Thread: New Member here ... with some questions

Good morning everyone

A little background I guess might help: I've been a classicshaving.com user for years, using a beautiful safety razor, super badger brush, incredible soaps and mug.. but decided after my grandfather passed away leaving me some razors and brushes and a stone, to go that final step, and so I purchased a DOVO straight razor. (About my grandpa: he was a barber in WWII, even cut Eisenhowers hair once..!and left me some wild razors I'll have to ask ya'll about, plus a stone that's got me perplexed..!)

Anyways.. I digress..

The straight razor I purchased was the DOVO Renassaince, stainless steel 6/8. I also got a Norton 4000/8000 waterstone and a DOVO strop. Links as follows:

http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...940/190256.htm
http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...944/196036.htm
http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...944/196094.htm
http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...550/422182.htm
http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...60/1165305.htm
http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...941/190430.htm

So above is what I use.. of course moving to the straight razor effective Sunday.

A wonderful fella' named Will at ClassicShaving helped me pick these out, changing my order from this paddle strop : http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...944/196043.htm to the DOVO linked above, saying I didn't want the paddle. He also warned me about the stainless steel raozr being harder to sharpen, but would maintain an edge longer, but assured me it was a good razor that would last for many years. He provided a few tips, 10 or 15 strokes on the hones, then 20 or so on the strop, linen then leather.. and he said he picked that strop for its soft leather, that wouldn't need any paste.

Soo ... here's my issues/questions (if anyone can assist).

1) Did I choose an OK razor, something that will last that I can leave for my son when I'm gone like my grandpa did for me?
2) Is that a good strop to use? (Seems short and narrow.)
3) Will asked if I wanted to ship it off to someone for sharpening, but I declined, wanting to try it myself.. was this a mistake?
4) I use the 4k side of the waterstone.. do 10-12 strokes.. then the 8k side.. and then strop linen then leather.. (this is out of the box) and it seems to catch like sandpaper on my face, painful and wont cut a hanging hair (I have to sort of pull the hair, holding it some)..

Obviosuly my techniques flawed I guess.. and I've been reading up on the board here.. When I get home for tonights shave I'll try the pyramid, 5/5, 5/5, 3/3, 3/3, 1/3, 1/3 on the 4k/8k waterstone.. then just some leather strops, being careful to hold it tight and go slow.. Side note: I can't afford a microscope or anything - so that's not an option to view the edge magnified at the moment...

Any advice would be great.. and if anyone can help explain to me (if I figured out how to post some pictures) what this weird, old stone from Fanz someething in Austria (WWII I guess) and a couple old Henry Sears & Son 1865 blades are worth, if I should try to get them useable? please let me know.. and I'll post the info..!

Thanks again! Have a good one!
Jeff

Hello,
well that is a very nice haul to start with.

the Dovo razors are good (i have 2 renaissances )... but i would reccomend seeing if they can send them out to Lynn Abrams (adjustme69, the site owner here and a truly great honemeister) for you--- it may not be too late. learning to hone is a bit of an art and most would reccomend using an e-boy special for that... not a decent new razor.

the strop works great a a travel strop, that is what i use my Dovo for. they are ok and will get the job done but Tony Miller makes much nicer ones... in a month or two you will probably want to upgrade.

the norton 4k/8k is the backbone of most people's honing tools and is great.

the "franze..." (swaty) hone of you grandfather is a great barber's hone and you could make that new razor shaving sharp on that, of course since it is a stainless model it will take a bit of time.

I know you want to start this week but take your time read up some more... watch Lynn's DVD, get a honemiester to get that Dovo ready for you... the extra research and time will help greatly in making the first shave one of many.

... so Will at ClassicShaving picked out the wrong strop for me? Ugh.. Well if I print out the Docs on this site on stropping and honing, should I not try the 4k and 8k stone a little longer, or do you think I might ruin this razor? I'm just afraid I'll send this razor to Lynn, wait a few weeks to get it back, and just screw it up slowly stropping it before and after each shave with that short, narrow DOVO strop (I pull it tight and slowly go as described, except I pick the razor up and turn it over, and doon't do this "rolling" they describe.. does that matter if I'm slow?) .. and how often wil I have to keep sending this to Lynn like this? Every week, month? Hmm .. maybe I got myself in too quick with this stuff... wish I would have found this site before buying anything.. now I'm reading classicshaving.coms Theis-Is razors are better than the DOVO's ?? (sigh) ...

Any guidance would be great

Jeff

You did fine . . . I love my Renassiance. I doubt the blade will last for more than a few years to a decade though if its the one you learn to hone on. But you can always afford to buy another later, don't sweat it. If you get lucky and get the edge right in the beginning the blade will last for a long time.

I think the strop will be fine. I prefer to purchase the top of the line strops as, well, you use them as much as the razor but I think you'll be ok.

Seriously, its more about skill than equipment, knowing what to do. I bet I could get a great shave with that stuff.

I'd like to suggest a different honing route. Try stropping and test shaving first and see where its at. Chances are it'll be pulling. Try using the 8k side alone for a bit then more stropping and see how it goes. Then finally, try a very conservative pyramid and again strop and test shave.

Although it will take you longer, ripping into it blindly with a series of aggressive pyramids hasn't actually been the best advice, its just the direction people end up in when they dive into the Archive section.

Test often, they key is not to do a lot of strokes on the razor needlessly. Or to atleast know why your ripping steel off with a hone instead of just "cuz".

step 1... this is a fun adventure.

step 2... everybody's experience is different

step 3... over time you will probably one one of every major razor brand


The tools you have ordered are good... over time you might want better.

there are people that only use the narrower strops and they love them... they give you a larger incentive to develop the proper "x-pattern" stroke. Although speed of stropping plays a role you will develop your own rhythm and pace that will work for yourself and the strop.

on average a well honed razor can be used 15 times before it needs a "touch-up" on a pasted paddle or very high grit hone and generally 6 touch-up between honing sessions, at least for me. naturally, if i drop it of damage the edge the stones come out sooner.

lots of reading in the "newbie" forum will help as well.

perhaps we can get a mod to move this thread there as well...it will get more notice and responses there.

Around here we debate the merits of newdovo vs TI issue but they are both fine razors... i prefer the vintage stuff pre-1890 mainly.

I just read through some of your other posts. Don't worry . . . you'll be fine, but ya gotta have patience. The edge will be very nice and smooth, try not to do a lot to it needlessly.

For stropping try and do it smoothly with a little speed, get a nice smooth motion going and roll the razor in your fingers like a pencil with just a tad of pressure.

Don't worry Jeff - I'm a newbie myself, and have been reading for over two-months now before buying a cheap Wapi a few weeks ago and a used Dovo strop. Like others have said here, it's really not all about the gear, but mostly technique. As long as your blade can hold and edge (and I can assure you Dovo's can), and that you use correct form on the strop, you'll have good success over time.

As another confidence booster, you have much better equipment than any newbie I've seen post here before. Just take your time and enjoy the shave.

Best of luck,

Mark

.. stop the presses !

I was reviewing the video clips .. and one on honing shows the guy doing it backwards.. the blades not facing the way everyone else says you are supposed to do it when honing.. what's up with that???

Not sure which video you mean.... but was he perchance using a pasted paddle or bench hone in which case the "stropping" like motion is correct.

Its the two Norbert Schick Honing avi files - both of them he's going backwards, psuhing down with both hands, scrapping it along the hone.. this can't be right, can it ????