Thread: New Dovo razor, not quite sharp enough?

Hi,
I'm a bit new to this, hope I'm posting in the correct sub-forum. I just bought a new Dovo razor and it was supposed to be shave ready, but every time I shave with it it takes at least three shaves to get anywhere close to the close shave I desire but it doesn't feel at all comfortable and I get razor burn every time. The main problem areas are the really tough hairs on my chin and neck. I am using a cowhide strop with a napped side and a smoothe side but no matter how much I strop it only gets so sharp. I'm pretty sure my stropping technique is correct btw, I've watched tutorial vids and I'm only using the weight of the blade and making sure it sits flat on the strop every time. The razor does somewhat pop some hairs from close range but you really need to get as close to 1/8th inch rather than 1/4 inch for this to happen. I'm shaving at around 30 degree angle but I can't get a smooth shave. I'm pretty sure this razor could be sharper but I'm not sure whether the next course of action would be to use a pasted strop or if I need to go to a honing stone. I changed to Prorasso shaving cream which helped a little but not enough. Any advise would be very much appreciated.

Originally Posted by Decco

Hi,
I just bought a new Dovo razor and it was supposed to be shave ready, .

First question..

Was the Dovo professionally hand honed ??? normally depending on where you buy it there is an extra charge for that, or it is well advertised..

Just save yourself the time and heartache trying to figure out if it's shave ready and send it to gssixgun for a honing. Then you'll know for sure that it's ready to go. Speaking from experience here

Originally Posted by guthriemt

Just save yourself the time and heartache trying to figure out if it's shave ready and send it to gssixgun for a honing. Then you'll know for sure that it's ready to go. Speaking from experience here

This is maybe one of the best advices you'll get (Even if the razor was properly honed you might have ruined the edge in some way)

As I understand you're prett new to straight shaving, and there's no hidden secret that it takes some time and effort to learn and tune your skills. While you're still learning there are lots of factors that may influence your results, like shaving technique, stropping, prep and so on.

By getting your razor honed by someone like Glen or any other with skills and a good reputation you will at least for sure know your razor isn't the problem, and you can focus on the other things to learn to get a good straight shaving experience.

New Dovo razors have a reputation for not being shave-ready, despite their claims.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

First question..

Was the Dovo professionally hand honed ??? normally depending on where you buy it there is an extra charge for that, or it is well advertised..

I bought it from these guys Dovo Razors They say they peel the seals to ensure they are shave-ready before they send them out.

Originally Posted by Decco

I bought it from these guys Dovo Razors They say they peel the seals to ensure they are shave-ready before they send them out.

I'm not familiar with them, but I notice they say they check the edges, not that they hone them...

A factory edge will cut hair, but it will rarely (read never) be what most of us condsider shave ready.

I had a similar problem.
My Dovo came from a shop, that specifically say the make the razor shave ready if you want.
As it was my first razor, I had them make it shave ready. The only thing they did, was stropping the razor.
So I send it to a member to inspect it and hone it if needed.
The razor didn't turn out very bad, but it still needed a bit of honing.
A very strange aspect is that the people from the shop give shaving lessons and in the little book they give you, it even says: "don't believe anyone who says a new Dovo rasor needs to be honed."

I think it's safe to say not all sellers know how to completely make a razor shave ready.
So I agree with previous advices, send the razor to someonee who knows what he's doing, so he can look at your razor and hone it if needed.
That way, if something doesn't feel good afterwards, you can blame it on your technique 100%, like me

Thanks for the replies.

I just got back from the barbers and he gave me a number for this guy, but he specialises in sharpening hairdressing scissors. Would you trust this guy to sharpen a razor?

Originally Posted by Decco

Thanks for the replies.

I just got back from the barbers and he gave me a number for this guy, but he specialises in sharpening hairdressing scissors. Would you trust this guy to sharpen a razor?

I wouldn't. The people from the store of my story also sharpen knives.
I would contact a honer from the forum.