Thread: Having trouble with a new razor

Hello everyone,

I have been shaving with a Dovo shavette for about a month now and liked it so much I decided to buy a Dovo Masters from SRD. I just got the razor last night and used it this morning after stropping it and it did not glide at all like my shavette does. So really I'm just curious if someone here could help me identify what could possibly be wrong, it is my understanding that razors come from SRD shave ready so im sure the razor was sharp when I received it. Is shaving with a real straight razor really that much different than a shavette and it performs differently? Could my one time stropping the blade really have messed it up so bad it dulled the razor? (Ive watched plenty of the videos from the stroptober thread and tried all the pointers and have been practicing before I stropped my new razor.) Any advice is appreciated, I just don't want to be frustrated with my first actual SR.

Yes, shavettes and straight razors are like apples and oranges. Different feel, different technique and of course there is stropping too. What you are experiencing has been echoed here many many times, so rest assured you're not the only one.

Try stropping slowly and deliberately to begin with until you feel comfortable with the action. You can even practice with your shavette. Then experiment with shaving angles while stretching the skin; you want to use the lowest angle that will cut hair, which will be a bit steeper than the angle used with a shavette. Try 1-2 spine widths from your face. Short strokes help as well.

+1 Ryan82. I agree the better your blade maintenance skills and technique the better your straight shave will be, BUT straights are not as sharp as the best replaceable blades. For very coarse beards, you will have to develop very high skills to get as good a shave as your shavette. It is fun to try and develop those skills though.

I started on a shavett as well, when I made the change to real steel many aspects transitioned over.

Along with the potential for technique mishap with stropping. (Which you should not have needed to do out of the box from SRD, rinse and shave).

The biggest difference I found was that the angle the blade must be used at is different, it is a bit steeper.

With the shavett I was nearly flat (1 to 1 1/2 spine width) on my face for all passes, with my regular straights it is 2+ spine widths and that varies a bit from razor to razor and the grind.

Within fairly short order I was going by feel more so than looking at the angle.

If you start getting too steep your face will let you know post shave.

All of my regular straights have a more buttery feel when compared to the shavett and I had to make sure I was not using additional pressure.

If you post your area they may be someone close by to meet up with.

Regards
Pat

Pat, Thanks. 'Nothing like someone else that has done the same transition. 'Preciate your weighing in.

Thank you all for your .02. Ill be sure and keep up with it and stay persistant, SR shaving is way to fun to give up from one speed bump.

TheNicker, I just shaved with a straight razor for the first time last night and like you experienced more pulling than my DE. I was able to shave my entire face WTG. Then I finished up with my DE. I was a little discouraged about how much easier the DE glided through the beard. My new straight razor is a Ralf Aust from Straight Razor Designs. I was questioning my stropping skills just as you were. Don with SRD told me that I did well for the first time and to stick with it. Apparently it is just getting used to the feel. Prep was good, hot towels followed by DR Harris Arlington. The pull just makes me nervous. Very scared to go against the grain like that. We'll see how it goes in the next few weeks. I really want it to work.

I too started with a shavette and my first shave with a real straight was not at all what I expected. I found that it was all about the angle. I found that the shavette's extreme sharpness really demanded a super shallow angle whereas the real straight needed to be opened a little more. Play with the angles a bit.

str8tlkr, I can promise you it gets better after you play with the angles and get used to your blade more and more, just like everyone on this post explained to me. Ive shaved twice since I put this post up with my SR and can tell my comfort level is growing with it. Keep up with it and be patient! Im sure it will pay off for both of us like all these old timers say