Thread: Default edge size Vs. stropping touching area

Hello,
I've just gotten my Dovo Forestal from the retailer. I've noticed that the edge is really narrow, about 1/3 of a mm.
Moreover while stropping I could see that the trop touches a much wider part of the blade.
I know straight razors never comes ready to use and needs a good strop to be ready. However, it seems there is much more work to do because basically I am stropping (or honing) a part that doesn't have the same angle as the edge. Am I being clear?
In other words, the angle of the default edge is more acute than what the strop or hone can reach

Hope people can help me with that
thanks a lot

The bevel (actually not the edge itself) SHOULD appear narrow. That is a sign of a properly formed bevel. The edge itself should not even be visible. What you are describing is the bevel size in relation to the remainder of the unhoned blade. What you are seeing is normal. The whole blade will be stropped, but the effect of the stropping is experienced only by the bevel itself. Why is that? It is because the strop is comparatively soft (compared to a hone) and the leather will affect the edge because the blade lightly presses into the leather and the leather then touches, strops and improves the edge. This is part of what make stropping seem like magic, because you can't really see it happen. It does happen, however, and good stropping has wonderful effects on edge maintenance.

I see what you mean about the bevel not being seen but the fact is, I can clearly see the start of the edge on my blade. As if it was sharpened in a grinding tool. It's a default basic sharpening I guess...
Should I hone it and smooth this edge line out?

No. Before you do anything, post a picture here of what you think is the problem.
Because chances are there is nothing wrong, and honing it could be unnecessary, not to mention problematic if you don't have the tools / skills yet.

Here we go.
These picture you can see the clear division between the edge and the rest of the blade.
If you look carefully at the first picture you will see a subtle brighter area close to the edge. That's the area where the strop touches

Thanks a lot for the quick comments!

How does it shave?

Did the retailer hone it or is it the factory edge? I have heard that the factory edge is getting better and may only need a good strop, but the historical consensus seems to be that it needs some attention from a pro. Either way, it is not a bad idea to get in touch with someone to hone your blade. If you're interested in learning the skill, I would highly suggest learning on a couple blades you aren't overly attached to.

I did a quick newspaper strop before using it... I'd say it wasn't a smooth pleasant shave (my first shave ever though, difficult to compare), but did the job.

I bought it from "Scissor & Co" in amazon. I don't think they honed it, they didn't say anything about it. Almost sure it's a factory edge which for a first shave wasn't that bad.

Originally Posted by Henrique

I see what you mean about the bevel not being seen but the fact is, I can clearly see the start of the edge on my blade. As if it was sharpened in a grinding tool. It's a default basic sharpening I guess...
Should I hone it and smooth this edge line out?

As others have said, photos can be more helpful here than words. I certainly did not mean to create the impression that the bevel cannot be seen. It ideally should be narrow, but it should be visible. Looking at the edge, edge-on, the edge should be impossible to see. In my experience, if you can see it there is something wrong with it. When I hold a blade edge up under a bright light, I may be able to see the sides of the bevel, but the edge (because it is so sharp that it is not reflecting light) should be invisible.