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 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

What guthriemt said. I received my Dove and I had three shave of razor burn before I sent it off to Glen to fix. Got it back two days ago and shaved with it this morning after work and WOW, New Dove. Zero razor burn.

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.

Originally Posted by Zephyr

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 believe it's a part of the invisible edge which are a reputable seller IMO. But like the guys already said save yourself a lot of razor burn, nicks, the occasional cussing and eventually quitting because some halfwit scissor sharpener messed up your razor. Do the wise thing and get it pro-honed.. Not pre ( factory) honed.
Greets

Just to clarify, Dovo Razors UK are part of The Invisible Edge. We supply all razors shave ready in that they all pass the HHT before despatch (obviously we cannot test-shave them!) and we say we 'check' the edges because to say they are all fully honed would be wrong - after all, it makes no sense to re-set a perfectly good bevel when all that is needed is a few strokes on a 12k!
True, most factory edges are not quite up to snuff, which is why we check each one. Not to cast aspersions but many newcomers think edges aren't sharp enough when really it's basically lack of practice. Also stropping is not a skill learned overnight! We do supply all razors ready for use, as stated, - but we have no magic formula for keeping them that way, that's down to the owner.