Hi everyone, I haven't posted in quite some time. Many reasons for it, one of which is that I didn't have anything constructive to contribute. I do, however, want to share an experience I've had with my straight razor. My first razor was a DOVO which I haven't been using for the last 6 months or so. I have been using a Wapienica blade but wanted to start using the DOVO again since it was a gift from my wife. The only problem was it wasn't' sharp and I couldn't get it sharp. I had tried numerous passes on both the 4k and 8k sides of my Norton stone with only minimal success. So, I brought out my old 4-sided pasted paddle pasted with 3.0, 1.0 and .5 micron diamond paste. I would do short series of passes (say 5 on the 1 and 5 on the .5 pastes) and then test. The blade was getting sharper but not quite there. So, more passes and test. I did this over a period of a few days and finally got the razor to where it was very sharp but not all that comfortable. (as an aside, the bevel was MIRROR-LIKE. It shined brilliantly in the light and I've never seen a bevel so polished before). I now have this very sharp razor but not a comfortable one. So, I started experimenting with my strop. In the end, I got a really comfortable shave. What I've found seems to work the best for this razor is the following: - I give the leather a good hand rubbing just before stropping - I do 10 passes on the linen with firm pressure (sorry, I can't equate to pound force) - Then, 30 laps on the leather (15 with firm pressure, 10 with lighter pressure, 5 with barely no pressure at all - just the weight of the blade) What's most interesting is that I have been using this razor and stropping in this manner for about a week now and each day the razor seems to actually get a little sharper than it was the previous day. I'm not sure why but I'm enjoying it. The overall result is a razor that is every bit as sharp and comfortable as when I first received it as a shave-ready razor. I'm getting the best shaves ever each day now and it only takes me 2 passes with some spot touch ups. It used to take me at least 3 passes with spot touch ups to get similar results. So, if you're struggling somewhat with the stones, don't be afraid of the pastes. I'm in complete agreement with others that say a razor will eventually need to visit a stone at some point, but I'm finding that the pastes will give a very good result and they have restored my enthusiasm about using straight razors. Also, don't underestimate the importance of stropping to give the edge that last little bit of smoothness. Anyway, that's my most recent victory in the learning curve. I'll be around more (and more active) but with 2 children, night school, learning how to play classical guitar, and such I will be limiting my time online.
Great News I agree absolutely on the pastes and did post something about pastes a while ago as I also have a dovo that has never seen a stone. The stropping issue is an amusing one for me as I started with rotten technique...lol..and kept hearing about this drag they talked about...well on stropping my dovo i kept going one day and I found it, it appears that stropping is like honeing, everyone finds their own success through their own methods...i think i found it took me approximately 20 laps on canvas/ linen and approx 70-75 laps on leather...to find the drag and i didnt vary pressure. Thats my method anyways, but congrats on your success and I hope you enjoy every shave from now on and pursue this great hobby/ obsession. regards,simon::
I've struggled with stropping for a while. You wouldn't believe the amount of different techniques/styles/passes/etc. I've tried. Also, I've found that my Wapienica takes a different stropping method than the Dovo. I think that might have something to do with the difference between 1/4 and full hollow grinds. You're right about the stropping and honing. Everything in this hobby is so personalized. You can read about someone's style and try it but ultimately, you have to find your own method . I'd like to read you post. I'll search for it. Thanks for the kind words.
