Thread: Dovo Razor constantly needs honing?

Hey guys,


Okay its been about a year since I've been on here and just as long since I have tried shaving with my straight. I received a Dovo straight razor as a gift and used it a handful of times, I had a tough time stropping it and after a few times the razor began to pull and tug...I figured I had dulled the blade with my beginner/poor stropping techniques, So I sent the blade out for honing. The gentleman who honed my blade told me that regardless of my stropping abilities my Dovo razor was of a poor quality and would need consistent honing every few weeks.

So at the time I was a little demotivated after being gifted a $180 razor to hear it isn't really usable. I had thought honing was something that was done every 6 months or so? I guess it depends on how often you shave and how good you are at shaving and stropping.

After all that my question is....do I need to find a new razor? The gentleman had told me Dovo switched owners or factories or who knows what but that the quality wasn't there anymore. Is this true about all Dovos or just mine?

Trying to get back in the game and looking for the right direction to go. New razor? Non Dovo? Or is my razor okay? Poor quality Dovo?

Any and all help is very appreciated.

Thanks in advance guys. Heres my razor:

You should be just fine with that blade and it shouldn't need constant honing. I'd be interested what brought the person who honed it to the conclusion that your blade was of poor quality? Proper stropping technique should keep your razor up to snuff and it only needing a touchup on a stone every so often (approx. 6 months if it's your only blade)

Well he told me that from what he could see it was a poor quality blade and he also told me something about Dovo being just a name and not what they use to be. I guess over the internet it would be impossible for someone to tell me if my blade has some weird defect and is in fact of poor quality.

I have not touched the blade since I got it back in the mail after it was honed about a year ago, due to the thought of having to have it honed every 1-2 weeks just to keep the blade decent.

I don't know maybe he wanted business or maybe I somehow messed it up real bad by stropping it improperly?

I guess I should strop it and try it out. Do you hone your own blades Cat, or can you suggest someone who offers a honing service?

Did you question why he thought it necessary to hone every few weeks? To me that suggests that the edge breaks down quickly which calls into question the quality of steel, which is something you can surely go back to the supplier for and at least request a replacement.

It's not unknown for Dovo to have quality problems but the ones I've come across are usually of the uneven spine type that create difficulties when honing.

Thanks for the reply UKRob, I guess I don't know what to look for when looking at the blade to question it's quality but if it consistently is losing it's edge I suppose that it could be that. Tough spot seeing as my stropping probably does not help any so it could be quality control or it could be my stropping is breaking down the edge?

This was over a year ago sadly I may have to bite the bullet on this one as I should have called the supplier when I was told the blade was of a poor quality.

By the way happy holidays to everybody.

All razors might need a touch up every 3-4 weeks depending on factors such as beard type, stropping, blade care etc. For me, if I use one blade a lot in a month I will need to refresh it with a CrOx pasted paddle or in the worst case a barber hone. A razor should only need to hit the stones for a real honing (going lower than a 8k hone) maybe twice per year tops if it's your only razor and you use it daily. There should be lot of people on here that will help you with honing and or checking out your blade for issues. Also contact the vendor who sold the razor as they might offer honing.

I haven't heard anything bad about the higher end Dovo's like yours, I have seen a few of the Dovo entry level razor have some issues over the years.

Originally Posted by ElSonador

Well he told me that from what he could see it was a poor quality blade and he also told me something about Dovo being just a name and not what they use to be. I guess over the internet it would be impossible for someone to tell me if my blade has some weird defect and is in fact of poor quality.

I have not touched the blade since I got it back in the mail after it was honed about a year ago, due to the thought of having to have it honed every 1-2 weeks just to keep the blade decent.

I don't know maybe he wanted business or maybe I somehow messed it up real bad by stropping it improperly?

I guess I should strop it and try it out. Do you hone your own blades Cat, or can you suggest someone who offers a honing service?

Hmmm…interesting, Dovo are quality blades and it should be just fine IMO. I do hone my own blades, and you can find someone in the Member Services Section of the Classifieds that is close to you to maybe give you a second opinion on that blade.

Originally Posted by UKRob

To me that suggests that the edge breaks down quickly which calls into question the quality of steel....

To me it suggests that the "honer" either doesn't know what he's talking about or is trying to convince the OP to spend $20 a pop very 2 weeks on his services

ElSonador, I suppose I can't completely discount the possibility of a defective razor, but it sounds like this guy is basing his opinion on prejudice and is taking you for a ride. Edge longevity is based on many factors (steel, shaving/stropping technique, prep, whisker density etc) and the simple fact is your edges will eventually last longer as you gain experience. At this point you don't have much practice AND you took a very long break. As you get back in the game and gain experience it will get better, I guarantee.

I have that identical razor and it takes a beautiful shaving edge. Try a different honer next time. Dovos are fairly reliable shavers in general.

Thanks for all the replies guys. I guess I gotta get a second opinion from another honer and also work on my stropping skills.

Enjoy the holidays. Cheers.