trading up from a gilette fusion

Hey my name is dennisbeckwith2. I have used a conventional advertised razor since I was 16 and liked it. But I am kinda old fashioned and want to dive into the world of a straight razor shave. I had bought a kreigar razor, paddle strop and vander hagen shave soap kit.
After joining this site ( 1 day later) i have since returned the razor and strop.
I have my eyes on a dovo razor with black handle and blue blade with a red edge. Should i get it or no?

A few other questions.1 can shave soap lather be saved? Where is the best place to see video demonstrations of how to strop and everything else? What other item's should I get besides the razor, strop, soap kit? And what cheapish spray should I get for my new strop?

Thank you

I also have pics of the items I am looking at and mostly shop on amazon if that is helpful at all

The best suggestion you will find here is get a sight unseen razor and strop kit from whipeddog.com it will be a shave ready razor, affordable prices. And great to learn on. The stop is of good quality and cheap you will slice it. So best to learn on it. Also his brushes are great way to get a badger at a low price.. Learn to shave with it to see if you like it. If not you havent lost much. And will be an easy sale. One last thing read all the how tos and videos .. They help a lot!!!

Dovo makes a good razor, a real razor unlike the Kreigar. You should be fine with that one or similar. As for lather, no it can't be saved.

If you're looking for shaving and stropping videos, just use the Search tool in the upper right corner of the page. AFDavis11 has a good one. As for the rest, I think you left out after-shaves and astringents. You can find them on Amazon, etc.

As for spraying your strop. Don't! Regularly warming up the strop by rubbing it with the palm of your hand is all that's needed to keep the strop in good working condition. That was a tip I picked up from Gssixgun.

Cheers!

What kashew said. Welcome to srp, dont be afraid to ask questions, its a steep learning curve but this site has all the info youll ever need (on shaving lol)

Thank you! I wonder if he has strops that don't have paddle handles?

Welcome to the forum.
Another interesting place to look for a razor is our classifieds section were members sell razors.

Dovo does make good razors, just be sure it is honed to shave ready. I guess you could "save" the lather by just not rinsing out whatever you mix it up in but I personally don't see the point. I agree not putting anything on your stop besides rubbing it with the palm of your hand. Maybe add a good aftershave to the collection.

What would be the next step up from dovo as far as quality? And what's an average as far as how long blades last?
I thought you were supposed to spray your strop every once in a blue moon?

not sure what the next step in quality would be, Dovos are pretty high up there for new production blades. As far as how long the blade will last, probably a few life times lol, I have an old Wade and Butcher from the mid to late 1800 and it still has many many years to go. A good strop shouldn't need any kind of spray if kept taken care of

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Originally Posted by sinnfein

Dovo does make good razors, just be sure it is honed to shave ready. I guess you could "save" the lather by just not rinsing out whatever you mix it up in but I personally don't see the point. I agree not putting anything on your stop besides rubbing it with the palm of your hand. Maybe add a good aftershave to the collection.

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Im still using Gillette aftershave gel for sensitive skin with my Gillette razor still I was thinking of still using that

I'm also looking at a nice wood handled straight razor from cutthroats razor company. I want a nice med sized blade that's shave ready with a wood handle and a strop that has a metal handle. I wonder if there is a list of actual stores in Michigan that sell straight razors?

What would I need to maintain my strop? Any oils act?

Maggard Razors is located in Adrian. If you are on the east side of Michigan.

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Originally Posted by wforest

Maggard Razors is located in Adrian. If you are on the east side of Michigan.

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I'm in central Lansing lol thank you

All you need to maintain your strop is the palm of your hand. Rub the strop briskly until it, and your palm, warms up. Do this several times a day at first, then just a couple of times a week will suffice.

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Originally Posted by DennisBeckwith2

What would be the next step up from dovo as far as quality? And what's an average as far as how long blades last?
I thought you were supposed to spray your strop every once in a blue moon?

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That's a subjective decision. All quality razors deliver a great shave if they are honed properly and the shaver knows how to use it.

I was asking the same questions, as were many others when we started so I know what you're feeling.

The first question to ask yourself is how committed to learning straights. If it depends on how difficult it is, the cheapest way to try is to get a Parker shavette for $20 and try it without investing in a strop or hone up front. True straights are easier to use in my opinion so if you like shavettes you'll love straights. The cheapest way to try true straights is the Whippeed Dog option with the "poor man's" accessories. Don't laugh at me for saying this, but I knew that I would persevere with it and bought new stuff up front. If you have the same conviction I would go to Straight Razor Designs and get a razor that appeals to you. It will be shave ready. Then I'd go to Star Shaving and get a Big Daddy 3" strop. My favorite of his strops is English Bridle. You'll cut your first one up learning if you're like me which is why I picked the lowest price quality strop I know.

One thing you mentioned was the canned gel. I'm convinced it contributed to my misery during the Fusion days so I strongly recommend a quality soap and brush.

A final word about the quality of razors. Often the difference between a no frills model and an expensive one is cosmetic, not a difference in quality.

Try to determine how you want to start and we can be more specific in our recommendations.

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Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun

That's a subjective decision. All quality razors deliver a great shave if they are honed properly and the shaver knows how to use it.

I was asking the same questions, as were many others when we started so I know what you're feeling.

The first question to ask yourself is how committed to learning straights. If it depends on how difficult it is, the cheapest way to try is to get a Parker shavette for $20 and try it without investing in a strop or hone up front. True straights are easier to use in my opinion so if you like shavettes you'll love straights. The cheapest way to try true straights is the Whippeed Dog option with the "poor man's" accessories. Don't laugh at me for saying this, but I knew that I would persevere with it and bought new stuff up front. If you have the same conviction I would go to Straight Razor Designs and get a razor that appeals to you. It will be shave ready. Then I'd go to Star Shaving and get a Big Daddy 3" strop. My favorite of his strops is English Bridle. You'll cut your first one up learning if you're like me which is why I picked the lowest price quality strop I know.

One thing you mentioned was the canned gel. I'm convinced it contributed to my misery during the Fusion days so I strongly recommend a quality soap and brush.

A final word about the quality of razors. Often the difference between a no frills model and an expensive one is cosmetic, not a difference in quality.

Try to determine how you want to start and we can be more specific in our recommendations.

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I never mentioned canned shave gel. Just the aftershave gel. Thank you by the way I do plan on sticking with it. I'd rather have a straight razor I can maintain than have to go to the store and by replacement cartridges

OK so just to clarify I do not ever want to go back to shaving cream from a can and I never want to have to replace a cartridge or a shavette razor. Ever again. I feel that straight razor shaving is a nearly lost art and would like to learn it and have already given myself the mindset that this is what I am going to do no matter what its going to happen.
I am 24 and in 16 years when my firstborn starts shaving its something I would like to pass on to him.
With that being said I want a true straight razor a really good strop and to be able to learn this skill.

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Originally Posted by DennisBeckwith2

What would I need to maintain my strop? Any oils act?

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Unless you buy an extremely dried out vintage strop your palm is all you need

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Originally Posted by DennisBeckwith2

OK so just to clarify I do not ever want to go back to shaving cream from a can and I never want to have to replace a cartridge or a shavette razor. Ever again. I feel that straight razor shaving is a nearly lost art and would like to learn it and have already given myself the mindset that this is what I am going to do no matter what its going to happen.
I am 24 and in 16 years when my firstborn starts shaving its something I would like to pass on to him.
With that being said I want a true straight razor a really good strop and to be able to learn this skill.

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You'll be happy to know that you are taking up straight razor shaving 30 years younger than I did.

1. Read this article called Is "Straight Shaving For You" to find out what equipment is needed in straight razor shaving: Is Straight Razor Shaving for You? - Yahoo Voices - voices.yahoo.com
2. Here is an oldie but a goodie, "Shaving Made Easy," an online instructional book from 1905 that is just as relevant now as it was then. You can download it to your PC. https://archive.org/details/shavingmadeeasyw0020th
3. The members here were polled and the most popular size was 6/8.
4. I'd definitely get the 3" wide strop so you don't have to learn the more difficult crossing "X" pattern. 3" covers the length of the blade so all you have to do is go back and forth. The kind of leather in a strop is a personal preference. I personally enjoy using a kangaroo leather strop the most.
5. This forum has many other pieces of instructional information compiled over a period of many years (see the Library menu item at the top). The things I have listed are a little more short and to the point to start with. If you read the things I have listed you'll be able to browse the forum library with some perspective.

@Kashew. no of course i wouldn't do that. i would get him his own beginners razor or start him off on a shavette to see if he likes it better compared to using a razor. from the store like Gillette . i have more common sense. than that.

@donut,California cajun. thank you. so i. obviously get a shavette isn't a true. straight . what's the difference ? Sorry. for the bad sentence. structure. this was done from my phone.

After my wife got more interested in what I've been talking about this last week my wife decided to look at prices. she thinks I'm insane. lol although. the cheapest she found was about $150.

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Originally Posted by DennisBeckwith2

@Kashew. no of course i wouldn't do that. i would get him his own beginners razor or start him off on a shavette to see if he likes it better compared to using a razor. from the store like Gillette . i have more common sense. than that.

@donut,California cajun. thank you. so i. obviously get a shavette isn't a true. straight . what's the difference ? Sorry. for the bad sentence. structure. this was done from my phone.

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A shavette usually takes a double edge blade split in half. There are blades available specific to shavettes. The Feather has a specific injector blade.

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Originally Posted by DennisBeckwith2

After my wife got more interested in what I've been talking about this last week my wife decided to look at prices. she thinks I'm insane. lol although. the cheapest she found was about $150.

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Tell Mrs. Beckwith you know a 58-year-old man who thinks that insanity is 40 years of multiblade and electric razors :)

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Originally Posted by DennisBeckwith2

After my wife got more interested in what I've been talking about this last week my wife decided to look at prices. she thinks I'm insane. lol although. the cheapest she found was about $150.

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Ahh yes SWMBO..thats why I suggest the wippeddog for about 41.00 you get a razor that works but isn't pretty. You can find dovo from. About 80+ brand new at straight razor designs and a few other trusted retailera.. Shop the classifieds on here. Just be careful of ebay and some stores claim they are shave ready but are not. Or the last decent option. Is to find a quality razor and have it sent to a honemiester. Search on here and you will find. Brands of Straight Razors to Avoid - Straight Razor Place Library... And read the beginners guide. Then read it again. Lol.