I'm trying.

[Ollivander]

Still working on getting a decent shave with my Dovo Prima Silver Steel but I broke down tonight. I shaved the last several evenings (because it takes 30 minutes for me) with the straight but only achieved a reduction at best for a result. I just had to shave again an hour or so later with my trusty 1919 Bulldog just for that BBS feeling. Forgive me. I'm still wondering on the sharpness of my Dovo but still I have nothing to compare except super sharp DE blades...

Just venting. One day. hehe.

 

[Gorr]

Slow and steady, man. It takes time. I'm still working on a lot of it myself. As far as sharpness goes, there's the HHT, or you can get a razor that has been honed by one of the fine gentlemen here to compare to. You could also see about getting your razor honed. I'd offer, but I've only honed one razor so far. Still too new at it to trust myself for something that someone else would be using. Good luck, and keep at it!

 

[shakin_jake]

Still working on getting a decent shave with my Dovo Prima Silver Steel but I broke down tonight. I shaved the last several evenings (because it takes 30 minutes for me) with the straight but only achieved a reduction at best for a result. I just had to shave again an hour or so later with my trusty 1919 Bulldog just for that BBS feeling. Forgive me.

~~~larry (whjipped dog) has a free online shave manual you can download in PDF format...lotsa good info for those new to the craft (STR8 Razor shaving)

I'm still wondering on the sharpness of my Dovo but still I have nothing to compare except super sharp DE blades...

Just venting. One day. hehe.

~~~give it some time...all of us started where you are...better shaves are right around the corner. if learning straight razor shaving was easy, there wouldn't be so many safety razor shavers on B&B



Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.

 

[Giant Kiwi]

You say you are wondering about the sharpness of your Dovo.
Who honed for you or did you use it straight of the box?
A straight won't feel as sharp as a DE blade in my experience but will shave just fine.
Keep at it, the shaves do really get better.

 

[Doc226]

If you are wondering about the sharpness of the razor it is probably not sharp enough.

As has been said get another razor to compare (always a good option for RAD) or send your razor out to someone who can test it for you and hone it if it needs it.

 

[Slash McCoy]

Still working on getting a decent shave with my Dovo Prima Silver Steel but I broke down tonight. I shaved the last several evenings (because it takes 30 minutes for me) with the straight but only achieved a reduction at best for a result. I just had to shave again an hour or so later with my trusty 1919 Bulldog just for that BBS feeling. Forgive me. I'm still wondering on the sharpness of my Dovo but still I have nothing to compare except super sharp DE blades...

Just venting. One day. hehe.

You should have a second razor, anyway. www.whippeddog.com is a good place to pick up a shave-ready vintage razor cheaply. Then you have something to compare your Dovo to, and another razor so you can use them in rotation, or have one to shave with while the other is out being honed.

It does sound to me like you razor has not been honed. Most new razors have only a factory edge, which is not a shaving edge. Some vendors hone, but most do not. Tell us more about your razor, and how many shaves you have so far.

 

[dpmtherrien]

Just keep in mind that it takes time to get the straight shave down pat. Even with a well honed and ready to go straight the results will be kind of poor for quite a few shaves. Once your technique gets set the shaves will improve greatly. Just give it some time, and there's nothing wrong with finishing up with your DE for now.

 

[Ollivander]

You should have a second razor, anyway. www.whippeddog.com is a good place to pick up a shave-ready vintage razor cheaply. Then you have something to compare your Dovo to, and another razor so you can use them in rotation, or have one to shave with while the other is out being honed.

It does sound to me like you razor has not been honed. Most new razors have only a factory edge, which is not a shaving edge. Some vendors hone, but most do not. Tell us more about your razor, and how many shaves you have so far.

I got mine at The Superior Shave. He says it's shipped shave ready. I do agree on getting a second razor for comparison. Soon.

 

[Slash McCoy]

I got mine at The Superior Shave. He says it's shipped shave ready. I do agree on getting a second razor for comparison. Soon.

That's Jarrod's site, isn't it? Yes he has a reputation for shipping with good edges. None of us are perfect and we all have off days, but I owuld bet money that your razor arrived nice and sharp. Of course that doesn't mean that it is still sharp. At this point, you ought to have a balsa strop pasted with maybe .5u diamond on one side, and .25u on the other side. If it seems dull, strop on the balsa, 50 to 100 laps on the coarse side, 30 or 40 on the fine side. Thenceforth, after every shave, hit it a dozen or two on the coarse side and a couple dozen on the fine side, and it should stay nice and sharp for a long time.

Examine your shave angle, particularly. There should be a gap between the spine and your face of no more than a spine thickness. Stretch the skin tight, too. Add a slight slicing component to your shaving stroke, by leading slightly wiht the heel of the razor. Learn to do a good two pass WTG-only shave before tackling XTG or ATG.

 

[Ollivander]

Tonight I tried again after watching Chimensch's video. I noticed he stretches the skin an inch or so above the blade. That helped a lot. I'm trying the slicing motion and it does a better job. Still a little scary! All in all, a better round tonight. (Psst... I think the razor is plenty sharp enough.)

 

[Obiwan]

Stretching certainly helps. Glad you're on your way.