Thread: Dovo Best Quality vs Ralf Aust

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.

Originally Posted by OCDshaver

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.

Originally Posted by brucem

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 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.

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.

Originally Posted by Steel

+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.

I believe what your are saying. The Aust just shaves better. I will have to learn how to hone now.

Just got it back from Lynn so been honed for second time.