Quote Originally Posted by Wortmanb View Post
Well, my supplies arrived from SRD yesterday so after I tucked the kids into bed, I took some me-time and shaved with the new Boker I bought. Interestingly, the problems I was having with the Dovo also appeared with the Boker, so guess what? It's not the razor (though I'm glad Lynn will be giving the Dovo and even better edge) as much as it's my technique.

The good news is that I came away without any nicks on my dominant side, where I've managed to shave the cheek almost all the way to my goatee and then about 2/3 of the neck on that side, all WTG only. Not brave enough to turn the razor over just yet. Shave wasn't exceptionally close, so I need to keep playing with blade angles and such. Any other pointers?

Confession: I got over-confident and tried to shave my neck on the non-dominant side with the straight too. Nicked myself but good in 3 places and didn't feel any of them, just saw the blood. Won't try that again for a while.

Oh, I didn't strop the blade, lest my beginning stropping technique remove some of the edge that new blade had. I did strop afterwards, partly to help dry the blade, partly to (I hope) re-freshen the edge for its next use.

Prep: Hot towel x 2 (using tap water, which in my current home isn't all that steaming hot), AOS pre-shave oil
Soap: AOS Sandalwood cream
Brush: AOS badger
Razor: Boker Tree Brand (a 5-blade cartridge for the rest of the first pass and all of the second)
AS: Alum block, cold water, AOS Sandalwood balm

Guess where my wife did my Christmas shopping this year? ;-)
You may have had the same experience with a SRD boker and an AOS Dovo, but that doesn't mean they were equally sharp. As many others have said, AOS razors are sadly not shave ready. I'm sure many a man gets some straight razors from their store being told they are as sharp as can be, and ends up quitting in frustration and pain.

Other than that, it sounds like you are well on your way! You know your technique needs work, and it is that which will make you progress. Looking forward to hearing of your first BBS shaves.