Thread: Purchasing a Dovo

There are a few reasons i want stainless steel, I want the blade to last a while before stropping or honing. My bathroom doesn't have a vent so it gets humid in there, so rusting might be an issue. Plus i heard that this razor gets some amazing shaves out of it. I guess my second choice if i got a carbon steel blade would be to get the dovo bismarck with bone scales, but that also conflicts with what people have been telling me because it has bone scales

Originally Posted by slyfox6480

There are a few reasons i want stainless steel, I want the blade to last a while before stropping or honing. My bathroom doesn't have a vent so it gets humid in there, so rusting might be an issue. Plus i heard that this razor gets some amazing shaves out of it. I guess my second choice if i got a carbon steel blade would be to get the dovo bismarck with bone scales, but that also conflicts with what people have been telling me because it has bone scales

You can use mineral oil or camellia oil on your blade to help prevent rust.

Originally Posted by slyfox6480

I am thinking of buying my first straight razor soon, Dovo.com hasn't been working but i think they said that they have someone hone the razor to "shave ready", i know there's a difference between what manufacturers call "shave ready" and the real thing. Since Dovo claims only to make 150 razors a day I was wondering if they make them the real "shave ready". Are Dovo's the real deal or should i get it honed professionally. The reason I ask is because I could buy this razor on amazon.com for cheaper with free shipping or from another site and pay for razor, shipping, plus honing if they charge extra.

I just started straight razor shaving the end of March and have taken my lumps. What I have discovered in three months is that as a newbie that I have more of a comfort level with a used one that has been worked over and shave tested by someone who really knows his stuff.

I just looked at the Classifieds and think if I were starting today I would choose as my first razor a used one under $100 that has been worked over by an expert honemeister. I like used razors from a reputable source to start with for the simple reason that I know they have successfully shaved someone before who knows what he's doing. Learn with that one with the support of the shaving community here and after you decide straight razor shaving is for you then consider a new one.

If you have not purchased a strop yet, I would start with a 3" wide one so you can go back and forth and not have to learn the X pattern. Yes it's more expensive and you might nick it up like I did, but I think that's the only decision I got right when I started.

There are inexpensive options for scuttles, brushes, and soaps and lots of people at this site to help you with all the details.

I want to sum up my remarks by saying that I'm really excited about retro-shaving. It's hard to believe that before Easter weekend I didn't know a thing about this stuff. Rarely has a new-found hobby captivated me the way this one has.

Originally Posted by slyfox6480

There are a few reasons i want stainless steel, I want the blade to last a while before stropping or honing. My bathroom doesn't have a vent so it gets humid in there, so rusting might be an issue. Plus i heard that this razor gets some amazing shaves out of it. I guess my second choice if i got a carbon steel blade would be to get the dovo bismarck with bone scales, but that also conflicts with what people have been telling me because it has bone scales

Hello, slyfox:

As a rule, one should strop the razor before every shave. I do 25 strokes on canvas or linen and 75 on leather. Sometimes I change the ratio to 50 on canvas or linen and 100 on leather. After the shave, I clean the razor thoroughly, dry it thoroughly, strop it with 15 strokes on canvas or linen and 25 on leather.

Finally I put a light coat of camellia oil on the blade, the shank and the tang, and then put the razor away in the rack. I do the same routine with my stainless steel blades. And I do have a humid bathroom area.

Remember, stropping is an important part of shaving with the straight razor. For me, and for many others, it's also part of the pleasure of wet shaving with the straight razor.

If you shave with the same razor every day, in general it will need honing, say, anywhere from three to six months. At least that's how I would do it. That, too, is part of shaving with the straight razors.

Straight razor shaving comes with a colorful ritual. The best way to enjoy the art is to embrace the ritual.

If you want a good starter razor, I suggest getting a Dovo 5/8" with the "pearlex" scales. It's a lovely razor and holds an edge. Or get whatever you want. Just remember, for best results, you need to strop it before every shave. Good luck.

Regards,
Obie

Originally Posted by slyfox6480

There are a few reasons i want stainless steel, I want the blade to last a while before stropping or honing. My bathroom doesn't have a vent so it gets humid in there, so rusting might be an issue. Plus i heard that this razor gets some amazing shaves out of it. I guess my second choice if i got a carbon steel blade would be to get the dovo bismarck with bone scales, but that also conflicts with what people have been telling me because it has bone scales

Every razor I have, 63 of them, have carbon steel blades and are stored in my bathroom. With some reasonable care, I have never even so much as has a tarnish spot on a razor. Also I have bone scales.

I understand that purchasing a razor is a very personal decision, but IMHO, I think you may be walking past really good, available and great shaving razors. I have a Dovo Bismark and it is one of my "go to" razors. I have the black scale version and it is sweeeeet!

Plus, here you can get it on sale.
Vintage Blades LLC::Dovo Straight Razors::Dovo Carbon Steel Straight Razors::Dovo Black "Bismarck", 6/8" Carbon Steel Straight Razor - Professionally Honed

Originally Posted by slyfox6480

There are a few reasons i want stainless steel, I want the blade to last a while before stropping or honing. My bathroom doesn't have a vent so it gets humid in there, so rusting might be an issue. Plus i heard that this razor gets some amazing shaves out of it. I guess my second choice if i got a carbon steel blade would be to get the dovo bismarck with bone scales, but that also conflicts with what people have been telling me because it has bone scales

I have no rust or water spots on my carbon razor. I don't oil it or strop after using it, but I rinse with very hot water and then towel dry the blade (by pinching it between my thumb and fingers), store it out of my bathroom, (but it's 75% humidity here on average), and use it everyday.

ps: You need to strop every time before you shave. 15-30 strokes on canvas, 40-60 strokes on leather. Total time is about 1 minute. You'll need to touch up the edge on a finishing hone (or pasted strop) every 2-3 weeks and hone on a 8000 stone every 2-3 months. When you hone, the total honing time is only about 5 minutes (15 if you include soaking & lapping the stones and cleaning up afterwards).

pps: I hear the stainless edges only last about 10-15% longer, but take a lot more laps on the leather to get to a smooth feeling shave.

I'm not sure whether to love you guys or hate you. I was all ready and sure of what razor to get, now i'm looking at all these other razors and starting to second guess myself. But I have to admit i do love all the support, and i know you guys are just trying to help but now you have me all in a bind. I guess the more i look at all these razors you guys suggest, the less picky i'm being about how i want it to look, and thinking more about how good you say they are.

PS. Alembic, that black bismarck is a really nice looking razor, it certainly is in the running now.

Originally Posted by slyfox6480

I'm not sure whether to love you guys or hate you. I was all ready and sure of what razor to get, now i'm looking at all these other razors and starting to second guess myself. But I have to admit i do love all the support, and i know you guys are just trying to help but now you have me all in a bind. I guess the more i look at all these razors you guys suggest, the less picky i'm being about how i want it to look, and thinking more about how good you say they are.

PS. Alembic, that black bismarck is a really nice looking razor, it certainly is in the running now.

Can't go wrong with it - and at that price, it is honed by Lynn! One less thing to worry about as you start your straight razor shaving journey

You can also get away from the humid bathroom by storing them in your bedroom. I store my strop and razor in bedroom nowdays. Partly because they are easier to store there, and partly because it isn't so humid.