Thread: My New Dovo Razor is it blunt or is it me?

Originally Posted by dave5225

. . .
Start off with lowering your blade angle . I don't know where this 30 degree angle crap came from , but you don't want to shave your whole face holding the razor at the same angle . Different situations call for different angles of attack . The best thing to do is start with the blade almost flat to your face , and increase the angle until it's shaving right . . . .

There is nothing wrong with having to finish up your shaves with your regular razor . Plenty of us had to , including myself .

+1.

Chins are tough. Practice on cheeks and sideburn area first. They're flatter, and much easier to learn on.

Charles

Originally Posted by straightrazorheaven

was the razor advertised as shave ready? Did you strop before use? Did you see before shaving our just foam/oil?

Hi. It was bought from one of the main online specialist shaving companies here in the UK. When I spoke to the guy he reckoned it just needed stropped.

Originally Posted by BobH

If you do persevere for 4-6 months it will become very rewarding. Your first full face shave sounds similar to mine in length of time it took, difficulties around the chin area and generally poor shave. I did not attempt a full face shave at the start but built up to it slowly as recommended in the wiki here. It might be a good idea to give that a read if you have not already done so.

Did the vendor you bought the razor from say it was shave ready? The only new razor I had bought I could shave with the factory edge but honing it really upped the quality of shave. If yours has a factory edge it won't be the sharpest it can be. It could be you need a professional honing done on it.

Consider too that you, as I did, have virtually no technique developed at that stage so a less than sharp razor would make it even more difficult to get a good shave. Even if you do start off with a sufficiently sharp razor you will dull it more quickly anyway in the beginning because of poor shaving and/or stropping technique.

Also it might be a good idea to only out shaving cream on a portion of your face that you can shave immediately and then lather another portion and so on. Trying to shave with dried up lather won't do any good. It also takes time to get be able to produce a good lather that won't dry too quickly.

You did the right thing by not forcing the blade if it does not feel right. For sure do not attempt honing your own brand new blade at this point, you are liable to make it worse. Leave learning to hone for a few months down the road when you have an old cheap practice razor that you won't mind if it gets screwed up.

Hang in there.

Bob

Hi Bob
They didnt advertise as shave ready but the seal was broken on the box when I received it. When I spoke to the guy he reckoned it would probably just need a strop. The problem is it can all seem a little overwhelming. If I dont have a shave ready razor how do I know when it is? How do I know if I'm stropping correctly or just making it worse? If I've never experienced what a really sharp razor feels like in the first place it is very hard to gauge the condition of it on my first shave. I'm fairly sure it isnt correct. Also read that perhaps I shouldnt have gone for a stainless steel one as they are generally not as sharp and more difficult to hone. I will leave any honing for now, I just want to be able to concentrate on learning to shave with it and strop propally. The strop I've got has the canvas on one side and the leather on the other. It requires the X motion as its quite narrow. I've got the pastes from Dovo but have not used them yet. Thanks everyone for all your help, I was surprised you all got back so quickly and you all seem very friendly.

Originally Posted by straightrazorheaven

was the razor advertised as shave ready? Did you strop before use? Did you see before shaving our just foam/oil?

I did try and strop it before using. After about half an hour I stropped again and I did think it was marginally better. I use pre shave oil then cream.

I will try and reduce the angle. I dont even think I was holding it correctly for my first shave. Since then I know how to hold it. The razor is brand new and so I would have thouhgt it wouldnt need honing but I'm learning indefferently.

Originally Posted by straightrazorheaven

I am moving to the USA this weekend. I will hone your razor, no charge, to make sure you know how it should be like if you want that.

That is very kind of you thanks. That would be really appreciated as if I knew for certain it was shave ready I would be able to work from there. Right now I dont know if its just me or the razor; in all honesty its a bit of both. Would you have time to do this before you go away? I live here in the UK. I will pay for all postage costs ofcourse.

Thanks Trimmy. Buy a cheap 10quid thing off ebay just to practice honing on seems like a plan. For now it will just be a case of learning to shave and strop.

Originally Posted by jbtusa

I've bought 3 new Dovo's. All three had to be honed even after Lynn Abrams touched them up. If you look at a new Dovo edge under magnification, it is full of scratches, serrations, gouges, chips and blemishes. Dove should be embarassed. However, once you put a Dovo on a stone to remove enough metal to get out the scratches and serrations, the Dovo makes a fine razor. Send your razor out to a honemaster who uses stones to move all that metal. Then you'll be completely happy with your Dovo.

It's surprising when you spend over 200quid on a new razor that it wouldnt be shave ready and contain so many faults. Perhaps I should have gone for a Thiers Issard?

I have just purchased my 2nd Dovo razor. This one is much cheaper and is a Dovo ‘Prima Silver Steel’ razor with ebony scales. The difference being this website advertises them pre-honed and stropped prior to sending out. I should then at least know what a shave ready straight razor at least feels like and go from there. What is the difference between carbon steel, silver steel and stainless steel? Is there any one that easier to learn with? Should I leave my stainless one until I know what I'm doing? I've got a feeling I'm going to end up with a collection of these. Thanks all to those who replied.

Originally Posted by postmastergeneral

Hi Bob
They didnt advertise as shave ready but the seal was broken on the box when I received it. When I spoke to the guy he reckoned it would probably just need a strop. The problem is it can all seem a little overwhelming. If I dont have a shave ready razor how do I know when it is? How do I know if I'm stropping correctly or just making it worse? If I've never experienced what a really sharp razor feels like in the first place it is very hard to gauge the condition of it on my first shave. I'm fairly sure it isnt correct. Also read that perhaps I shouldnt have gone for a stainless steel one as they are generally not as sharp and more difficult to hone. I will leave any honing for now, I just want to be able to concentrate on learning to shave with it and strop propally. The strop I've got has the canvas on one side and the leather on the other. It requires the X motion as its quite narrow. I've got the pastes from Dovo but have not used them yet. Thanks everyone for all your help, I was surprised you all got back so quickly and you all seem very friendly.

Yea, overwhelming it seemingly is with so many things to learn at the start. We have all been there. I agree that you would think a brand new razor would be ready to go out of the box with a factory edge but that is not 100% so. If you can, have your razor professionally honed and shave with it before you ever strop it. You will know what a sharp razor feels like then. On your next shave strop it before and if it feels duller than the first time shaving you know your stropping is killing the blade. I do have one stainless blade, a vintage Henckels, that was pro sharpened and it shaves as well as or better than my other blades. I am thinking stainless is not a problem. I did go with a 3 inch strop and glad I did. It was hard enough to learn the proper flipping motion when stropping never mind complicating it even more by adding having to do an X stroke at the same time. I know I can't walk and chew bubble gum at the same time. Turns out that even eliminating having to do the X stroke I did manage to nick up my strop a bit. Learned how to fix it too. I am sure my technique stropping then did nothing to improve the edge, quite the opposite I am sure. Slowly chip away at it and you will eventually be rewarded.

Bob