Thread: First shave!

Hey guys and gals,
I have been researching and acquiring for the last couple of months now and today was the day. First, thanks to all of you involved in this great forum! I have learned a lot and have taken advise to heart both direct and through responses to other peoples questions. Today the FED-EX guy showed up with my Norton 4000/8000 combo and lapping stone, I could hardly contain myself as I opened the box and checked everything out. So I rolled out my kitchen island, filled a tuperware with water and submerged the Norton and my Chinese 12k, I set out a towel and a pour cup of water to wet the stones. Next I got out my two cheapo razors and the new DOVO which is pretty dang sharp already. Last, I set up my laptop with Lynn's video for a refresher while the stones soaked. I decided to start with a 10/10, 5/5, 3/3, 1/3, 1/5 on the 4k/8k then 12 on the 12k with one of the cheapos. I felt pretty good about my form so I moved to the strop but it didn't come out very sharp. On the second go on the hone, I noticed the blade was not sitting flat across the stone and I thought maybe the blades were ground wonky so I got the DOVO out and it was not flush either. Well I followed the lapping instructions from Norton and flattened both sides. Much to my dismay but not surprise, the cheap ones still were not flush but the DOVO sat really nice. Now I don't want to mess up my stones with a badly ground razor so I will cut my minimal loss and use those for cut-throat utility purposes around the house. OK, the DOVO it is. I started with a 1/3, 1/5, on the 4k/8k then 10 on the 12k and stropped 8 laps on the canvas and 30 on the leather. It didn't snap a hanging hair but I figured, what the hell, I warmed up the left side of my face and worked in a good lather. I took some short passes under the sideburns then around to the cheek. It cut the whiskers, didn't pull to much and no cuts but it felt like it could be sharper. I went back to the hone for another short cycle, stropped, showered, and then lathered my whole face. I got both cheeks and a little chin and upper lip with no nicks, not smooth by any stretch but a success non the less.

I have a couple of other razors on the way and symptoms of RAD. I will make sure one one of them is professionally honed for the often recommended benchmark razor but I am determined to get my first shaver, the DOVO, sharp myself!

I hope I have not rambled on to much here but I cant contain my excitement about my new hobby!


Thanks again,
Dave

That's an achievement. First hone and first shave all at once, and a decent result.

kudos