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Well fellows this is my first post since I started using a straight in December. Bought both of these from SRD and Lynn even honed Dovo for second time. The Ralf just seems to shave better, Dovo doesn't seem to even cut the hairs. I am sure some of this is lack of technique but that much? Both are low end of the line and 5/8's. Any suggestions?
I've never used an Aust, but I found that my Dovo felt "chunkier" than my Revisor. My opinion of Dovos, as has developed over a long period of time, is that they are highly overrated.
My experience with the Aust razors is limited to the one I bought about two years ago. I'm not nit picking the semantics, but I found nothing "low end" about that razor. I bought one that was not honed and when I set the bevel on it I was shocked at how perfectly uniformly it was ground. The bevel was dead straight. I was considering booking a flight to Germany to get grinding lessons from the man till I remembered I hate to fly and don't speak German.
The razor honed up well, shaved great, and held an edge as well as any other high end razor. I would say if you buy one and don't like it you can go...
sell it in the classifieds!
You hear a lot about personal preference here but I've never heard anyone say anything particularly bad about either brand. I don't own a Ralf Aust but I have had my eye on them for the past year. Like Revisor, I know you can order direct from Germany but I haven't bothered as of yet. And having read Utopian's endorsement, I'm more interested than before. Maybe you prefer the RA over Dovo but if its not cutting hair at all I'd send it to someone for evaluation/honing. The "low end" Dovo should be as efficient as their best offering. No matter what brand you finally find to be your preference, the Dovo should cut hair just fine. If its not, there's a problem with the edge. I'd say its your technique if you couldn't get either of them to cut hair. But if one does and one doesn't, it sounds like and edge issue.
+1 on that. I have a Dovo Best Quality (was my first razor) and when I got it it pulled and tugged and everyone was leaning towards technique but I decided to learn how to hone and after a Gold Dollar that I honed shaved better I decided to re-set the bevel on the Dovo and sharpened it up as sharp as the GD. Now it's second only to my Sheffield blade from ebay.Quote:
Originally Posted by OCDshaver
I've never used a Ralf Aust (I'm hoping I can stand firm in my conviction that I can't try every razor). I do have three Dovo Best Quality razors and think they are excellent shavers. Just looking at the pictures of a Ralf Aust razor, it looks like it might be a fancier razor and if looks aren't deceiving, a better one.Quote:
Originally Posted by brucem
I have a dove with pearlite handles 6/8 and an aust 5/8. Love the way theaust shaves.
I have em both and they both shave great. Sometimes the feel of the razor can cause you to wield it differently which can cause a quality change in the shave. Also, it's possible the Dovo needs honing.
I believe what your are saying. The Aust just shaves better. I will have to learn how to hone now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steel
Just got it back from Lynn so been honed for second time.
I have better luck with my Aust than with any Dovo I have ever owned. No explanation other than that I prefer the Aust.
I shave with both and am satisfied with them both and notice little difference. Mine are older production wise with the Dovo about 7 years and the Aust from initial releases. I think the higher demand for straights the last few years has caused production QC issues that are more cosmetic in nature from the shoulder back to include even cheaper scales on the entry level razors than issues affecting the edges with the exception of a universal lack of quality honing from manufacturers. And keep in mind that with Dovo straights the same blades whether shouldered or shoulderless are common through most of lineup differentiated by fancier scales and blade/spine adornments and of late the scale upgrade issues affect Aust's as well.
: p
I have both. Dovo 6/8 and Aust 5/8. They are both fine shavers. I do get a better shave with the Dove 6/8. I think that is because I am more comfortable with the larger blade, not because of the brand name. :confused:
I have Dovo Best 5/8, and 6/8, and Ralf Aust 6/8 Spanish, and 7/8 square. I'd give the nod to RA, though I get tremendous shaves from the Dovo's as well.
I dont have an Aust - damn near bought one last night but decided I could not afford it.
I get a tremendous shave from my Best Quality 6/8 from SRD.
Barry
I get much better results with a Dovo 6/8 Bismarck than my 5/8 Aust. No contest!
Did not realize dropping a hundred and a half on a RA5/8 Spanish put me into a low end razor ?.... I have the RA and six vintage blades RA gives a nice shave as does a rusted three dollar blade I put a few hours time into. Did Lynn have a opinion on why the razor he honed twice would not shave ?
Hotshoe I assure you it wasn't a honing issue. He has sharpened lots of razors for me and they have all been excellent.
Thats why I asked if he gave his opinion , was curious if he had a idea what was up with that particular blade.. all companies hit a dud now and again.. my Sharps rifle was made by a company that was fed up with the inconsistency of the steel in the barrels they were buying that they put up a foundry and started making their own steel
Its a Dovo 5/8 Best Quality that will not even pass the Hanging Hair Test. The Ralf Aust and the Dovo Bismarck shave very well and pass the HHT if that means anything. I have put the Best Quality in the drawer. Oh its not Lynn's fault. He has honed the other razors as well its just that one. I must of got a dud.
Bruce
Just my 2 cents....why did Lynn send it back??? You paid for it to be sharp, right?? It won't pass HHT?? somethings wrong... I have the "entry level" 5/8 Aust, very nice...
+2 I have three DOVOs and after bevel set, and honed up to 16K , followed by the Lynn Abrams Linen and Leather Strop I have no need to look for any other razor. This is probably true for all well manufactured razors.. All the problems I have encounter were my technique or a less than and experienced honing session. Sometimes finish off honing with a J-Nat.
" The Duke of Ducks" I love that movie.
Since you are new I suspect that it is more about prep, shaving technique & stropping skills than the Dovo. I have 40 razors and some are high end but my Dovos do just as well
I am very new to shaving ~6 shaves total and my results with the Dovo Best Quality and Ralf Aust are almost identical. Looks like the operator of the razor plays a significant role in the quality of the shave.
Just my humble $0.02....
I have a Dovo Flowing (essentially a fancy Bismark) and a 7/8 Aust Spanish tip. The Aust wins by a long stretch. While I love the ergonomics of the Dovo, it has proven to be one pain in the behind to hone. It came to me a decent edge and it has seen a fair amount of use, but when it came time to refresh it, nothing seems to work. The Ralf Aust has been in rotation for some time as well, and has seen the stones once or twice.. it takes an edge with ease and shaves like a dream.
Pair them up and the Ralf Aust wins on all counts (even with the cheap plastic scales).
I have a Ralph Aust and several Dovo's ( Bismark) I see little difference in the way they hone or shave. They are both excellent but the Aust is more of a plain Jane in appearnce
Just had my 8th shave total and 3rd with the Aust, best shave to date. The only thing that has changed is stropping and technique. Dovo Best Quality just got home from a professional hone. Will update if that pushes my preference to Dovo or Ralf Aust.