHT test but it could shave my arm. My knife does that though and I wouldn't attempt to shave with it. I really want to think that the razor wasn't really shave ready. I was so ready for this razor to "mow down" my growth like I see in videos but in reality I couldn't even get it to go through my chin whiskers.

I do plan on doing my own honing eventually, but I feel like I need to have a standard to begin with. I am familiar with the big honemeisters on the forums, but would really like to get a good hone here locally if possible. Any recommendations in the Dallas area?

Thanks again for the site.

Drew

Hi Drew,
Welcome to SRP!! It's the same for everyone in the beginning trying to figure out which aspect of the first shaves went wrong. Usually, it's a combination of all of them. Sounds like you're pretty sure of your prep, so from what you describe I'd say the razor probably was not honed to a shave ready state. Unless the cutlery place you took it to is knowledgable in honing razors they have no idea what a shave ready razor edge is! There are quite a few DFW members and they may chime in here, but if you don't hear anything in a day or so, I'd repost a thread in the beginners forum or maybe the honing forum and probably more will see it and can maybe offer some local help, or know of some place in DFW that is qualified to hone razors.

I'm sure technique played a part also, it always does in the beginning, but until you have a truly shave ready razor, there's no way to really evaluate it. I will say though, when your razor is honed to shave ready, start with a flatter plane of the blade on your face and then slightly increase the angle until it shaves. If you start with a high angle and intend to lower the angle, you run a much great risk of getting an annoying cut/slice.

Also, read through our wiki (library) the link is at the bottom of my post. It will help a great deal. Glad to have you on board, and if I can help, I'm about 2 1/2 to 3 hours north.

Best Regards,
Howard

Edit: I see that you've already posted in the "shaving with a straight razor" forum. Good going!! You'll get plenty of responses there!!

To locate SRP guys in your area use this search screen and fill in the "Location" field. I tried DFW, Dallas, Texas and Tx. There are a lot of names!

http://straightrazorpalace.com/memberlist.php?do=search

"I do plan on doing my own honing eventually, but I feel like I need to have a standard to begin with. I am familiar with the big honemeisters on the forums, but would really like to get a good hone here locally if possible. Any recommendations in the Dallas area?"

Drew: this first line is *uncommon* wisdom. Bravo!

While I don't know each one, Texas has always had an extremely high concentration of VERY talented guys - in razors and other crafts. Randy's suggestion is excellent. I would recommend it highly. Pulling, harshness from a fresh edge is not supposed to happen. Should you have trouble finding some help, pm me. I'm not in Tx, but would gladly hone for nothing but actual envelope/postage cost to get it back to you. Those Dovos are worthy shavers, and it should be putting smiles on your smoothed-out face.

Texas guys: can you help here?

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