Thread: Dovo Bismarck taking an edge

Whilst experimenting with honing technique (don't ask, it was an embarassing failure!), I managed to dull three of my straights in rotation. So I decide to go back to the normal method (single handed pyramids on Norton combo, finishing with a coticule) and get the three back to shave-ready.

The TI was fairly easy to do. Only a slightly more aggressive pyramid than usual needed.

The vintage American Barber was incredibly easy to get right again (and always has been). Just plain old standard pyramid did the trick.

But one of my favourites, the Dovo Bismarck, was a pig to get sharp again.

In the end I took it right back and had to do 40 passes on the 4000k, followed by an aggressive pyramid. I shaved with it last night and the strange thing is that, although it's still not as sharp as the others, it gave a smoother shave than the rest. (It has always given the smoothest shave, that's including my Livi!)

Anyone else experience similar on the Dovos (particularly Bismarcks)?

Mark,

Did you hone the Bismarck yourself initially? Sometimes I find that it takes me longer to touch up a razor when someone else honed it the first time. Maybe it comes down to differences in technique or approach, like tape vs. no tape.

I have found that some Dovos can be a bear to hone the first time due to bevels that aren't quite where I want them. Others, like the one I worked on yesterday, take 15 minutes.

Josh

Well, the Dovo was my first and, back then, I didn't realise the nature of shave-ready. So I spent hours with it on the coticule, learning how to hone against a benchmark which I bought from Classicshaving sharpened by Lynn.

That was some months ago and all I've ever needed to do was refresh the blade without much problem.

Then I have a 'duh' moment and thnk maybe my honing would get quicker with a little pressure (two fingers on the spine). That's how I ruined the edge. It's OK now though.

I've seen others on here say Dovos are hard to hone and always figured theirs was maybe a bad 'un. Now I think I'm starting to understand!

Thanks for the feedback Josh.
M.

Mark,

Ah, pressure. What woes thou doest cause.

Were you honing with just the coticule? I find that sometimes stuff that changes the bevel slightly, like tape or two-handed pressure, can make it pretty tough to hone a razor with a coticule. They cut slowly enough that the tiny difference in angles makes for a lot of futile strokes. Maybe it's just me, though.

If a razor needs more than a light touchup, I'll drop down in grit a bit rather than add pressure. Sounds like that's what you did to good effect.

Josh

40 strokes is a lot for a refresh. I normally will not use more than 3-5 on the 4K when trying to bring one back before going to the 8K and Escher or Coticule. Agree on limiting the pressure. Nice even stroke with minimal pressure. Less strokes are better.

Lynn

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

Mark,

Ah, pressure. What woes thou doest cause.

If a razor needs more than a light touchup, I'll drop down in grit a bit rather than add pressure. Sounds like that's what you did to good effect.

Josh

Originally Posted by adjustme69

Agree on limiting the pressure. Nice even stroke with minimal pressure. Less strokes are better.

Lynn

Yep, that's exactly what I was taking from the experience. I don't really mind I learned the hard way though. Blades are back to shaving well and I kind of had fun on the way... in a masochistic kind of way!

I had the same problem with my Lynn-honed Bismark. When it was tie to re-hone, I tried an oddball stone that ended up dulling the razor just a bit. I thought it would take forever to get it back in shape on the 4k/8k.