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?

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 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'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

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 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

I have just ordered an additonal 3" leather strop. I think I went for the narrow strop because Dovo only do the double sided linen and leather one in the narrow width. I feel they are missing a trick there. I've not used the stropping pastes yet as I feel I could probably cause more damage than good. There is something strangely addictive with the whole concept of it though/.

Originally Posted by postmastergeneral

I have just ordered an additonal 3" leather strop. I think I went for the narrow strop because Dovo only do the double sided linen and leather one in the narrow width. I feel they are missing a trick there. I've not used the stropping pastes yet as I feel I could probably cause more damage than good. There is something strangely addictive with the whole concept of it though/.

I would leave the pastes alone , until you have a little more experience . What kind of pastes do you have ?