Thread: Need some reassurance

Originally Posted by sbframp

Neosporin is god's gift to earth, lol. Good advice.

I bought the razor from Vintage Razor Place. They seem to be a good company. The razor that I bought is a DOVO 5/8" Hollow Ground. I understand now that buying a hollow ground may have been a little arbitrary, since the blade may flex from being so thin. Regardless, I've actually really been wondering how to determine how sharp my edge is. Obviously, nearly everything is marketed as "shave ready;" however, I'm not so sure. How would you recommend I test this? Hanging hair test, maybe? Or would having the edge honed just be a good idea in general?

Thanks for the stropping recommendation. I'll try to hunt that article down. Also, I can't thank you enough for the honing offer. I may take you up on that sooner, rather than later.

Thank you so, so much for your informative post, pinklather. It means a lot!

If you mean Vintage Blades LLC; instead of Vintage Razor Place, then Lynn does thier sharpening for them (unless something changed since last year) so your razor would have been shave ready when you recieved it. It is possible you have rolled the edge while stropping since then.

To test the edge now you could try giving it a good stropping (maybe 30 linen and then 60 leather) going slow and making sure you are touching the leather with both spine and edge without applying pressure and then doing a test shave on a your arm or leg. With as smooth as those 2 areas are getting the right angle will be easy; if it still pulls ad drags then your edge is probably suspect.

Sounds like maybe you are trying too much too fast.

When I first started, I used a Dovo shavette with a Feather blade. Did my whole face. I cut myself up so badly I swore I would never do it again. 2 years later, I decided to try it again and it went well enough that I wanted to try a "real" straight razor.

When I started, I followed the advice I read about which said something like "just use the straight on the right cheek with the grain and do the rest with your regular razor". After I grew more confident, I tried the right cheek and moustache area. Then I added the chin. Finally the neck. Then I added the left side (using my left hand).

Now I literally didn't progress that slowly. But I did gradually add pieces. Honestly, it probably took me two weeks to get to where I did my while face (one pass only). Then I would work on other passes.

Anyway, my point is that this isn't a race so take your time. It's a fun pasttime but very easy to jump too fast and get discouraged.

I am in total agreement with EggSuckingLeach(what..what!). I have been str8 razor shavin for 2 months now and still have not shaved my whole face. I have not revisited my mouth area after a cut there. I only did my sideburns to jawline the first 2 weeks. I added new face as I learned the stroke and my own growth direction of the hairs. No shame in finishing up with the cartridge razor until your skills are built up.

Originally Posted by Trox

If you mean Vintage Blades LLC; instead of Vintage Razor Place, then Lynn does thier sharpening for them (unless something changed since last year) so your razor would have been shave ready when you recieved it. It is possible you have rolled the edge while stropping since then.

To test the edge now you could try giving it a good stropping (maybe 30 linen and then 60 leather) going slow and making sure you are touching the leather with both spine and edge without applying pressure and then doing a test shave on a your arm or leg. With as smooth as those 2 areas are getting the right angle will be easy; if it still pulls ad drags then your edge is probably suspect.

I've suspected that my technique is probably the culprit here; however, some recommend that honing an edge is a good idea so that you know everything that's been done to the blade under your own ownership. I don't know why I said Vintage Razor Place. The place from which I bought the razor is actually called Vintage Straight Razor (VSR). Now that I know that Lynn works with VB LLC, I'll probably buy my next one from them.

Good call on the hair test. I hadn't really thought about using the straight razor anywhere other than my face. I'll try that.

Originally Posted by sbframp

The place from which I bought the razor is actually called Vintage Straight Razor (VSR). Now that I know that Lynn works with VB LLC, I'll probably buy my next one from them.

If that is the case maybe the razor throws in a new variable. Unless it is a Dovo or similar the other razors sold by that dealer are made in Pakistan & at this stage of their manufacture none have been known to take & hold a shaving edge.