Thread: 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.

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

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.

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?

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