Thread: 50 shaves and my opinions on 4 razor brands.

Originally Posted by Daniele

The dovos now use inferior Swedish steel by comparison ...

At the risk of sounding like an ass, may I ask where this opinion comes from and what you are basing it off of? Pretty bold statement.

I think you've hit the nail on the head Onimaru, with regard to weight and stiffness on the ML.
As you say the actual shave is just part of the whole ritual of prep, lathering and post shave pampering. It's the whole package that makes it such a pleasurable experience.

I Knew it! I just knew it!

Bruce

DMA,, I gave you a "like" in your opening post & a "thanks" for your enthusiasm,,,this is good to see in a person new to razors (2 months). Do you really feel you have enough time with the blades to critique them? Maybe ,,, maybe not?

Daniele,,, you took a 3 year vacation & jumped back in the first week of October as the engineer on the Gold Dollar Fast Train,,,,,

Prior to that you had 4 posts since 2007,

Really now,,,,,,,,,

Originally Posted by Daniele

The dovo steel is made in Sweden now if you want to get into it and is inferior to their vintage blades. Just like the Timor blades are by comparison to the older g&f blades.

Im not saying dovo are not good but they're not as good as they used to be.

Dovo razors probably are not as good as they used to be, but what makes you think this is due to the steel? And what makes you think the steel they use now is inferior to the steel used 50-100 years ago? You keep repeating that it just is, which really does not make for a compelling argument.

I, for one, am not buying it. I have used (and honed) a handful of modern production Solingen razors, and they perform equally well or better compared to my vintage Solingen razors. Granted, none of them were Dovo, but that is a moot point, as all Solingen manufacturers use the same blanks from the same steels (depending on the models, of course).

But back on track:

Originally Posted by DMA

[...]After two passes [the Mastro Livi] shaves as close as the others after three, and going round tricky parts on the chin is a breeze. I struggle to get the quality after 3 passes with the Dovo that I can get with the Grifetto after 2.
These are just my thoughts and experiences and I would much rather have 2 Grifetto's than any 5 other razors that I've tried so far. The reason I say that is because the ML's are a bit pricey but you get what you pay for in this world.
I wonder has anyone else got opinions of their regular razors and which do you prefer out of your collections, not so much from the aesthetic point, but from the pure joy of using it to give the best results.
I know I am very inexperienced when compared to the long time SR users but I am definitely feeling a difference between the Brand’s.

DMA, the main differences you experience, to me, seem to be mostly down to edge differences and/or shaving technique. Also, how much time have you spend on shaving with each razor? The learning curve is steep, especially in the beginning, and you seem to change between four razors at least on a regular basis. So if you were to spend, say, two weeks with the Livi and otherwise rotate between the other three this would be a significant variable. Maybe you are more comfortable with the Livi.

A razor skipping over stubble is either due to the edge, insufficient prep and/or wrong angles of approach.

Personally, I would not even consider getting a Livi, because I find the aesthetics off-putting (to put it mildly); I have never seen one I liked. However, I do not doubt that they are functional razors that take a good edge.

As for my favourites: I have none, at least based on shaving results. I get at least a decent to good shave from all of them. I have come to prefer full hollow razors, as I feel they give me the most control and hence, a closer shave, but not any particular one (or two, or five) of them. I would take a 4/8 full hollow Solingen/Eskilstuna over an 8/8 Sheffield every time.

Originally Posted by Daniele

The dovo steel is made in Sweden now if you want to get into it

Written proof, or it never happened. I am, diplomatically put, a little tired of wild claims made without a shred of proof to back them up. It should be easy enough. Outside the realm of "artisan" razors, steel composition is not a secret at all. Write them an e-mail, ask them, report back to us. Thank you.

I know I'm new, and the critique was based on a newbies feelings when shaving. I really know that I'm at the start of a long learning curve, and my comments were based on what I felt whilst shaving.
I spend an awfully Long time prepping, shower and three goes with the hot towels plus pre shave oil and then another hot towel. During this process I build a lather, which fascinates me, watching and feeling the lather build. I tend to start with a little too much water so I spend ages whipping until the air bubbles disappear and it becomes creamy smooth. The razors are all new form SRD so they will have been professionally honed so I don't think that there could be an issue with the edge. That leaves my technique, and I know I'm on the first step of a very long and hopefully enjoyable journey with a lot to learn.
I really appreciate this forum and the help and feedback from all the good people on here. As Hirlau says I am really enthusiastic and I'm maybe putting in too many variables, but my reason for alternating the SR's was to delay the time I would have to refresh them as I find that thought a little daunting because I don't want to mess up a good edge with my ineptitude.
Thanks for the feedback guys and keep it coming, it really helps.

Duncan

Seems like the edges should be good on the Dovo and TI since they came from SRD. So you are down to the difference in grinds and weight between the razors as making the difference. A heavier stiffer grind is usually easier to shave with at the start. You may find down the road that as your technique improves the shave from the Dovo and TI will improve also.

Bob

There are a lot of factor that go into a razors performance, the largest of which is the operator. I have found in talking with a lot of new shavers that they prefer heavier razors, interestingly, I prefer lighter razors… It may be that the weight of the razor compensates for technique or lack of keeness a bit.

Don’t know that steel makes all that much a difference in the edge, at the shave, it is either sharp and smooth or it’s not, but steel quality will make a difference in edge life. I have honed some RSO and got them to shave, some pretty well, but edge life is another story… And I have honed new “Custom” razors that are too hard and have given me fits in getting an edge, though one a good edge is obtained it can have a good life span, depending on maintenance.

With the Chinese razors, some shave very well, some don’t, I have honed a few.

With new shavers, it is maintenance that often dictates edge life and shave quality. I always send a letter with a freshly honed razor instructing the shaver to simply wipe the oil from the blade and shave, NOT to strop the razor for the first shave. At least they will get one good shave from the razor.

So, just because one gets a “Better” shave from one razor does not mean one razor or steel is “Better” than others. As with much of this hobby it is all subjective. Do what floats you boat. I’ll still collect Vintage razors.

I just debunked my theory of my original post!
Just had a great shave with my Dovo, kept the blade angle very low, no spring in the razor and it was one of the very few shaves where the styptic pencil didn't need to be deployed.