Thread: Newbie Question

Gentlemen (and ladies):

Good morning, and hello from NE PA. First, let me say this is a well constructed forum with what seems to be a bunch of good people. I've been using a DE razor for a while now, and a while ago I got a bug to try SR shaving. So I found an online store and purchased a Doco Prima Silver Steel SR. Then a day or two later I find this forum, and find out about Larry over at Whipped Dog. I see his deal where you can get a razor and a strop pretty cheap, so I decide that might be the better route and just hold onto the Dovo, and let me beat up the razor I get from Larry.

In the meantime, I do my homework and watch the newbie shaving videos and the stropping video and try to get down the technique so I don't slice myself.

So the Dovo arrives, and Larry's hasn't yet (but I got the email its on its way). So this morning I decide to try the Dovo just for the heck of it. No, I did not slice myself like I thought I might. All I wanted to try was to shave my sideburns down to the jaw line on my dominant side and that's all. However, it would seem that I got some scraping action, and it did not hurt, but it did not cut either. All I got was shaving cream (William's Mug Soap that is). So I lathered up that side again (mmmmm nice warm lather) and try it again. Same result.... I did not want to push or put any more pressure as that would seem to get me into trouble.

Anyway, the plan now is to wait for Larry's kit to arrive so that I not only have a proper strop, but have a SR that I know is properly honed.

My question is that when the razor does not cut like that, but does not hurt, is it because of sharpness? I would assume that is the case, however could it be that the razor is sharp enough, its just my technique?

What would be a recommendation? I was going to try to strop it and try again, but I may need to get it honed. Who would be the guy to hone this thing correctly as at this point I would probably make a mess of it.

The current plan beyond getting the blade into shape is to try using the SR I get from Larry. He seems to have a good reputation here and if I have the same trouble with the SR I get from him I would then have to assume the problem is me.

Anyway, thanks and I welcome any suggestions anyone can give.

Joe

Depending on where you got the Dovo, it might be "factory sharp," but not "shave ready sharp." I had the same experience with my Dovo. Got it, shaved d found it to be rough on me, found this place, found good people - with mad sharpening skills, and had a totally different experience with it once it got a tune up.

Whipped Dog is a great place and will send you a shavable razor. Just wait, when that first whisker falls to a sharp straight...you will know you're hooked.

Welcome aboard! Welcome to the obsession that is SRP.

When you start out there is much to learn. It's hard to tell if it's a razor issue or a user issue or both. For sure new razors, factory made rarely come shave ready. They usually need anything from a touch-up to a bevel redo so once you have a razor you know is truly shave ready then you can move on to other concerns.

That seems to be the most difficult part - knowing when its the user and knowing when its the razor, and compounding that is that yes there is much to learn so you don't know the difference yet. I will try the razor from Larry and see. Where would be the most newbie-friendly and reputable place to have the Dovo razor touched up?

Hello Joe, and welcome to SRP.
Many of our members offer their honing services for a small fee, take a look in the classifieds under Member Services for a list of people that do. Find the nearest and send them a PM with a picture - hard to bear more newbie friendly than that

Best of luck.

Since you have a strop coming to you already...give that blade 100 laps on the leather when you get it. If it still doesn't glide over your face (or through it...Ha!!), send it to a honemeister. Also, be sure that your lather has good viscosity to allow the blade to glide.

Welcome to Straight Razor Place.........Just remember to have patience and don't be afraid to ask questions. It will all come in time.

Does Larry hone razors that he doesn't sell ? If you like the razor you get from him, send him the Dovo for honing.

Or check the Classifieds for honing services -- there may be somebody in your neighborhood. You might get a sharp razor _and_ a shaving / honing lesson.

Charles

Gentlemen thank you all for your kind welcome. As it turns out, Str8RazrSerg was right. All it needed was stropping. I only needed to give it about 20 strokes and I managed to shave a little 1 inch area on my forearm, even with my novice stropping technique...

I am currently using the razor Larry sent me, which I of course gave myself 2 slashes near my lower jawbone today....
but I am NOT detered!! However, I think I may force myself not to get brave and shave my cheeks/sideburns only for the first week or so and use my DE razor for the rest.

I also got Lynn's DVD the other day and have watched it. He already showed me I was holding the razor incorectly.....

It might take a month, and I may own stock in styptic pencils by then, but I'm going to figure this out...
I get a really nice shave with my DE right now, I can't image how nice a SR shave will be once I stop slashing myself!!

thanks to you all....

JS


Question:
When all of you were learning, I'm sure you cut/nicked yourselves pretty good at times... Should I shave with my DE only tomorrow and allow those cuts to heal, or get right back on the horse because those cuts heal quickly???

It's up to you and how bad the nicks are. Ideally, you should let the skin heal fully before shaving again, but I know that I was one impatient little bugger, so I would just get back to it the next day. You could shave around them and then use your DE razor to lightly go over those trouble areas as well, as the better technique will be more forgiving to the skin.

As for stropping, I'd suggest a good 50-60 laps before you shave (and perhaps more; as long as the stropping stroke is good I've never heard of an upper limit). It's ok to go slower than all those videos on youtube, as long as you go nice and steady and make sure you flip the razor correctly.

Keep at it, the shaves get better very quickly in the beginning!