Is The Blade Dull Or What!

I have a Dovo 5/8" that I ordered from Lynn at Straight Razor Designs and I feel I do all of the required techniques well. I strop lightly with the spine leading, I keep the hinge pin and the scales completely dry, skin stretching etc etc, but I can't help but notice the elephant in the shave.

I feel like my blade is getting quite dull, because my DE razor with Feather blades will just glide against the grade. But with my Dovo, it is a real battle to get an ATG pass for the BBS shave. While I do get a closer shave with my SR, the DE is a "smoother" shave. Could it be my stropping technique. I will say, my strop could be very subpar. Here is a link to it:
Amazon.com: Professional Leather BARBER STROP Straight Razor Sharpener 2" X 20": Health & Personal Care

Any tips fellas?

I do have a free honing cert at SRD but I don't want to send it back unless I need to.

Best,
Josh

As you're finding out, learning to shave with a straight takes more time to master than shaving with a DE. Learning proper blade angle for WTG, XTG, and ATG can be slightly different for everyone. In my experience, I would say it took me a couple of months to really feel comfortable shaving against the grain. Of course stropping could be an issue as well, but tends to be when just starting out. Just recently I came across one of Glen's videos showing a test shave and in the video it showed him using a grip I had never considered using while trying to shave, so I tried it out a few times and what a difference it has made, I am able to better control the angle of the blade resulting in smoother shaves. Keep in mind that finding out what works best for you is part of the experience.

As for your strop, since it is a 2 inch wide strop, are you stropping using the "X" stroke method?

Fortunately, my strop is wide enough where although I have to use the X stroke, it's a very small X. If you could send me that video, I would be grateful!

The easy way to find out is to send it back for the professional honing and then shave with it "out of the box" the first time, ie- without stropping. If there is a noticable improvement, you know it was a dull blade that caused the problem. If the problem returns after several stropping sessions, you know that your stropping is the culprit. If there is no improvement, you know it is in your prep or technique.

rs,
Tack

Josh I have been shaving with a Dovo 5/8 daily face and scalp since December. I am new to Strait Razor shaving however, I had notice similar attributes when shaving. Until I changed my approach angle to just less than 30' (spine closer to face) and it has improved the shave. I have had my best shave results with shaving just after shower, more water than I think necessary for lather and keep reapplying lather as I go (still working on that Technic) the lather works as a lubricant between the razor and your skin. Apposed to the frame design of Safety Razors which adds a bit of structure that glides along your face. (Thank you Captain Obvious) This is why you stated you had a closer shave with the straight.
All this to say keep working on all of your Technic's from face prep, stropping, and shave angles.

Commit some time to really "Master the basics" and you will discover the joy of accomplishment.

There's to many variables to give a good answer, but I would look a angle and stropping first. A sharp blade should cut arm hair above the skin easily that is one test you could try. Also incorrect stropping can kill an edge really fast if you are not careful.

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Originally Posted by JoshKincaid

I have a Dovo 5/8" that I ordered from Lynn at Straight Razor Designs and I feel I do all of the required techniques well. I strop lightly with the spine leading, I keep the hinge pin and the scales completely dry, skin stretching etc etc, but I can't help but notice the elephant in the shave.

I feel like my blade is getting quite dull, because my DE razor with Feather blades will just glide against the grade. But with my Dovo, it is a real battle to get an ATG pass for the BBS shave. While I do get a closer shave with my SR, the DE is a "smoother" shave. Could it be my stropping technique. I will say, my strop could be very subpar. Here is a link to it:
Amazon.com: Professional Leather BARBER STROP Straight Razor Sharpener 2" X 20": Health & Personal Care

Any tips fellas?

I do have a free honing cert at SRD but I don't want to send it back unless I need to.

Best,
Josh

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When you say "Its a real battle" what do you mean by that? If you mean it seems to have resistance or gets hung up it is probably your angle/pressure. If you mean that it pulls on the hairs in your face and is painfully ripping them out then probably a dull razor.

It does take some time to learn this whole thing as there are a few more aspects to straight then with DE such as stropping, grip, and you have more options for angle.

I recently switched over to a straight too. If I understand your question correctly, it's something I noticed too. Even if it's just as sharp, there is more drag on the straight because the edge is twice as long. Plus you've got less leverage because of where the handle is. The better the first two passes are, the less drag there will be on the ATG pass.

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Originally Posted by ReardenSteel

As you're finding out, learning to shave with a straight takes more time to master than shaving with a DE. Learning proper blade angle for WTG, XTG, and ATG can be slightly different for everyone. In my experience, I would say it took me a couple of months to really feel comfortable shaving against the grain. Of course stropping could be an issue as well, but tends to be when just starting out. Just recently I came across one of Glen's videos showing a test shave and in the video it showed him using a grip I had never considered using while trying to shave, so I tried it out a few times and what a difference it has made, I am able to better control the angle of the blade resulting in smoother shaves. Keep in mind that finding out what works best for you is part of the experience.

As for your strop, since it is a 2 inch wide strop, are you stropping using the "X" stroke method?

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Would you happen to have a link to that vid, or could you describe the grip you are referring to?

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=93zQP7CToWQ

I believe this is the video that is being mentioned. The other videos of Glens are a good watch also.

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Originally Posted by McBrautigam

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=93zQP7CToWQ

I believe this is the video that is being mentioned. The other videos of Glens are a good watch also.

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Yes, this is the video I was referring to. Thanks for posting the video, things tend to get a little busy with a three year old running around. :)

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Originally Posted by ReardenSteel

Yes, this is the video I was referring to. Thanks for posting the video, things tend to get a little busy with a three year old running around. :)

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No problem. I had a spare minute when my six month old was not demanding my attention.

You might want to try stropping with a little more attention to keeping the [I]edge[I] of the razor in firm (not heavy, but not light) contact with the strop's surface. The goal in stropping is to polish the edge smooth and also straighten the edge. After stropping, you should notice a big increase in sharpness. Don't worry about going fast; slow and careful works just as well. Only a few laps (around a dozen or so) are needed.

I also would say it's all about the angle. I kept on accusing several razors being dull then I sent them to professionals that swore they're perfect don't need honing etc.

Then I changed the angle, nearly flat. And they started gliding.

Possible that your razor might need honing, but exhaust all angle possibilities first.

I had same problem with DOVO best 5/8 and even honed second time by Lynn. I brought a Ralf Aust it is like magic, much better shave. Wonder about the quality of DOVO.
Bruce

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Originally Posted by ffarouki

I also would say it's all about the angle.

I kept on accusing several razors being dull then I sent them to professionals that swore they're perfect don't need honing etc.

Then I changed the angle, nearly flat. And they started gliding...

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THIS bears repeating. We see this exact (nearly situation) here all the time.

This is probably the 10th thread i've seen in less than two years where some new shaver (new to SR) can't figger out how is professionally-prepped blade isn't sharp enough.

They usually are sharp enough for proper technique. They are not sharp enough to cover improper angles new fellas often try to use/carry over from their DE or shavette-type shaving experience. They never will be.



Also, XTG with a straight is _advanced_ technique only advisable for 100+ shaves experience and a _known_ sharp edge as we covered nicely in a thread just the other day. right here.

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Originally Posted by brucem

I had same problem with DOVO best 5/8 and even honed second time by Lynn. I brought a Ralf Aust it is like magic, much better shave. Wonder about the quality of DOVO.
Bruce

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No. barking up the brand tree will get you no satisfaction in SR's The ultimate edge is a magical trilogy between alloy, heat-treatment, and honing. Brilliant edges come from nearly every make.

Most brands who have been in biz for 100 years or so, have that part fairly well sorted.

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Originally Posted by WadePatton

No. barking up the brand tree will get you no satisfaction in SR's The ultimate edge is a magical trilogy between alloy, heat-treatment, and honing. Brilliant edges come from nearly every make.

Most brands who have been in biz for 100 years or so, have that part fairly well sorted.

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Understand Wade, I just brought a DOVO Bismarck and boy does it shave better than the best quality and shaves as good as the Ralf Aust. I have tried every angle possible and still leaves most of the hairs behind. Just don't really know whats going on.