Thread: Do you get what you pay for?

Originally Posted by TulaneBoy

Thanks for that link, and especially about the brushes. Would his cheapest badger brush be good, or should I spring for one of his best ones? I like what I hear about silvertip brushes. I just tried to lather with one of the walmart boar bristle brushes and it was kind of like scouring my skin off. Yeah those Dovo razors on the second page are pretty reasonable, and apparently he hones them before sending them out, so I could still start out with a guaranteed sharp razor. Nice. That is on my short list!



Okay, so it is a pretty safe bet that any Pakistan razor is not worth picking up, and same for all Chinese razors except the possible exception of the Gold Dollars? I have to admit I haven't read that entire thread... 51 pages! Must be pretty controversial! But I gather that just ordering one from ebay will be a total disappointment and the only hope of getting a good one is to get one doctored up by a pro. Well, that must cost nearly as much as one of those Dovos from the whipped dog site! I will give the Gold Dollar some thought but right now I am leaning toward the Dovo razors I think. Got to do some more reading on those Gold Dollar razors. Any idea what I should expect to pay for one all fixed up?

Thanks again, guys!

Let me add a few "layman's" perspectives on what was said.

The cheap razors (India, Pakistan, China) have the highest probability of defects, which means that a beginner's chance of success with them are less than that for someone with a lot of experience. Some guys who like to make and restore razors like the challenge of taking one of these and making them into something special.

Dovos (particularly the "Best Quality" line) are among the least expensive of the quality razors, which is why they are cited as good ones to start out with for beginners who want to learn how to use and service one. Get a razor with a good reputation and spend as little as you can for learning purposes.

There are a lot of preferences when it comes to brushes. Boar brushes are the least expensive, yet some people like and prefer them. Badger brushes have the most absorbency of water and lather, so most prefer badger. I like Finest Badger because it is a bit stiffer than the more expensive Silvertip Badger. Silvertip Badger caresses your face. I'd say most people prefer Silvertip and I'm kind of an oddball for preferring the less-expensive Finest.

Strops are another hot topic, as is honing equipment. I'll stop there and chime in if you want to know more about these things.

People who are inquisitive as you are really have an interest in straight shaving and will persevere while at the same time enjoying the learning curve. You strike me as someone who will really enjoy this.