Even bevel razor?

So I was looking at getting a Dovo best quality full hollow razor, here is a review on amazon of the razor I was looking at:

By
Alex McCarthy (Canton, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)


This review is from: Dovo Carbon Steel Half Hollow Best Quality Razor, 5/8" Black Handle (Health and Beauty)
I purchased this razor (the white one) a few months ago, and it stated that it was shave ready. This was the very first straight razor that I've ever had. I used it, and learned how to NOT cut myself. I learned to strop a bit, then after having a few un-comfortable shaves, and a BUNCH of missed whiskers - I decided to purchase a jewelers' loupe, and check out what everything looked like up close. To my surprise, the razor only had a sharpened/beveled edge on half of one side, and half of the other side! It was sharp on the center "half" of one side, then the outside "half's" of the other side. It just didn't have a full edge on it on either side. Now that I know what it looks like up close, I can actually tell with the naked eye. I didn't know to look for things like that before.

This has now become my "learn to hone" razor, I used what is called a "bread-knife" technique on this blade, and I'm starting over from scratch to see if I can produce an even bevel. I have purchased another straight razor for now, so I can get back to learning to use one.




From that persons review I concluded that the razor I'm buying only has a sharp edge at certain parts of the blade, is this the same for all razors bought new? I'd like to buy one where I can shave with the entire blade in one stroke, or is the entire blade not designed to have a cutting edge? Help.

Welcome to SRP.

No.

Buy a razor from a shop that hones them for you, and you will not have any issues.

Straight Razor Designs comes to mind

I'll not comment on that review, other than to say there's a reason I don't look to Amazon reviews for razor related stuff.

Factory edges may be shave ready for some people but not for most of us here on SRP. Since you purchased it from Amazon I suspect it is a factory edge. When a razor has a bevel only in the center on one side and only on the toe and heal on the other it usually means the blade is slightly warped, which is not uncommon. If this is true it probably is not a good razor to learn to hone with and you would be better off sending it to someone that hones razors for a good amount of time and mention that the blade may be warped. Good luck.

Welcome to SRP and + 1 to previous posters. BTW, never breadknife a razor unless there is no other alternative. You've created a lot more work for whoever hones it now. Check out the SRP beginner's guide in the SRP Wiki here. Also a lot of honing tutorials in the Wiki. :gl:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mike87

So I was looking at getting a Dovo best quality full hollow razor, here is a review on amazon of the razor I was looking at:

From that persons review I concluded that the razor I'm buying only has a sharp edge at certain parts of the blade, is this the same for all razors bought new? I'd like to buy one where I can shave with the entire blade in one stroke, or is the entire blade not designed to have a cutting edge? Help.

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The razor is fine, just get it from a reputable vendor that hones the razors first... as above, Straight Razor Designs comes to mind...

The guy that bought the amazon razor had a factory edge on it, and depending on when that review was done, it might have been a really bad edge...

A) You should start with a shave ready razor for your first time
B) Read reviews on here, and pay extra attention to the people with mentor badges.

Is the part about breadknifing from the review, or is that something you wrote? I would ignore everything from anyone who decides to breadknife a brand new razor just to see if they can get an even bevel back.

Sorry let me clarify a few things:

1. I have not bought my straight razor yet, everything posted there is from the reviewer.

2. What is confusing me, is what kind of an edge should a factory sharpened brand new straight razor from Dovo carry? This man mentioned the middle of one side as being sharp, and the tail ends on the other side being sharp. This is something I did not see addressed on the forum or the FAQ. Does a brand new properly sharpened razor hold a sharp edge across the entire blade, or only in 'parts' of it?

Just a confused newbie. This is the last thing I am curious about before I buy my razorblade, I don't see anything wrong from buying through amazon as long as I am buying the product new and not used, correct?

Been there, done that.

Cheaper Dovos seem to be slightly warped. The first razor I've bought was a Dovo Black Star, factory-new.

Problem was, it wasn't shave ready. It just wasn't. A few weeks later, I acquired a Kayser Ellison Sheffield razor from swiss ebay. The guy who sold it has been shaving with a straight and honing for decades. The razor he sold me is excellent, too.
I have always noted the "uneven" bevel, something absent on my Sheffield. At the toe, on one side, the bevel is thinner than on the other side, same towards the heel. In the middle section of the edge the bevel seems to be more or less even on both sides.

Now, this is not optimal, since it's definitely harder to hone, especially if you're a newbie at this like I was (and still am).

I have a Naniwa 1k/3k Combo hone and a Suehiro Gold 8k + regular strop.

I can easily get my sheffield shave ready, never had any problems honing it. My dovo is a different story though. I've honed it several times by now and I finally seem to be getting it (just put on a new edge today, shaved with it, it was fine).

Long story short: New Dovos are fine, but they may not be the perfect start for someone who wants to learn how to hone. Send it to a pro.

BTW: All of the expensive Dovos I've seen so far (i've seen only a couple of them) seemed to have very even, nice bevels.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mike87

Sorry let me clarify a few things:

1. I have not bought my straight razor yet, everything posted there is from the reviewer.

Got that

2. What is confusing me, is what kind of an edge should a factory sharpened brand new straight razor from Dovo carry? This man mentioned the middle of one side as being sharp, and the tail ends on the other side being sharp. This is something I did not see addressed on the forum or the FAQ. Does a brand new properly sharpened razor hold a sharp edge across the entire blade, or only in 'parts' of it?

That razor was factory sharpened that is NOT "Shave Ready" it might have been bad it might not have been,,, Only a experienced honer would be able to tell.. A newb will just make that worse

Just a confused newbie. This is the last thing I am curious about before I buy my razorblade, I don't see anything wrong from buying through amazon as long as I am buying the product new and not used, correct?

No that is not correct they are cheaper because they still need to be made "Shave Ready" you need to factor in about $30 to do that after the fact with shipping plus the wait time :(

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There is a huge difference between "Sharpened" and "Shave Ready" hence why all of us keep pointing you toward SRD or another REPUTABLE straight razor vendor...

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

There is a huge difference between "Sharpened" and "Shave Ready" hence why all of us keep pointing you toward SRD or another REPUTABLE straight razor vendor...

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Ok interesting information, would this qualify for a first shave, I picked this out on SRD:

73.99


We include in the price of each razor professional sharpening, shave tested and disinfected. We have also placed a thin coat of Camellia Oil over the blade to protect it. When you receive the razor, all you need to do is wipe off the oil and it is ready to shave the first time without stropping. An initial stropping can also be done if you prefer.
Dovo Best Quality, 6/8" is a great razor and blade without the frills. Get a Great Shave without the high cost. High Quality Carbon Steel forged Blade in black scales. Full Hollow Ground Blade. Just a Great Razor for the Money.






Not to be rude, but the amazon price is equivalent for the same product and both say shave ready, however, given that the price is the same, I will probably buy it through SRD as they look like a reputable company that backs their product up.



I guess what I'm asking is, do I need to get this razor sent out to be sharpened or just run over it with a leather strop before the first shave?


:shrug:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mike87

Sorry let me clarify a few things:

This man mentioned the middle of one side as being sharp, and the tail ends on the other side being sharp. This is something I did not see addressed on the forum or the FAQ.

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New or not, factory edge or not, this sounds like a warped blade. Just my opinion. Be sure to get it honed by someone who can deal with this.

Anyone can say shave ready. You need to look at who is making it shave ready. if it's the factory, forget it. If it's from a known and reliable source you're OK and SRD is as known and reliable a source as there is out there.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mike87

Ok interesting information, would this qualify for a first shave, I picked this out on SRD:

73.99


We include in the price of each razor professional sharpening, shave tested and disinfected. We have also placed a thin coat of Camellia Oil over the blade to protect it. When you receive the razor, all you need to do is wipe off the oil and it is ready to shave the first time without stropping. An initial stropping can also be done if you prefer.
Dovo Best Quality, 6/8" is a great razor and blade without the frills. Get a Great Shave without the high cost. High Quality Carbon Steel forged Blade in black scales. Full Hollow Ground Blade. Just a Great Razor for the Money.






Not to be rude, but the amazon price is equivalent for the same product and both say shave ready, however, given that the price is the same, I will probably buy it through SRD as they look like a reputable company that backs their product up.

Most factory blades say shave ready, most are not, too be considered shave ready they must be honed by somebody that KNOWS straight razors...
SRD KNOWS straight razors...

I guess what I'm asking is, do I need to get this razor sent out to be sharpened or just run over it with a leather strop before the first shave?

You really really need to do some reading in the beginners sections here, this forum is packed to the gills with very good info that is totally useless unless you do your part... Read first, shave second...The razor will be honed to shave ready from SRD whether you can wield that edge then becomes the question...


:shrug:

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Not to be rude, but I can tell already that you haven't read much of the info on here, just from the questions you are asking...

One of the biggest things we stress in the Beginners section is that unless the razor has been honed by a reputable honemiester it is not shave ready...

Your term of "run it over a leather strop" speaks volumes that you have not read the stropping tips for beginners yet...

This is a great hobby/shaving ritual, BUT it isn't as easy as many think, starting out it has a steep learning curve, and we try like crazy to explain this to newbs.. We have learned through experience that the more prepared a new shaver is with info and what to expect the more likely they are to succeed and join us in being a straight razor shaver :)

If you take your time, ask questions, and read what we have so carefully put together here, your first shave will be a pleasure instead of a disaster...

I've read through the newbie guides pretty thoroughly, I've been doing pre and post shave prep with my cartridge blade in readiness for when I have my straight razor, perhaps I threw out my phrase concerning the leather strop too loosely, but I've watched the newbie video on how to strop and the number of strokes to use (roughly 50 strokes for a standard one sided strop seems to be acceptable). So I think you may simply be having a bit of miscommunication with me.


It looks like the consensus is that the blade he recieved was warped, I will thank you for mentioning SRD that looks like a great site and I am purchasing the Dovo best quality 6/8 full hollow from them as my first blade. Cheers.

Mike i bought the same razor and it was a great razor with a quality blade and the only full hollow to give me a great shave as i have whiskers like a wire brush,i sold it to finance a dovo wedge and now i feel i should have kept it guess that's sellers remorse,i think you will be more than happy with it and the blades are exactly the same as they're more expensive ones,

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mike87

I've read through the newbie guides pretty thoroughly, I've been doing pre and post shave prep with my cartridge blade in readiness for when I have my straight razor, perhaps I threw out my phrase concerning the leather strop too loosely, but I've watched the newbie video on how to strop and the number of strokes to use (roughly 50 strokes for a standard one sided strop seems to be acceptable). So I think you may simply be having a bit of miscommunication with me.


It looks like the consensus is that the blade he recieved was warped, I will thank you for mentioning SRD that looks like a great site and I am purchasing the Dovo best quality 6/8 full hollow from them as my first blade. Cheers.

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Just to let you know.Yes SRD is an awesome site as the founder of Straight Razor Place Lynn Abrams is one of the owners SEE Front page of SRP. He is one of the top Honemasters in the world.You will get an excellent blade from him guaranteed .:gl:

IMHO I would say that all blades in the Dovo line (and probably in other makers lines) are all the same quality. You will always get a couple in the bunch that should have been thrown on the scrap heap, but those are fairly minimal on the grander scale.
The only difference in razors from reputable companies that adds to the price, is the scale material and how pretty they make the blades with gold washes, etching etc.
A plain dovo razor with plastic scales will shave just as well as a fancy dovo mammoth ivory scaled razor, with several ounces of gold wash on the blade. In most cases you pay for the eye candy. I will add that the feel of a plastic scaled razor over something with a 'higher quality' scale will make a difference to your shaving experience. Some like the softer feel of the plastics, others like the feel of something a little more rigid.
The many choices of razor out there only prove that there are many different preferences out there. If a style didn't sell it would not be kept in production.
I stand to be corrected in any of this. As I stated this is just my humble opinion.
That reviewers blade was possibly one of the odd ones that should never have gotten past quality control.


Mick

I would like to add here that many are assuming that the Dovo bought on amazon was warped, and that very well might be true, it does happen on occasion -but- there is no proof of that...

We are looking at a review, from a un-known, complete Newb, and his assessment of a blade edge, that was honed at the factory, and we don't even know when...

It could just be a bad honing too... :dropjaw:

We will never actually know. :beer1:

Well I've been practicing my shaving with left and right hand, been using prewash, cold shave technique, brush and soap lather, and post shave moisturizing face lotion, now my bad boy has arrived today and my quality SRD leather strop!

I shaved this morning so gonna give it an extra day for some noticable growth to shave off before breaking in the Dovo best quality! :medvl:

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/h.../shavetime.jpg