Thread: DOVO Shavette

Hey guys, I was thinking about purchasing one of the DOVO Shavettes offered on e-Bay. I think they're around $30.00. I already use a Merkur safety razor, but have a very nice old Wade & Butcher I'm going to send to Lynn for honing and before I do that, I was wanting to sort of learn the straight razor method. Thought I'd try a shavette. Opinions?

I have mixed thoughts about this.

The reason is because I'd helped a young man in India get started using a 'true' straight razor as he'd used his grandfather's DE and a Shavette. When he got the two straight razors that I'd sent him he had a hard time adjusting as the Shavette was about 1/2 as long.

He finally got the hang of using the longer razor.

I've Never Used a Shavette so I'm not qualified to comment further.

Just my two bits ($0.25) worth

If you have a good razor to use, use it. There are a few in the classifies right now for 50-55 spend it there, have a second blade and go with it.
You already took the bite and have a blade, the shavette seems like you are making the same middle step twice.
p.s. I started on a shavette and have nothing against them.

I would be inclined to wait until the Wade and Butcher has been honed since you seem to be heading down that route. IMHO, just buy one of the cheap shavettes from ebay if you want to buy one - shavettes are just a holder for the razor blades which do the cutting and they're so much cheaper. Of course, unless you wish to use the shavette as your preferred means of shaving, the DOVO may be worth the extra money.

If it were me I would consider another option

Another option: For the price of a DOVO shavette and blades, you could head over to Larry @ Whipped Dog and get a Sight Unseen razor or two.

Hmmm... so the general consensus on the shavette forum is not to use a shavette? OK

Originally Posted by Ferrarimondial

Hmmm... so the general consensus on the shavette forum is not to use a shavette? OK

I wouldn't say 'The General Consensus' is not to use a Shavette. I 'think' what you are hearing is that there's nothing 'Wrong' with using one, it's just that they are 'different' than a True Straight Razor.

I've found that 99.9% of EVERYTHING to do with shaving with a straight razor is 'Personal Preference'!!!!

As my friend pfries said:

"If you have a good razor to use, use it. There are a few in the classifies right now for 50-55 spend it there, have a second blade and go with it.
You already took the bite and have a blade, the shavette seems like you are making the same middle step twice.
p.s. I started on a shavette and have nothing against them".

If you wish to start with a Shavette, then do so! If you wish to go further in the journey and use a true straight razor, please do!

No matter which path you take at the fork in the road, its a long strange journey but well worth the trip

Originally Posted by Ferrarimondial

Hmmm... so the general consensus on the shavette forum is not to use a shavette? OK

Originally Posted by cudarunner

As my friend pfries said:

"If you have a good razor to use, use it. There are a few in the classifies right now for 50-55 spend it there, have a second blade and go with it.
You already took the bite and have a blade, the shavette seems like you are making the same middle step twice.
p.s. I started on a shavette and have nothing against them".

As noted by Roy I started on a shavette and have nothing against them.

the reason my .02 came out like that is you stated " but have a very nice old Wade & Butcher I'm going to send to Lynn for honing"
So I made the suggestion to help limit the variables.

They are a bit different, learn one at a time, I personally don't think throwing both in the mix at once is a great idea.

If you are stepping toward a traditional straight do it, or set it aside and head the route of the shavette for a bit.
Dovo, parker, feather, sally beauty supply all have them.

Get the W & B honed,

realize much of the advice given to those starting out is to help limit the variables, this can make troubleshooting easier and the learning curve shorter.

As I have stated before on SRP, some of us like the longer hard road, whichever you choose we will offer what we can.

Regards
Pat

Originally Posted by Ferrarimondial

Hey guys, I was thinking about purchasing one of the DOVO Shavettes offered on e-Bay. I think they're around $30.00. I already use a Merkur safety razor, but have a very nice old Wade & Butcher I'm going to send to Lynn for honing and before I do that, I was wanting to sort of learn the straight razor method. Thought I'd try a shavette. Opinions?

Yes, have the Wade & Butcher honed, and use it. If you want a straight razor with replaceable blades, also referred to in general terms as the shavette, then opt for the Feather Artist Club DX. It is more expensive, far more, but it is a great razor. The Dovo Shavette is a light and thin razor using half of the standard double edge razor blade. The Feather uses its own Feather blades, which I think are the sharpest objects on earth. I find the Dovo Shavette flimsy and the balance far from ideal, whereas the Feather has heft and ideal balance.

Obie, Thank you for adding some solid 'facts' about the 'shavettes' as I originally posted:

(I've Never Used a Shavette so I'm not qualified to comment further. Just my two bits ($0.25) worth )

It is always so refreshing to hear from a voice of 'Experience' instead of one of 'Opinion' AND from a member who can be trusted to give good counsel :

Thank you