Thread: getting a dovo stainless steel shave ready

I purchased a dovo stainless steel 5/8 razor and a 4000/8000 grit japanesse whetstone. I have honed it to the best of my ability and still can't pass the hanging hair test. I have heard that stainless steel take more honing than carbon steel. Are there any suggestions?

Have you tried shaving with it ?

Originally Posted by pprisztas

I purchased a dovo stainless steel 5/8 razor and a 4000/8000 grit japanesse whetstone. I have honed it to the best of my ability and still can't pass the hanging hair test. I have heard that stainless steel take more honing than carbon steel. Are there any suggestions?

if you search the forum for HHT you will find a ton of info suggesting that HHT does not indicate anything about how a razor would shave.
Test shave to see how the edge really is.

^^^ Yeah, that ... but also, based on my personal experience, I find Dovo stainless extremely hard to hone properly, especially as a beginner. My No. 105 held a good edge for quite a while, but when it came time to rehone, it basically drove me nuts, although I was already doing fine with my carbon steel razors on the 4/8 Norton. I finally sent the Dovo to Lynn A., who kind of got an edge on it again, but did comment that far too much steel had been removed - which didn't surprise me, I must have had hundreds of laps on the darn thing.

Take it slowly, and best of luck!

Yes but I have to apply too much pressure. I will probably send it to lynn. Is there any suggestions on a good cheap carbon steel blade for a beginner to learn with?

Originally Posted by pprisztas

Yes but I have to apply too much pressure. I will probably send it to lynn. Is there any suggestions on a good cheap carbon steel blade for a beginner to learn with?

http://www.whippeddog.com

Enjoy,
Jeff.

I had a 105 when I was learning to hone. It wasn't any harder than any other razor.

I'd still have it if there was more meat on the shank. 'just a bit hard to hole the tiny shank w/ large hands.

If you need a hand, PM me. 'Be glad to help.

Originally Posted by pinklather

I had a 105 when I was learning to hone. It wasn't any harder than any other razor.

I'd still have it if there was more meat on the shank. 'just a bit hard to hole the tiny shank w/ large hands.

If you need a hand, PM me. 'Be glad to help.

Was for me! Honed it side by side on the same stones with a Carpe Diem and a Thiers Issard Evide Sonnant, which both came out fine shavers. Maybe I put a bad bezel on it, maybe just bad juju... and maybe stainless steel can be just a leetle trickier, especially for beginners, than carbon?

Thanks to all who responded. Great forum. It's nice to be able to ask a question and people don't treat you like an idiot.

I would try adding more laps on the 8K than you would expect to need. I like the DOVO Best Quality carbon razors. There are several good vendors, in that I mean the razor would already arrive well honed, such as Straight Razor Designs you might consider.