Thread: Newbie Question - Dovo Special or Wapi?

Back in the days when the Wapienicas were bought from overseas, honed or not, the price was more than fair (even if 3rd party honing was required). Because they are quality and shave really nice the restored Wapis these days fetch a higher price, especially due to collectability. The Dovos are probably harder and are more competitively priced in today's market. I still love both. +1 on the avoidance of using them with the stainless steel scales, mine didn't show it's true awesomeness until it was rescaled in black plastic.

What's the practical problem with the stainless Wapi scales? I mean, apart from an aesthetic point of view?

Originally Posted by Kees

What's the practical problem with the stainless Wapi scales? I mean, apart from an aesthetic point of view?

It's the balance, the scales are quite a bit heavier than any others most have handled. If you notice, most scales balance a razor & the Wapi with the stainless scales is scale heavy. It's not bad, but you do notice it rather quickly. Don't get me wrong, I really like my Wapi, but for a person who is newer to straights I would recommend the Dovo 5/8 or 6/8 in a full hollow as it will give more feedback while shaving. Once the basic skills are in place, a person should be able to shave with pretty much any good razor...which includes the Wapi.

Thanks for your reply shooter. I have read a lot of posts commenting on the awkward balance of a Wapi, but much less so on the balance of many large wedge grind meatchoppers. Why is that?

Because you are trying to control the blade, not the scales. Envision this: You are driving a S-10 or Ranger (small pickup), it handles just fine doesn't it. Now take the same pickup and attach a 16' flatbed trailer loaded down with bags of cement. Pickup doesn't handle so well now as the trailer is yanking the little pickup all around. You can still drive the pickup wherever you want, you just have to change your driving style. Same for the Wapi, the scales weigh (just a guess) about the same as the blade, thus changing how it handles compared to most other razors. Once you get used to it, you can shave with it as well as any other razor.

Go for the Dovo, you wont be dissappointed

Without meaning to hijack this thread, I have a question I'd like to ask the collective.

I bought a Dovo from Taylor's of Old Bond Street when I was in the UK a few weeks ago (I actually got it from their unit in Selfridges), and I was told it was shave-ready by the girl there. I wasn't convinced so I found my way to their shop in Jermyn Street and they told me (without looking at it) that it would be shave-ready. Now, I understand that as a rookie my technique is going to play a large part in the sensation from the blade, but I was wondering what the view is regarding these razors REALLY being shave-ready straight out of the shop. Do I need to get it honed professionally before it feels better or am I best off carrying on learning to shave (and strop) and improving my technique before I send it away to be salvaged?

NorthernNurse: Please check your pm's...

I have both a dovo and 2 wapi's. My opinion, the Wapi is small, I'm not used to the balance, but it does a hell of a good job shaving. The dovo, is balanced, but the shave is just okay. If I were you I'd go for the Wapi.

Originally Posted by NorthernNurse

Without meaning to hijack this thread, I have a question I'd like to ask the collective.

I bought a Dovo from Taylor's of Old Bond Street when I was in the UK a few weeks ago (I actually got it from their unit in Selfridges), and I was told it was shave-ready by the girl there. I wasn't convinced so I found my way to their shop in Jermyn Street and they told me (without looking at it) that it would be shave-ready. Now, I understand that as a rookie my technique is going to play a large part in the sensation from the blade, but I was wondering what the view is regarding these razors REALLY being shave-ready straight out of the shop. Do I need to get it honed professionally before it feels better or am I best off carrying on learning to shave (and strop) and improving my technique before I send it away to be salvaged?

Goodness opening a new thread is easy...

The sharpness of many new razors is much improved and many makers can say shave ready.
So take them at their word and give it a shave test by the same rules that honemasters generally
ask.

That is: Do not strop, just rinse in hot water, shower, lather your face well
and give it a shave test... concentrate on the easy bits at first. Use
a tossable blade for the hard bits, like chin, lumpy part of the neck etc...
After the first or second shave strop with smooth slow deliberate strokes.
Stropping like they do on TV is silly.

I suspect that you will want a honemaster to refresh the
blade in six weeks to three months even if it is sharp out
of the box. The reason to send it out is that some factory edges
are difficult as heck to refresh because the bevel is often set without
the spine in contact with a hone.

If you have a razor hone, you can ALWAYS give refreshing your razor
a TRY and if it does not respond to a modest effort send it out. A gentle
try will teach you a bit... The magic marker trick is important
to research.