My new dovo, is it ok?

I just got my first straight in the mail yesterday. It came from classicshaving.com through Lynns honing service and its pretty darn sharp! I just used it for my first straight shave ever!
Well the shave didnt go super well, I was having a hard time figuring out how to shave all the different areas. Even though Ive been watching videos and reading up on how to do this for the last month, its just a different beast when you actually go and try!
No cuts or razor burn, woot, but a ton of hair left still =(

Anyway, after I was done with the shave I noticed that the blade almost hits the scale when it is closing, in fact it does hit the scale, but the edge barely misses it I think. There is enough room for 1/4 of a hair to fit between the scales and blade.... Sometimes the balde moves a little closer and sometimes a bit farther.
You guys think its something to worry about? Here is a pic.

http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/755/cimg1868ge8.jpg

Its a big problem but wait a bit and you'll get a solution. Its an easy fix.

You can probably chalk it up to great quality control. if it really bothers you return it for a new one otherwise as long as it isn't hitting the scale and dulling the blade or seems to be loose you can still use it.

If your starting out don't try and do everything at once. Just do the easy stuff like the sides of your face going WTG until you are comfortable with the razor then try some additional moves and areas. Plan on using a DE or some other razor to clean up for a while.

I dont know what to do, I kinda wanna figure out how to fix this, Im worried that if the scales warp at all the blade will hit them.
not sure if they would exchange for me after I used it once already.
Plus waiting another month to get a new sharpened blade seems like a long time. Maybe it would be better in the long run though.... no idea what to do :cry:

Trust me... It would be better in the long run... to get this resolved.

Lets face it, you will be shaving with this razor almost every day for years to come... and maybe pass it on to your first born son (or grandson).
And every time you shave you will be reminded of the ..."imperfection".

Talk to the seller... I hear they are good to deal with.

Well I sent classicshaving an email, hopefully I hear back from them.

They said it should be ok.
Course I just closed the blade and the razor edge just hit the scale while it was closing.....
Guess Im sending them another email.
They said if it does it they will readjust it.....
Can someone tell me how you can adjust this?

heres a better pic
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/7...adeedgeda1.jpg

Man I would hate for you to mess up a new razor (no offense intended but we don't know where yer skills are at, you haven't told us), the best solution is to send it back to them and get a replacement...
That being reiterated more than once, the other end of the razor(pivot end) from where you are showing us the pics of, is where the problem most likey lies.... Set the razor on the bottom edge, on a flat counter and take a pic from that end, straight on, and you are most likely going to see the problem..... and so will we :)

You could also send the seller the photo. so they see the razor.
And don't forget to tell then it hit the scale and may have damaged the edge.

And post the photo here as gssixgun suggested.

The blade shouldn't be off center, that's not right, I'd send it back and insist on a replacement.

Don't be surprised that you didn't get a particularly close shave first time around. My experience is that getting a close and nick free shave takes months of practice. Close OR nick free isn't too much of a problem - it's the combination of the two.

Don't rush it, you just have to put up with not so close shaves for a while. When things improve it's that much more rewarding.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

Man I would hate for you to mess up a new razor (no offense intended but we don't know where yer skills are at, you haven't told us), the best solution is to send it back to them and get a replacement...
That being reiterated more than once, the other end of the razor(pivot end) from where you are showing us the pics of, is where the problem most likey lies.... Set the razor on the bottom edge, on a flat counter and take a pic from that end, straight on, and you are most likely going to see the problem..... and so will we :)

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Oh I didnt want the solution to try on my own! I just wanted to know what they could possibly do to fix it. Here is a few pics at different angels. Hope these are the type of shots you are talking about.
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/9519/cimg1872hg0.jpg
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/6185/cimg1873ut3.jpg
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/6316/cimg1874uy3.jpg
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/6886/cimg1875vb6.jpg
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/2696/cimg1876tw6.jpg

Thanks for your help and expertise guys.

Hey guys, I've been lurking here for a long time and just registered now to mention that i have the same issue. I just got my own razor on Saturday (Dovo Special Tortoise Shell 6/8), also from classicshaving. I had it sent thru Lynn for honing and when it arrived I noticed this exact same problem. Looking at the blade, it seems like it's ground unevenly on each side. The blade itself seems to be very slightly skewed toward one side of the scales. It just barely misses the scale when it's closed. I've been really careful while opening and closing it to make sure it doesn't hit the side.

I wonder, has Dovo's quality gone down? Part of the reason I got a Dovo in the first place was that I was under the impression they were nearly as good on the low end as they are supposed to be on the high end.

That said, the razor itself shaves pretty well, it's certainly different from the shavette I've been using, so I'll have to get used to it, I imagine.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lja83

Hey guys, I've been lurking here for a long time and just registered now to mention that i have the same issue. I just got my own razor on Saturday (Dovo Special Tortoise Shell 6/8), also from classicshaving. I had it sent thru Lynn for honing and when it arrived I noticed this exact same problem. Looking at the blade, it seems like it's ground unevenly on each side. The blade itself seems to be very slightly skewed toward one side of the scales. It just barely misses the scale when it's closed. I've been really careful while opening and closing it to make sure it doesn't hit the side.

I wonder, has Dovo's quality gone down? Part of the reason I got a Dovo in the first place was that I was under the impression they were nearly as good on the low end as they are supposed to be on the high end.

That said, the razor itself shaves pretty well, it's certainly different from the shavette I've been using, so I'll have to get used to it, I imagine.

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Yeah, this dovo I got is also unevenly ground, but I didnt think that was as huge a deal, Ive seen many pics of blades that look unevenly gground.

I was looking out for that in EricSS's second photo, but the blade is out of focus.

Just wanted to mention that classicshaving sent me a return number. So I need to send it back to them... This is postponing my straight shaving experience, but I think its worth the wait.

I have done this to several of my razors and it works fine. Put scales only into a glass of hot water for about 5 minutes then take them out and bend them in the opposite direction. When the blade is centered immerse the scales only in a glass of ice water for a couple minutes to set them. Thanks "Traveler" for this hint.

bj

Well Classicshaving called me, told me it looks fine to them and they will be sending it back.
I dont see how the blade edge scraping wood is fine, but I guess Ill just be careful with it.

The first picture tells me the story. I couldnt accept that either. Classic Shaving's response tells me something too. Thanks for the insight. There are lots of places to buy stuff!

I would be disappointed with the response... but lets give them the benefit of the doubt... maybe they centered the blade and sending it back to you.

When you get it back please let us know.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2Sharp

I have done this to several of my razors and it works fine. Put scales only into a glass of hot water for about 5 minutes then take them out and bend them in the opposite direction. When the blade is centered immerse the scales only in a glass of ice water for a couple minutes to set them. Thanks "Traveler" for this hint.

bj

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Will this work for the wooden IT blade?

[quote=l I wonder, has Dovo's quality gone down? Part of the reason I got a Dovo in the first place was that I was under the impression they were nearly as good on the low end as they are supposed to be on the high end. [/quote]

This is a definite misconception. Unfortunately peoples expectations are many times extremely high even with their first shave. Dovo's low end will provide a nice shave but they are not the shavers that their high end razors are.

Lynn

Quote:

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Originally Posted by smythe

I would be disappointed with the response... but lets give them the benefit of the doubt... maybe they centered the blade and sending it back to you.

When you get it back please let us know.

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Its not changed. I can force it to not hit the scales, I just need to be careful.

I just didnt expect this from a brand new razor, oh well.

Just hope I didnt ruin the toe end of the edge when I hit the scales once.... but I prolly did. Until its next honing of course.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by EricSS

Its not changed. I can force it to not hit the scales, I just need to be careful.

I just didnt expect this from a brand new razor, oh well.

Snip
.

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I'm sorry to say that this may be the new industry standard. Just last month (more or less) I received a new TI Super Gnome that has the same problem. First I tried the hot water, cold water fix mentioned above without success. Now I just remember to be careful while closing the blade; it is annoying.
At least there is nothing wrong with the blade.
Best Regards, Ken.