Thread: Just ordered my first straight!

Yesterday evening (around 7 pm) I put down an order at the Different scent for a Dovo and a strop. Today at 2pm they shipped it with DHL premium express, so if I'm really lucky I'll be getting it tomorrow! ^^

So far the vendor is looking at full marks in everything but site user-friendly-ness, since it's only in German, but since I still was able to order quite easily with my limited German I would still give them 4/5 on that point, 5/5 if you speak German!

I'll update as this thing progresses!

Did you tell the vendor to specifically hone the blade for you before they shipped it. Most people leave off that step so my recommendation is to take the blade and send it off to Lynn Abrams at Classic Shaving and he will get it into proper working order for you. Without proper honing one can not expect to learn shaving with a straight. Most vendors do not offer the option of honining the blade for you, which is the reason why I tend to recommend that new users do business with Classic Shaving because their default starter package includes the honing.

Problem is that I'm in northern Europe, and no US vendor is going to send me anything insured at 9€ without import tax.

I've put down an order on a yellow coticule today, which I've understood should do the trick getting the factory Dovo up to shaving speed. I'm a quite fast learner when it comes to finer mechanical things, so I don't really see a problem learning to finish the edge on a razor. From what I've understood as well from other threads Dovo's vary from shave ready after stroping to shave ready after a couple of laps on a finishing stone. If I can't get it to pass the HHT-test, then I'll def. send it off (I'm quite good also at knowing when to stop and getting professional help), but pref. to someone within Europe!

US vendor or european vendor, it makes little difference. You still need the razor poperly honed no matter what nationality of vendor you use. Select your vendor and get the razor honed.

No europe vendors that I've found offers honing, so I just have to do it myself. But since I've been sharpening knifes, axes and chisels for over 10 years with waterstones I think I'll be alright. ^^

gents.com has a sharpening service I've never used it though, so I can't say if it's good or not.

Originally Posted by Stuggi

No europe vendors that I've found offers honing, so I just have to do it myself. But since I've been sharpening knifes, axes and chisels for over 10 years with waterstones I think I'll be alright. ^^

While I have no doubt you will be able to pick it up quicker than most due to your experience, many people here with great experience sharpening other tools have had less than stellar early honing results. (myself included). You'll be able to ge tthe razor sharp enough to shave with, though that does NOT mean it is "shave ready" as we call it. The smoothness, comfort,and precision attainable by one of the honemeisters is truly remarkeable.

Stuggi, I wouldn't recomend to hone your first razor by your self..unless you already know how to hone a razor. But sending it to a honemeister gives you a benchmark so you know how a shave ready razor is when you get in to honing yourself. And get a cheap razor from ebay or tradera.se or whatever you may have in finland and use it to practice on before you even consider doing it on you new razor..you wouldnt want to ruin it would you?

About Gents.se that bjorn suggested..I haven't sent it to them myself but I've heard they weren't any good.

Btw, talar du svenska?

This is one of those things that are worth putting a little bit of time and effort into. Honing is one of those things that needs to be done right the first time and I do not believe honing an ax is quite the same thing as honing a straight.

Here is what I have found out about european homing services:

tohomasglobal.com - reference for finding services world wide
delapena.co.uk - sells honing machines, while you probably do nto want to buy a machine they will tell you who has purchased from them so that you can go buy services from their customers
europeanstone.co.uk - does these things in England, Brittan and the United Kingdom may be able to sell services to other parts of europe