Thread: Dovo inox holding edge longer than TI...?

Maybe it's me, but recently it seems like my TI is getting dull (or misaligned) way before the shave is finished. It's a singing 7/8 carbon steel and my Dovo is a stainless 5/8. They both pass the hanging hair test each time I hone, but I always get less irritation with the Dovo. I think the TI is getting worse DURING the shave. Maybe the edge is getting beat up on the tree trunks around my chin. It starts out OK but irritates something fierce by the time I'm done with my second pass. Let alone the third. The Dovo seems smooth throughout the shave. Is the INOX holding the edge where the TI carbon is not? I know the chromium content in a stainless makes an inherently harder steel, but that same ingredient also makes it impossible to take as sharp of an edge (microscopic brittleness), nor as easily. Thoughts?

Dunno,
but my favorite razor at the moment is a Dovo...
John P

Originally Posted by threeputt

Maybe it's me, but recently it seems like my TI is getting dull (or misaligned) way before the shave is finished. It's a singing 7/8 carbon steel and my Dovo is a stainless 5/8. They both pass the hanging hair test each time I hone, but I always get less irritation with the Dovo. I think the TI is getting worse DURING the shave. Maybe the edge is getting beat up on the tree trunks around my chin. It starts out OK but irritates something fierce by the time I'm done with my second pass. Let alone the third. The Dovo seems smooth throughout the shave. Is the INOX holding the edge where the TI carbon is not? I know the chromium content in a stainless makes an inherently harder steel, but that same ingredient also makes it impossible to take as sharp of an edge (microscopic brittleness), nor as easily. Thoughts?

I think this is an ideal example where a two-sided paddle strop with DOVO green and red, or red and black, pastes may help, when followed by a plain leather stropping. It sounds like the TI might benefit from a visit to the paste strops between honings. TI offers a white paste that is more agressive than DOVO white, the linen strop paste, and is meant to be used on leather. You might try that, also.

I suspect, though I have no measurement proof, the DOVO stain-resistant steel is harder than the TI lead-hardened carbon steel. That might account for the durability issue between the two blades if yours is a particularly heavy beard. In barbershops, it was routine to strop between passes. That's another alternative.

I've got three stainless razors a Dovo, a Dorko and a Puma and I'll tell you they all last longer between honing than any other carbon steels I have and I've just about got them all including TIs. The only exception there is my TI damascus. I think I could cut down a redwood tree with it and it would still shave with no problems.