Thread: Too much frown?

Hi all. I am new to the world of straight shaving. I bought a pre-honed Dovo Classic 5/8 from Vintage Blades. I noticed after my first shave that the blade has a slight "frown" to it (I believe that is correct. I just learned that term reading these forums tonight while looking for answers).

I am attaching pictures. Is this too much frown? Is this curve within a normal variance for straight edges? Is it something I should contact the seller about, or will it have no effect on my shaving?

Thanks,
Jonathan

I noticed this was your first post, congratulations!

As far as frown goes. I won't sell a razor with any frown. My vote would be to contact the seller. However, some of the other guys might have other opinions.

Originally Posted by jonnyg

Hi all. I am new to the world of straight shaving. I bought a pre-honed Dovo Classic 5/8 from Vintage Blades. I noticed after my first shave that the blade has a slight "frown" to it (I believe that is correct. I just learned that term reading these forums tonight while looking for answers).

I am attaching pictures. Is this too much frown? Is this curve within a normal variance for straight edges? Is it something I should contact the seller about, or will it have no effect on my shaving?

Thanks,
Jonathan

It could be warped, or badly ground at the factory. Yes these things do happen...
When the time comes time to re-hone, it will be a pain because the middle may not touch the hone.

I am sure the the seller will fix you up right.

Jim at Vintageblades is great to deal with. I would give him a call.

Hi Jonathon,
That is definitely too much frown. I would contact Jim at Vintage Blades as RayG mentioned he is good to work with. Let us know how it goes.

That frown on the edge usually comes after doing the X pattern for some time. If you watch how the X pattern is done you will see that the middle of the edge contacts the hone a lot more than the outer part of the edge does.

All, thank you so much for your replies. I am going to send an email to Vintage Blades. I was thinking about my three shaves I've done. I would do a pass, and it seemed like the middle of the blade wasn't cutting as clean as the ends. Being a newb, I hadn't put all this together until yesterday.

str8razor, I'll post here what happens. Considering the stuff I ordered came with a *hand-written* thank-you letter, I'm not worried. This store seems to have a lot of class.

Jonathan

I know Jim personally and he has told me that he totally believes in customer satisfaction, hence the thank you note from him which not many do.

Originally Posted by str8razor

Hi Jonathon,
That is definitely too much frown. I would contact Jim at Vintage Blades as RayG mentioned he is good to work with. Let us know how it goes.

That frown on the edge usually comes after doing the X pattern for some time. If you watch how the X pattern is done you will see that the middle of the edge contacts the hone a lot more than the outer part of the edge does.

Hi Bill, I am new to straight razor shaving and honing. Is the X pattern something I should avoid or is it a matter of doing it properly? I don't want to mess up my razors.

Originally Posted by Slant-Fan

Hi Bill, I am new to straight razor shaving and honing. Is the X pattern something I should avoid or is it a matter of doing it properly? I don't want to mess up my razors.

Jimmy,
No the X is fine. I didn't explain enough. It takes a long time to create a frown in a razor's edge.
Click on the link below and then click on the 1961 Barber Text on honing and read that. It tells you how to get rid of the frown if you happen to get one. It is also good reading on general honing.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/compo...d,19/Itemid,3/

X pattern doesnt create a frown razor at all, even if the hone is 3" wide.
A frown razor is produced from a narrow pasted strop and an straight up-down no X motion