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Thread: Razor problems

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  1. #1
    Senior Member Jantjeuh's Avatar
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    Default Razor problems

    Hey guys,

    I'm about to give up here and need your help/info.

    The razor in question is a DOVO 'Astrale' straight.

    The razor just came back from the store to get resharpened and to remove some rust spots that it had gotten. First off all, the rust did not get removed entirely, and I'm wondering if there's any way to remove it myself (I'll post a picture tomorrow). The razor holds a special value as it was a gift from my brother, so I truly want to keep it in good condition.

    Second of all, the darn thing doesn't seem to shave all that well compared to my cheap merkur DE. I looked up a little how to test if it's *sharp enough* and a guy shows how he passes a hair over the blade and it gets cut in haf, this is absolutely not the case here, and I just got it honed, so is this not a good test? When I drag it over my fingernail it immediately diggs in, is that a good sign (I thought it was). Anyhow, is there any way to be sure the thing is as sharp as it gets?

    Second of all, is it possible the angle should be something like 45° instead of 30° ? It seems I get better results that way.

    The lathering I'm applying for the moment is for sure good, so I'm sure it's either the razor, or it's me (I'm hoping it's me!).

    Even my cheeks, which are easy to shave, have a stubble left on them when you pass over them, which is not even the case if I would shave with a disposable BIC single bladed plastic banana :-)

    Please advise!

  2. #2
    what Dad calls me nun2sharp's Avatar
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    The hanging hair test means little to nothing, if you have just drug the blade over your nail you have just dulled the blade. When you shave, the blade should be approx. 30 degrees(2spines width) to the face. You did not mention your beard prep or stropping so I cant help you there, I would need a pic of the spots to see what we are dealing with.
    It is easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled. Twain

  3. #3
    Senior Member Jantjeuh's Avatar
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    The razor was honed and said to be 'shave ready' in the shop, I picked it up today to get it fixed.

    The prep was long and good. A hot shower, while the brush soaks up water, then lathering up. Then I shave as usual. With the DE this results in a BBS result, with the straight, not. The soap used was Tabac.

    I'm going in again tomorrow morning as I have left (on purpose) my chin etc.. unshaven so I could ractice again :-) Im' not at all giving up on the razor or anything, I basicaly just want to know if a) I'm doing it all wrong b) the shop that keeps 'fixing' my razor just is doing a bad job.

    I'm glad the hanging hair test means nothing however!

  4. #4
    The Hurdy Gurdy Man thebigspendur's Avatar
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    You say the shop. What is that? Most knife sharpeners don't have a clue about razors and you'd be lucky if they didn't ruin the razor. You probably need to send it out to someone who specializes in straights.

    45 degrees is way too aggressive. 30 should be the max. probably even less. Not knowing much about your experience I would say your problem is either you or the razor or maybe some of both. You'll need to tell us more about yourself and of course a picture of the razor to really help you.
    No matter how many men you kill you can't kill your successor-Emperor Nero

  5. #5
    Senior Member Jantjeuh's Avatar
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    I will give a big update this afternoon when I have some time to shave.

    On to the sending it to Lynn suggestion, I have considered it, however I truly did send it to a specialized shop that does only that, selling and maintaining classic razors. I'm a little bit upset how they tried to remove the light rust spots because they have clearly scratched my blade, which is a pitty because it's quite goodlooking. (with the golden stuff on it)

    I will do the stropping according to your instructions, I doubt that I do 50 laps on the leather, so I'll do that today. I asked the old lady in the shop again to verify if I'm stropping correctly, and she confirmed I was doing an ok, as did a gentleman (customer) in the shop. It also looks exactly like how you do it o-in your videos here online.

    After reading I should strop a total of 75 Laps, I'm pretty sure that's one thing I'm doing wrong. And the angle is for sure also something to look into. But is there any test to tell me 'ok your blade is good to go now' after stropping?

    Thanks for the replies, I'll update with pictures in a couple of hours!

  6. #6
    Senior Member Jantjeuh's Avatar
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    Ok here are some pictures with high high close-up. Sorry for the slow downloading time, but like this you can at least see what I'm talking about :-)




  7. #7
    The Razor Whisperer Philadelph's Avatar
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    Couple things. First, the problem with the rust is that any method you use to remove the rust will also remove some or all of the gold etching on the blade. You need to make sure to dry the razor properly after every shave... before even washing off your face, etc.

    Second- what shop that deals specifically with straights did you send this to to have dealt with? It is valuable for all of us to hear about this feedback. I'd be ****ed at the 'shop' for not taking care of my rust problem without an explanation if they said they would take care of it. Scratches on top of that is also something I'd bring up. On top of that, I've heard bad feedback about certain reputable 'shops' where it seems like they either don't test the blades well enough or just don't hone them well enough. Depending on what you say to all of this you should gather all the evidence (in your mind) and bring it up with that shop.

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