Hello From Boston!

Hello All,

My name is John and I'm from Boston MA. I recently got into straight razor shaving after a co-worker convinced me to buy one (actually I bought two), and I've been really getting into the whole idea of it! In all honesty it's only been a few weeks that I've been researching it, and I HAVEN'T even started to shave yet as I'm still waiting for my razors to arrive!!

So I have invested in a DOVO Best Quality 5/8" Hollow, and a cheaper Gold Dollar 6/8" Hollow to learn on. The thing is, I ordered the DOVO straight from Amazon, and I don't believe they're exactly shave-ready from the factory (are they?). It wasn't until after I placed the order that I found out that there are other on-line vendors that will hone the blade for you prior to delivering it. So what did I do? I went and bought a Norton 4k/8k Waterstone, and I am determined to learn how to hone the DOVO myself!!


I guess my question is: How likely am I to screw the DOVO up by learning how to hone with it? I watched some Youtube vids of people using the Norton Waterstone to hone straight razors, and I said to myself "Hey...that doesn't look too hard!!"... I'm a mechanical engineer and am used to working with my hands, and I know how to hone a knife, so I'm hoping I'll be OK. My plan is to just go VERY slow & steady, using even pressure across the whole blade. I will then perform a HHT and TPT to test sharpness...

So what do you think...Am I getting in way over my head, or is learning how to shave AND hone at the same time a realistic proposition? I appreciate any feedback you guys may have!! I also look forward to being part of a community where I can ask questions as I learn about how to do this!!

Cheeers!

John

Good choice with the Dovo. Some of them come with a decent enough blade to shave with after stropping, but if you want to ensure that your first shave is the best you can do, have it honed by someone who knows what they are doing. Honing a knife is different than honing a sharp tool to scrape across your tender cheeks, practice on the Gold Dollar, and then compare it to the edge on your Dovo after it's been done by someone who has experience.

A fantastic source to learn to hone is right here on this site in the "Hones" forum.

There is probably someone in the Boston area that may even do it for you at no cost, that's the great thing about this forum, the guys are always willing to lend a hand to a newby.

Read the Wiki in the "Library" pull down. The wealth of information there is indispensable for a new SR shaver. Search past posts for many of your questions, and if you don't find suitable answers, start your own thread, and you soon will.

Welcome to the group.

The Dovo best quality is a good razor, my first too, and I'm still using it in my rotation. Straight from the factory it's honed but not shave ready. That exrta difficulty you'd better avoid and get it honed and stropped by a professional. The Gold Dollar has bad quality control, therefore you don't know how much effort it will require to get shave ready.
Use the Gold Dollar to practice adn don't touch at Dovo unless you master the whole process. Getting the Gold Dollar pass the HHT can be a difficult exercise and a good training. If you succeed then(only after) you can go to the Dovo.
Norton 4/8k is good, but:
Not enough to go shave ready, add a good strop.
Maybe not enough to get the Gold Dollar correctly honed. Should it have a wrong geometry, you would better need 1k stone.

Ps look for relevant posts and videos here, you are going to find all what you need.
Pps welcome

Thanks for the replies! I should've added that I did buy a Fromm strop, so I'm waiting for that as well. I'm thinking that I will just find someone in the area who will hone my DOVO for me the first time as I'd hate to mess it up right off the bat. Ultimately though I would really like to learn the art of Honing, so I think I'll do what you guys said and practice on the Gold Dollar...

Thx again for the replies

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jpcwon

Thanks for the replies! I should've added that I did buy a Fromm strop, so I'm waiting for that as well. I'm thinking that I will just find someone in the area who will hone my DOVO for me the first time as I'd hate to mess it up right off the bat. Ultimately though I would really like to learn the art of Honing, so I think I'll do what you guys said and practice on the Gold Dollar...

Thx again for the replies

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Good call!

"Messing it up" is one problem. The other problem:

. . . You won't know when it's _right_ unless you have a "known-good" razor to compare it against.

I started out honing my first vintage razor, and shaving with it. It was only after I got a Dovo from SRD (which had been touched by Lynn before shipping) that I understood what "sharp" realy meant. It gave me something to aim for.

. . Charles

Welcome to SRP :)

There are a few guys in the Boston area. Here is a partial list...

http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...sername&order=