Thread: Saying hello with a question.

I've been hanging around this site for the last couple of months and have finally decided to join. This is my first post.

I've been wet shaving all my life, I'm 58, but a few months ago I switched from canned foam to soap and a brush. With the very first shave I noticed the vast differance, never pick up a can again.

Then about two weeks ago I decided to go the straight route. I purchased 3 new razors all of which were sharpened by Lynn.

The first a Dovo "Special" 6/8 gave a butter smooth shave right out of the box but my shaves since then have not been anywhere near as smooth as the first. I'm stropping on a SRD 3" red hanging strop with a untreated hard wool back. Have been very careful with my stropping technique. Suggestions?

I have found that I really like the 6/8 size and weight. Which lends into the next topic.
The other two razors that I purchased, I know-I know I should have purchased just one however I live in a very rural area and cannot handle various sizes and styles or razors before hand.

Anyway the other two razors. One is a Dovo 5/8 "Bismark" spike point which I kind of like but have not used. The other is a Dovo 5/8 "Bergischer Lowe", really a fine looking razor and I really like the spanish point. I have shaved with it once and it gave a fine shave but the narrowness of the tang just does not feel right in my hands, too small.

What should I do about either of these two razors?

Thanks before hand and soon I hope to be a giver rather then a taker on this forum.

Jim

Originally Posted by jimk

I've been hanging around this site for the last couple of months and have finally decided to join. This is my first post.

I've been wet shaving all my life, I'm 58, but a few months ago I switched from canned foam to soap and a brush. With the very first shave I noticed the vast differance, never pick up a can again.

Then about two weeks ago I decided to go the straight route. I purchased 3 new razors all of which were sharpened by Lynn.

The first a Dovo "Special" 6/8 gave a butter smooth shave right out of the box but my shaves since then have not been anywhere near as smooth as the first. I'm stropping on a SRD 3" red hanging strop with a untreated hard wool back. Have been very careful with my stropping technique. Suggestions?

I have found that I really like the 6/8 size and weight. Which lends into the next topic.
The other two razors that I purchased, I know-I know I should have purchased just one however I live in a very rural area and cannot handle various sizes and styles or razors before hand.

Anyway the other two razors. One is a Dovo 5/8 "Bismark" spike point which I kind of like but have not used. The other is a Dovo 5/8 "Bergischer Lowe", really a fine looking razor and I really like the spanish point. I have shaved with it once and it gave a fine shave but the narrowness of the tang just does not feel right in my hands, too small.

What should I do about either of these two razors?

Thanks before hand and soon I hope to be a giver rather then a taker on this forum.

Jim

Jim,

Welcome to the world of straights. I am about six years ahead of you in age but only about six months ahead in straight shaving.

I think the reason your shaves after the first have gone downhill is primarily your stropping technique. At least for me this was a difficult thing to learn. I sort of "got it" in two stages -- first the ability to do it without butchering the strop and then learning how to do it with a very (very!) light touch. The idea is to use only enough pressure to keep the blade flat on the strop and feel a smooth, light, draw. Keep it taught.

Be sure to strop on the wool surface first and then the leather surface.

Believe me, stropping is very important. I just got a new "shave ready" razor and because the directions were in German I did not realize that it had NOT been stropped (most honemeisters will do the initial stropping for you). Well my first shave was *very* disappointing -- very rough with lots of left-over stubble. My next shave I stropped the blade and it made a *huge* difference.

It is also possible that you are already getting a little overconfident in your shaving technique and therefore getting sloppy. Be warned that if that hasn't happened yet it probably will at some point. But I think your stropping is the key right now.

You can sell the razors you don't want here on SRP and also over on Badger and Blade. You should join up there right away so you can "put in your time" to become eligible to use their "buy sell trade" (BST) forum. But I suggest keeping those razors for now as your tastes may change.

First off, welcome to SRP.

Originally Posted by jimk

The first a Dovo "Special" 6/8 gave a butter smooth shave right out of the box but my shaves since then have not been anywhere near as smooth as the first. I'm stropping on a SRD 3" red hanging strop with a untreated hard wool back. Have been very careful with my stropping technique. Suggestions?

If it shaved fine the first time, then you stropped it and it didn't shave as well, it sounds to me like your strop technique needs some work. Have you nicked or cut the strop with your blade? If yes, you might have dulled the edge a bit. Are you rolling the blade on the spine when you shift directions during your passes? Describe your strop routine for us.

If you haven't, taken a look at the stropping section of the Barber's Manual, it might help you.

File:Help Files Permanent Archive Barbering Textbooks 1961 Barbering Text - Honing.pdf - Straight Razor Place Wiki

What should I do about either of these two razors?

What I would do is shave with the Dovo Bismark. If you get a good shave off that the first time, that would be more evidence your stropping technique could use some work. Plus you purchased it, so you might as well decide if you like it.

If I were you, I'd hold onto the "Bergischer Lowe" for a little longer, until you feel comfortable with your other razors. Then give it another try. If you still don't like it sell or trade it. That's just my two cents though.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll get it.

Welcome to SRP Jim. I like variety and I shave with all sizes. I would put those two away until you have really got your shaving technique down well. At that point revisit them and see if you don't find you like them after all. You can always sell them on the forum or ebay them but I bet you would grow to like them.

TexasBob and keenedge,
Thanks for the welcome to this site. Although I'm unable to spend the amount of time on the different forums that I belong to, this one seems to be filled with a whole bunch of helpful folks.

As to my stropping technique. I have been very careful to keep the blade flat for the entire stroke and also to roll only on the spine. I have not nicked the strop, yet that is. I have noticed that, for me anyways, it is hard not to put to much pressure on the blade during the stroke. I have not seen any drag marks on the strop so I don't believe that I rolled the edge.

As I mentioned, I have not treated the felt with anything however I do have a bottle of .5 micron diamond spray coming from SRD to be used on the felt side of my hanging strop. I, at the same time, ordered a 3" paddle strop along with some CO paste.

As for the other razors. The tang on the Dovo BL just feels so slender in my hands it seems to me that I cannot control the razor. As for the Bismark spike it's tang is wider and thicker so it feels better in my hand even though at this very early stage I think that I like that 6/8's blade better over the 5/8's size.

Jim

Thanks JimmyHAD. You posted while I was typing.

Originally Posted by jimk

As I mentioned, I have not treated the felt with anything however I do have a bottle of .5 micron diamond spray coming from SRD to be used on the felt side of my hanging strop. I, at the same time, ordered a 3" paddle strop along with some CO paste.

Jim,

Do not put the paste on your daily strop. The paste should only be used occasionally for touch-up and not every day.

Originally Posted by TexasBob

Jim,

Do not put the paste on your daily strop. The paste should only be used occasionally for touch-up and not every day.

Can I treat the hard felt on my everyday strop and then just use the leather side daily? Or do I also need to use the untreated felt along with the leather side on a daily basis?

Also I've decided to part with the twice used Bergischer Lowe. What are the rules for a newbe to post it in the classified's?

Originally Posted by jimk

Also I've decided to part with the twice used Bergischer Lowe. What are the rules for a newbe to post it in the classified's?

You need to be a member for three months, with no less than 100 posts.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/annou...s-section.html

Originally Posted by keenedge

You need to be a member for three months, with no less than 100 posts.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/annou...s-section.html

Ouch! I'll take me two years to get 100 posts.