Dovo 6/8" Straight Razor

Hey guys,

My Razor (Dovo 6/8" Straight Razor) just arrived a couple of days ago and I stropped it prior to trying my razor out for the first time unfortunately the first shave didn't go all that well, I didn't end up cutting myself at all, but it had to be the most uncomfortable shave I've ever had in my entire life, the razor was just raking/scratching and pulling my skin like crazy, the closest thing I can relate it to is if you're using a regular razor and the blade has chips or nicks in it. It didn't seem to have an issue cutting the hair itself, it was just EXTREMELY uncomfortable. I'm thinking that the blade may need to be honed, I noticed when I ordered it, some of the straight razors that they have, they give you the option to pay an extra $5-10 and they'll hone the blade for you, but the one I ordered it didn't give me that option. I'm wondering if there are any good places in the US I could send it to, to get it done? There are a few cutlery shops around my area but I've heard of people taking their razors into those places and upon it's return it's either been screwed up or they did a piss poor job. As far as the initial shave goes, I know the angle at which you hold the blade is important (I've been told to hold it at a 30 degree angle or there abouts) I initially thought that might be my problem, but I switched it up numerous times and still had the same issue. Seeing as this is my first straight razor I figured I should defer to the experts for advice!

Thanks,
Dieter

Let me start by saying Welcome to SRP. You have come to the right place. Unless you buy a custom made razor its not going to be "shave ready". They may say it is but the edge is not honed by hand. They do t have the time to do that at a factory. Sometimes you can get lucky and find one sharp but its just not the best of edges.

GSSixgun is our resident pro honer so send him a PM. He will fix you up. You may get a PM from a member close by you who can help but glen gssixgun does honing and repairs for a living.

Angle!

This is not a Safety razor. Forget you heard 30 degrees. The thickness of the spine of a straight razor is the amount of space you want between the spine and your skin. That is about the right angle.

Check out our library. We have a section on newbies learning to use a straight razor. Its full of great info. Stick around and dont give up. After you have a shave ready razor and have shaved with it about 100 times you will then start to understand how it works. It takes time so keep at it.

Ask questions and we will be happy to help you. Its best to have 2 razors so one can be sent of for honing and you can continue shaving with the other. Id recommend a vintage razor bought off our Buy, sell,trade thread. It will come shave ready by one of us.

So welcome to the old way of shaving.

Welcome to the forum. The only thing I'd add to what Jerry has said is that it is possible for a beginner to damage the edge through poor stropping technique. If you do get your razor honed, do not strop it before first use. That way you will know what a shave ready edge feels like and if it feels worse after you strop it for the second shave you will know that your stropping technique needs improving.

It really does take a while for everything to fall into place, so take your time and have patience.

Bob

Welcome to the forum!

The rule of thumb is 100 shaves before it all comes together for a new user

I’ll add that even if the blade is really shave ready(not likely) you have no experience with a straight. Like Dave said it takes time but once there it’s quite easy and pleasant. I had razors in the beginning I thought were dull. Put them up and ordered more, later on I revisited and they shaved fine. Expecting instant gratification really is kinda dumb.

Stropping is the most important aspect of this way of shaving, so expect that to take a while, most can’t improve an edge stropping for months.

Prep helps in the beginning to get your beard ready, this will change later as you start to get it.

All this boils down to is if you are willing to learn, read the library first, ask questions and your on the right path by wanting to get someone to hone for you, that will set you up for success. Gssixgun is a great choice, he does mine, plus we have several around the country but he’s up in northern Idaho.

You never said anything about brush and soap. Canned goo ain’t for this sport

Hello and welcome to the forum

Pay attention to what has been said.
Speed is your enemy when shaving and stropping.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Enjoy the learning process.

Pete <:-}

I have been shaving with a straight razor for around 7 years now and still am learning. Get to know your face! That's very important! It's all about your face and knowing how to use the razor. Then you can start working on your honing skills. Like TC said, stropping is critical for a comfortable, sharp, well maintained blade. Give yourself some time and you'll be fine.
Good luck and talk with gssixgun. He'll help you!

Oh yea, welcome to the forum! Lot's of help and learning here with these fine gentlemen!

Yea, good advice here.

Before worrying about keen edges you need to learn to use the instrument and that takes time. In a way it's a cart before the horse thing because no matter how sharp the razor is if you use it improperly you will never get a good shave.

I recall saying many years ago, get a cheap garbage razor and take the edge off it so it's as dull as a butter knife and practice with the stroke and angle and pressure. Also, map out your beard so you know how to approach the shave. The 30 degree thing is a jumping off point. The thing with a straight is you alter the angle to meet the needs of your face so the angle adjustments are infinite.

Welcome to our site and practice, practice, practice.

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Originally Posted by Gasman

..... They do t have the time to do that at a factory. Sometimes you can get lucky and find one sharp but its just not the best of edges.

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Great advice here Jerry - but I cannot agree to what you have said above. In the great Solingen times it was absolutely self-evident that all razors were honed to shave ready before they leave the facility. Scaling and honing was a seperate job beside razor grinding - done by special educated people. And it was an honour and understood craftmanship that each and every razor was honed and finished properly.
Of course shave ready in former times didn't mean maybe exactly what we or some specialists in honing nowadays except from shave ready.
But it is for me not understandable that - lets say some of the remaining larger companies in Solingen - who are still very proud to put "Solingen" on each razor, knife and scissor, deliver such bad quality, as well in grinding sometimes and also in honing. I spoke with a lot these companies the last years in Solingen and often about the quality in honing.
The first thing even a newcommer recognize if he buy a razor is, if he can have a (more or less, depending on the experience) comfortable shave with it. He don't look at the quality of grinding, that comes later, but he recognizes immediately if the razor is really sharp. And I can't really understand why the companies don't care about that, even if they know about these circumstances! And that cannot cost any extra cent more. Comfortable keenness is a necessary precondition for each razor!
But talking and talking doesn't help - at leats with some companies. There are others who are doing better though, still keeping the honour of good craftmanship allive.

Sorry but could not hold back the above tirade.

If for what reason ever, Glen or other good honers in the States don't have the time or possibility, send the razor to me back to Germany I will hone it for free. It is a shame.

Regards Peter

I agree with ya Peter. But it is such a shame that when buying a Dovo now its such a hit and miss. Finding a real shave ready edge or a solid proper grind would be such a positive thing. I think even those of us who own many razors might buy a new or special Dovo razor now and then. Think of the sales they could have.

Well it is possible that it was a factory edge. There are a few sellers that hand hone every razor before it is sent out. You did not mention where it was purchased. Factory edges, as said are very hit and miss. Gssixgun is close by in north Idaho. I have no idea if anyone is closer. There is the whole shave and strop experience, that also as mentioned is paramount to getting a good shave. I have seen more than one straight razor shaving video on YouTube showing poor technique. Geo fat boy does some good straight razor shave videos. A good stropping video
https://youtu.be/7C6NlY_NEXQ

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hatzicho

Great advice here Jerry - but I cannot agree to what you have said above. In the great Solingen times it was absolutely self-evident that all razors were honed to shave ready before they leave the facility. Scaling and honing was a seperate job beside razor grinding - done by special educated people. And it was an honour and understood craftmanship that each and every razor was honed and finished properly.
Of course shave ready in former times didn't mean maybe exactly what we or some specialists in honing nowadays except from shave ready.
But it is for me not understandable that - lets say some of the remaining larger companies in Solingen - who are still very proud to put "Solingen" on each razor, knife and scissor, deliver such bad quality, as well in grinding sometimes and also in honing. I spoke with a lot these companies the last years in Solingen and often about the quality in honing.
The first thing even a newcommer recognize if he buy a razor is, if he can have a (more or less, depending on the experience) comfortable shave with it. He don't look at the quality of grinding, that comes later, but he recognizes immediately if the razor is really sharp. And I can't really understand why the companies don't care about that, even if they know about these circumstances! And that cannot cost any extra cent more. Comfortable keenness is a necessary precondition for each razor!
But talking and talking doesn't help - at leats with some companies. There are others who are doing better though, still keeping the honour of good craftmanship allive.

Sorry but could not hold back the above tirade.

If for what reason ever, Glen or other good honers in the States don't have the time or possibility, send the razor to me back to Germany I will hone it for free. It is a shame.

Regards Peter

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In times past on this site I've said many times products reflect the times they are manufactured in. No matter where in the world you live (well, almost) in times way past a man was judged by his labor. If a man went into a store to buy a razor and it was not shave ready that was a defective razor plain and simple.

It was either replaced (not repaired) or the shopkeeper might have found himself on the way to the hospital.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hatzicho

Great advice here Jerry - but I cannot agree to what you have said above. In the great Solingen times it was absolutely self-evident that all razors were honed to shave ready before they leave the facility. Scaling and honing was a seperate job beside razor grinding - done by special educated people. And it was an honour and understood craftmanship that each and every razor was honed and finished properly.
Of course shave ready in former times didn't mean maybe exactly what we or some specialists in honing nowadays except from shave ready.
But it is for me not understandable that - lets say some of the remaining larger companies in Solingen - who are still very proud to put "Solingen" on each razor, knife and scissor, deliver such bad quality, as well in grinding sometimes and also in honing. I spoke with a lot these companies the last years in Solingen and often about the quality in honing.
The first thing even a newcommer recognize if he buy a razor is, if he can have a (more or less, depending on the experience) comfortable shave with it. He don't look at the quality of grinding, that comes later, but he recognizes immediately if the razor is really sharp. And I can't really understand why the companies don't care about that, even if they know about these circumstances! And that cannot cost any extra cent more. Comfortable keenness is a necessary precondition for each razor!
But talking and talking doesn't help - at leats with some companies. There are others who are doing better though, still keeping the honour of good craftmanship allive.

Sorry but could not hold back the above tirade.

If for what reason ever, Glen or other good honers in the States don't have the time or possibility, send the razor to me back to Germany I will hone it for free. It is a shame.

Regards Peter

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Peter you are a true gentleman and an asset to the SR community.

I think that the Solingen manufacturers need to re-prioritize their manufacturing goals.

If it were me, the expense to hone a truly exceptional edge would come before the expense of fancy gold and scalloped spines. If they want to do that later, after they can send out all razors with superior edges and grinds, then that is OK. I agree with you that the buyer is focused on the shaving edge on the razor he receives from the factory. An inferior shaving experience is a failure to deliver a promised quality product. I do not understand how they can justify a business model that sends out an inferior edge or grind, and then denying warranty if the user tries to correct it. Solingen really is getting a bad name and partially because of a US vendor claiming that non-shaving edges and poor grinds are actually a superior shave!

All the Solingen companies have to do is make products that people want to buy rather than products that they want to make.

All the best sir!

Steve

A few years ago I was in a shaving shop in a mall. I was traveling and was just looking to buy some DE blades. A salesman was trying to push a razor on a guy. Said all it needs is a good stropping and it would be shave ready. I guess this customer had been doing a little reading about factory edges. I bought my blades and as I was walking out the door I yelled at the customer and told him that the salesman was full of shit and the razor would need a proper hand honing before it would shave. I got some nasty looks but the customer smiled as if he knew.

I agree with you, Steve! It's a shame.

Steve that is exactly the situation.
Some Solingen companies (not all! but turning out more and more) think that the quality of the products they produce „jump“ into the cutlery as soon as they put the stamp „Solingen“ on it. But in fact the most quality has only the stamp itself and not the product they produce.

In Solingen, some of you may know, there is a law called „Solingen Verordnung“. It was invented some decades ago to save the name Solingen for good quality products coming from that region and to prevent that low cost companies, especially from Asia, were able to simply print Solingen on their product to make provit from that.

The regulation says that the name Solingen may only be used in the course of trade for such cutlery for which:

1. All main production steps need to be carried out with the Solingen industrial area

and that

2. The raw material and processing must be suitable for the intended use of the species

Even if the quality of the products is not explicitly mentioned here, it is of course included in paragraph 2. But there is no commission that really monitors all production steps or the quality of the final product. So I know of several violations of paragraph 1 that have occurred in the past and have also been reported sometimes in the press (it is easy to proove that products or production steps have been carried out from somewhere else). But I have not heard of companies or responsible people that have been claimed for violation of paragraph 2 so far.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Steve56

Peter you are a true gentleman and an asset to the SR community.

I think that the Solingen manufacturers need to re-prioritize their manufacturing goals.

If it were me, the expense to hone a truly exceptional edge would come before the expense of fancy gold and scalloped spines. If they want to do that later, after they can send out all razors with superior edges and grinds, then that is OK.
Steve

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Well this is also a point I have been recognizing the last maybe ten years. A lot of new custom razor makers but also some veteran companies tend to produce: extremely wide razors, fancy spinework, fancy scales, (often low quality) damascus steel and a lot of other accesoires or gimmicks and that all for a lot of money. Nothing to say against this - but first and absolute precondition for me is the craftmanship of razor grinding. This is the basis and first to learn and master from all those who call theirselfes razor manufacturors. After that, each one may go his way and add and produce whatever he or his customers like.

Regards Peter

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RezDog

Well it is possible that it was a factory edge. There are a few sellers that hand hone every razor before it is sent out. You did not mention where it was purchased. Factory edges, as said are very hit and miss. Gssixgun is close by in north Idaho. I have no idea if anyone is closer. There is the whole shave and strop experience, that also as mentioned is paramount to getting a good shave. I have seen more than one straight razor shaving video on YouTube showing poor technique. Geo fat boy does some good straight razor shave videos. A good stropping video
https://youtu.be/7C6NlY_NEXQ

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I agree.

It is hard enough to learn to combine the three essential skills (shaving, stropping and honing) when learning to use a straight razor proficiently, as a single slip-up in any one of them can ruin an otherwise perfect shave and possibly dull the edge beyond what a novice is capable of fixing.

That is certainly not helped by some individuals peddling their wares and making YouTube videos where try to demonstrate (in a single pass shave to boot) that Dovos leave the factory shave-ready.

“Shave-ready” is a poorly defined term and one shaver’s “shaved-ready” is another shaver’s “butter knife”.
What this video showed me was that this particular seller cannot be trusted as either his bar regarding “shave-ready” is ridiculously low, or he is peddling his wares no matter what.

More trustworthy sellers either hone razors before shipping them (even it it might void the warranty, in which case the buyer should be given the choice to have it honed or not), but would not mislead the unwary with the claim that Dovos leave the factory shave-ready when the evidence points to the contrary.

There is sufficient anecdotal evidence to suggest that Dovos seem to be at best hit-and-miss in this respect.


B.