Next razor: detailing

Hey all!

So, i impulsively purchased my first razor a month ago, a "Dovo best quality", just to get into it. I was overwhelmed after lurking here for a while, and decided not to get over-complicated at first.

So now that i've gotten into it for a while, i plan on getting a second and perhaps nicer razor in the near future.

I want something different than my "best quality". I'm at the point where i'm shaving confidently, but not comfortably or particularly close. it may be the edge, or my technique, probably both. I'll probably figure it out over time, but either way i'd like to see if there's another design that works better for me, be it grind, blade shape, or weight distribution.
what should i be looking for?

I'm probably going to try and pick something i can buy professionally honed too.

I also often keep a beard; usually a jaw-line beard, but being a teenager i like to experiment and change it up. Today, just for laughs i shaved my beard into cowboy side burns, and a handle bar stache. it was a pain in the butt to do! are there razors that are easier to use, better for maintaining a clean beard, as well as detailing than my dovo?

price wise, i'm looking for something nicer than my "best quality" but nothing too expensive. After this i really don't want to (let myself) buy anything other than vintage razors off ebay for restoration.

so far, based on looks alone i'm looking at:
Dovo "black star" blue pakka
Dovo "spike point" ebony
Dovo "bismark spike"

much thanks!

Perhaps this thread would be better suited for the beginners section.

I would say try to vary only one characteristic of the razor, be it size, grind. I could be mistaken, but I think the three you listed are all more or less the same from a shaving stanpoint - size, grind, and point. If that is correct, pick on looks.

If I was going to recommend something, it would be a 5/8ish full hollow American razor or a 6/8sh half to quarter hollow Sheffield razor.

dnullify,

+1 on Hollis' suggestion of an American razor :)

All of my American razors are exceptional shavers !

Have fun !

Bets regards

Russ

When you guys say "American" is that a brand, or are you referring to vintage razors made in America? Are they available?

that would be a vintage razor made in USA. not many options for current production, unless you have a budget of hundreds of dollars.

off the top of my head some robesons have fancy looks, any other american brands i can think of are generally rather plain, so that wouldn't really qualify for 'nicer than your dovo best quality'.

I have a Dovo Best quality and a Special.Both shave great.Aside from your technique I can tell you that all Dovos shave the same.The width makes some difference,but all the blades(at least the carbon steel ones)shave the same.the difference in price is due to the amount or lack of bling they have. I get every bit as good a shave from my Best quality as I do My Special.I am considering getting a Bismark but I am only basing that on it's beauty and they are Beautiful razors.and as always I say call SRD.You will get a good deal and one of the best honemasters goin is gonna put a sweet edge on your baby for you.I garooonteee !:D

Oh yes and I would also go as far to say there is a difference in shaving with a spike as opposed to a rounded edge.Spikes are nice,but they do not forgive a careless shaver if you get m'meanin . :tameshigiri:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dnullify

Hey all!

So, i impulsively purchased my first razor a month ago, a "Dovo best quality", just to get into it. I was overwhelmed after lurking here for a while, and decided not to get over-complicated at first.

So now that i've gotten into it for a while, i plan on getting a second and perhaps nicer razor in the near future.

I want something different than my "best quality". I'm at the point where i'm shaving confidently, but not comfortably or particularly close. it may be the edge, or my technique, probably both. I'll probably figure it out over time, but either way i'd like to see if there's another design that works better for me, be it grind, blade shape, or weight distribution.
what should i be looking for?

I'm probably going to try and pick something i can buy professionally honed too.

I also often keep a beard; usually a jaw-line beard, but being a teenager i like to experiment and change it up. Today, just for laughs i shaved my beard into cowboy side burns, and a handle bar stache. it was a pain in the butt to do! are there razors that are easier to use, better for maintaining a clean beard, as well as detailing than my dovo?

price wise, i'm looking for something nicer than my "best quality" but nothing too expensive. After this i really don't want to (let myself) buy anything other than vintage razors off ebay for restoration.

so far, based on looks alone i'm looking at:
Dovo "black star" blue pakka
Dovo "spike point" ebony
Dovo "bismark spike"

much thanks!

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I think somebody has a touch of Raaaaa-AaaaaaaaD.... :D


Mick

I have a 3/8 boker warrior that I won in a lot that I use for touch ups after i'm done shaving. It's really a maneuverable razor. I'd imagine that it would be very good at fine tuning facial hair.

I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't think I'd use it at all. Very cool little wedge.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MickR

I think somebody has a touch of Raaaaa-AaaaaaaaD.... :D


Mick

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haha, that may be true. it probably has something to do with nothing but unsatisfactory shaves. shave-ready edge, might be worth trying :).

How many should an individual have?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dnullify

haha, that may be true. it probably has something to do with nothing but unsatisfactory shaves. shave-ready edge, might be worth trying :).

How many should an individual have?

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Well.......some her might say there is no such thing as too many heh heh.Me ,I'm trying my hardest to stay moderate with only two...but as stated in another thread,I am thinking about another one...must ...resist..urge !

Well, I had just one for years, then I bought another one and the bloke at the shop never mentioned that I should neuter one of them. Now they have started to breed. I now have six in quick succession. :)


Mick

haha. breeding razors.

I duno, i can't say i'm altogether pleased with my "best quality". It feels like a beater, really.

It will just be your beginners lack of good technique. Trust me on this I know what I'm talking about, as does all those who have gone before me. You'll get there. Patience, practice and persistance will get you there.


Mick

+1 to a couple of MickR's points. As your technique improves, your shaves will get better, and your razor will all of a sudden feel sharper. It's not. It's you...now understanding a few more things.

I have a few razors that are jumpers. It seems that whenever I go out to the antique market, four or five jump right into my pocket. And they communicate with my wallet, which immediately for some reason jumps out of my pocket. I need to learn their language.

No doubt my technique isn't particularly great.

Thing is, no matter how i try, i can't get my razor to stop dragging!
WTG, it's rough with light pressure, and i've shaved enough times to have tried a bunch of angles.
ATG it feels like it drags at every hair.

I've finished on a UF stone, and stropped. i test it laying on the spine blade up, and lay hairs over the edge, root-out. when i push down very slightly, the hair (finer ones) generally pop. i can't tell if that passes HHT, but it's hard to tell based on youtube videos. still, i don't think snagging and roughness is normal.

i want to get another razor so that i can go to town on this one and still be able to shave if i end up having to send it out anyway.
i've only really refined the factory bevel, rather than setting a new bevel all together. mainly because i don't want to fudge up my only working razor, but also because i'm not yet comfortable removing so much material (especially from the spine).

I'm going to try and get some balsa today to try some CrOx powder i've got lying around. my loaded bench strop is nicked up, and draggs so it's hard to manage pressure while stropping razors.

If right off the stone, it does the HHT as described above, would normal hanging stropping bring it sharper? i've never understood why people strop 60+ laps off the stone. i'll also need to get a longer strop....

Dragging and pulling is definitely not normal.Don't take this the wrong way,But you said you are watching a lot of you tube videos.Are you watching the videos off the wiki here first of all? Secondly,no offense but,you're honeing skill might not be as good as you think.I would recommend calling up Either SRD and asking some honing questions or contacting Gssixgun before getting any more strops or pastes etc. They can certainly get you on the right track. They are some of the best resources here when it comes to edges and such.:gl:

I have a mate just like you, he was adament that the razor was at fault. I had to constantly tell him just to leave the edge alone as I was sure it was sharp enough (I bought it shave ready for him). As he lives 150miles away, I had to wait all week before I could go see him, shave test his razor and prove once and for all that it was his technique.
It sounds like you have already had a go at honing, nothing wrong with that if you really do know what you are doing and the razor wasn't shave ready to start with. Just remember to keep the blade flat on the hone, lift the edge off by rolling over the spine and use the weight of the blade only. This is simplified honing advice. If the edge can pop fine hair it should be able to shave well. I have fine head hair and I can't get a damn one to pop. I can cut, not pop, chest hair and all of my razors shave beautifully. The HHT is more of a trick than a test.


Mick

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jcsixx

I have a 3/8 boker warrior that I won in a lot that I use for touch ups after i'm done shaving. It's really a maneuverable razor. I'd imagine that it would be very good at fine tuning facial hair.

I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't think I'd use it at all. Very cool little wedge.

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A 3/8 , I bet I would love that, I have a 4/8" that is my favoriate razor as of now, I seem to like the thinner blade, its a half hollow with a german blade, nothing special just a "starter razor" I picked up but I prefer it over the two 5/8 I have right now.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by holli4pirating

I would say try to vary only one characteristic of the razor, be it size, grind. I could be mistaken, but I think the three you listed are all more or less the same from a shaving stanpoint - size, grind, and point. If that is correct, pick on looks.

If I was going to recommend something, it would be a 5/8ish full hollow American razor or a 6/8sh half to quarter hollow Sheffield razor.

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+1 to this; change only one variable at a time. You can get Dovo Best Quality half-hollow grinds at The Superior Shave. I'm assuming your current blade is a full hollow. The half hollow is closer to a wedge, and that does make it behave differently.

You can also get a 3/8 Dovo wedge at Superior. Might be the ticket for your bear shaping/trimming work. (oops, meant "beard")

I think i had the razor-equivelent of a wire-edge. Anyway, i re-beveled my razor on my DMT EEF with one layer of tape. Finished on a spyderco UF, then CrOx on balsa, and 40 laps on my hanging strop. it's popping hairs for the most part. i backed the razor on both stones before moving on, hopefully preventing further wire edges.

When shaving WTG it was much more comfortable, but didn't "glide" like i expected. ATG cut clean, but it felt like i was pushing it off my face, not "wiping it off". there was significantly less irritation, and whatever irritation did arise, was in the same place as it was the previous 5 shaves. i'm beginning to think i've damaged the skin or got something going on there. it hurts, one whole day later when rubbing my hand ATG on the left side of my neck. i'm going to go a few days without shaving to see if that helps.

Also, i felt stubble rubbing ATG after the shave. Are my expectations too high?

sorry about the questions in this area.


I was at the mall, bored with an iphone, and picked the attached razor on ebay for 7 bucks (shipped). it had a point, and was thin, and looked in decent shape. don't know how i did, but it has rust. i figure i'll sand/polish it off and see what's underneath. that should hold me off a more expensive razor. :rolleyes: for now. i still want to acquire a shave-ready razor somehow, but i can't get myself to send my dovo out.