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

Hi.
I'm very new to straight razor shaving. In fact my new Dovo ‘Best Class’ model 955835 just arrived today. I've also purchased shaving cream, pre shave oil, a top end TI silvertipped brush; Dovo strop with leather and canvas; a 4000/8000 Norton honing stone and a few other bits and bobs.

I carried out my first shave today and it was not good. Ok, I didnt really cut myself (just one slight nick) but it was really hard to get it started especially over the chin area. I'm sure it wasnt sharp enough. It is a stainless steel blade. I spent over an hour shaving and have not got a good clean shave, more razor burn than anything else. It's too long to keep shaving cream on the face and I've probably taken off too much skin where I've gone over some areas too much. I darent start honing a £200 brand new blade in fear of ruining it. I've got stropping paste but have not used it. Do you think I really need an extra long strop? I'm holding the balde at 30° to the face but should i be doing lots of small quickish movements of gentle movememnts. It kept getting stuck on the chin and if I had continued I feel I would have got cut. I really do want to percervere and get the knack of it, after all I've invested a lot in it and feel it could be both satisfying and rewarding.

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

I'm sorry to hear this. However, I started out on a Dovo too. They are good razors but seem to have a reputation for not really being shave ready when you buy them. Mine wasn't. This is not to say that they have not been honed and stropped in the factory but often the job is less than perfect. You probably need to get the blade honed. If you know how to hone then touch it up but if you don't find someone who is experience who can do it for you. Over an hour shaving, even for a beginner is too long.

As to your other points. A light touch is all that should be needed with a sharp blade. I doubt you need an extra long strop. You probably just need to make sure you are using the one you have properly. The angle of your blade seems large, try reducing it. I vary my angle for safety and comfort but it's not usually over 20 degrees. Small strokes are safer for the beginner I think. The chin is a problem area for most of us but if your blade is sharp you just need to persevere and practice. Time and patience will be your friends. I don't know how new you are but acquiring the skill of straight razor shaving does take time so if your into this for only a few days be patient. It will come.

All the best.

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

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

Bang on there. Where are you based buddy?

I need to start with a question : Who honed your razor ? Next : It seems like you have the essentials . I started with almost the same stuff , so you are good to go as far as basic equipment .
First shaves don't normally go very well , so don't jump to any conclusions yet .
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 . Most of my shaving is done at an angle of 20 to 25 degrees . It will take a few shaves to get the feel for this , so be patient , and try not to bite off more than you can chew . There is nothing wrong with having to finish up your shaves with your regular razor . Plenty of us had to , including myself .

PS : Holy crap ! you guys are quick . When I started typing my reply , no one had yet responded to the OP .

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.

When you bought your razor did they say it would be shave ready? If not it probably needs honed. You could look under member services in the classifieds to have a honemeister sharpened it. And I'm guessing probably your technique has a lot to do with it if this was your first shave with a straight if it is sharp. I have three silver steel straight's and like them best, I always cut my self with carbon steel, I don't know why...just do. Just watch your angle, and use light strokes, no pressure. If you haven't looked in the library/wiki I'd take a look, lot's of information on honing (I'd try a much cheaper blade to practice on though), and using a straight. Also lots of video's on Youtube to look at of people using straight's. And I'm sure others will chime in with more skills than me. Good Luck! I've been using a straight for 3 yrs. and I'm still learning.

Originally Posted by straightrazorheaven

Bang on there. Where are you based buddy?

Canukistan

Bob

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.