Thread: What razor to choose ?!

Hello I am pretty newbie to this straight thing
Now
I do know that I want and need a nice Carbon razor to begin with (and even spend my all life with only carbon steel)
So I have come to make a decision
What razor should I take?
should I go for Thiers-Issard Straight Razors like those ones
http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...013/719626.htm
or
http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...013/719642.htm
or
http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...013/564072.htm

Or, maybe I will go for DOVO
and then for those ones
http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...940/190248.htm
or
http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...940/190250.htm
or
http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...940/873572.htm

???
What is the different when it come to the steel? witch one will last more before need to be hone? and witch one will give me a closer shave or will give a kneer edge?

I hope you can give me some answers about these ones, tank you very much

The Dovo Bergischer Löwe will last the longest after a honing job. Since it's a stainless steel razor and therefore a harder type of steel. (The only stainless out of the lot you picked.)

The TI's you picked are all the same except for the scales.

The other two Dovo's are the same except for the scales as well. If price isn't an issue I'd either go with a Blond Horn TI or the Bergischer Löwe. I own a silversteel TI and it's probably my favorite razor. Easy to hone, holds an edge quite well and gets almost scary sharp.

As for the bergischer Löwe I really like the feeling of the Dovo Stainnless blades. They feel like they flex less on the face. I'd like to own one but do not have the funds for it quite yet. But out of this lot I'd go for a TI (although I'd pick a 6/8 instead of a 5/8 but that's personal preference for you.)

I agree especially with the 6/8 vs. the 5/8.

Originally Posted by LX_Emergency

As for the bergischer Löwe I really like the feeling of the Dovo Stainnless blades. They feel like they flex less on the face.

Alex

You press hard enough so that the blade actually flexes on your skin?! Have I misunderstood? Can't say I've ever got the feeling that my blade is flexing (with a 5/8 full hollow Dovo CS).

Mark,

I don't know about Alex (pretty sure he doesn't press hard at all) - but a very thinly ground blade *might feel* like it's flexing a bit in heavy growth as it catches the hair.

My take on this is that if it seems to flex - the angle is probably not optimal, or razor is not sharp enough - but I do not consider myself an expert...

At least one "advanced" shaver (don't remember who) had written somewhere that he likes the way some hollows flex on his face because they supposedly "conform" to the features (unlike a wedge) - but I find this hard to believe and take seriously. It *might* feel like it's conforming to the face, but I doubt it actually happens to that extent.

On the other hand, many people feel negative about blade flex and say they don't like it. For the record, Lynn has said that a properly honed Wonderedge (very thin and some claim flexy blade) used with good technique will shave the wild man of Borneo without any problems...

In my case both hollows and wedges seem to work well and I like them both. For heavy growth (e.g. 7 days) I seem to prefer a big heavy wedge. For lighter situations - smaller hollows. However, hollows will shave well heavy beard for me too...

Not sure this helped you - but you can use it as a data point

Cheers
Ivo

Is the Bergischer isn't carboon?
I think it is, look again
Also
I don't think 6/8 is good for me, I think it is a bit large for a blade to start with
Also, I want not a steel one, because it will make it harder for me to maintan the edge sharp, while with carboon, it is much easier to hone it
isn't?
I want something good to begin with, that will satisfy me for years to come

Stainless is harder to put the initial edge on yes. But from what I understand it is not harder to maintain the edge. Still, with starting out, I would think you would be better off with a carbon steal blade. The Bergisher is carbon steal.

As far as which to pick, I like the look of the Bergisher the best, but I have no experience with any of these razors.

If you order from classicshaving.com, then I would have the razor sharpened with their service, which is actually just Lynn. I believe the price is $20.00 or so, plus extra shipping, but it is well worth the price to get the razor sharpened by Lynn. Straights do not come shave ready out of the box, so you will need to have it sharpened by someone who knows what they are doing. I would not recommend buying a nice razor like this and then attempting to sharpen it your self. It is something that requires a lot of patients, time, and practice, and you will be very eager to try the razor out. If I were you, I would get the razor sharpened with the sharpening service, and then find a cheaper razor to practice sharpening with.

Matt

Yeah
No matter what am I going to buy, it is a MUST to buy Lynn DVD and the sharpen service
But
What razor to pick up?
I have read many people that prefer the Carboon, even after they know pretty good how to hone
They say that a carboon can get a real keen edge that some steel would never get (or it might be very hard)

But, I don't have a problem getting a steel, I just want to know what is the best of the best that will serve me for years to come and make it a real delight every time I use it and hone it

what do you think guys?

Originally Posted by izlat

Mark,

I don't know about Alex (pretty sure he doesn't press hard at all) - but a very thinly ground blade *might feel* like it's flexing a bit in heavy growth as it catches the hair.

Thanks for the info. I'm going to have to look out (or 'feel' out) for that in future! I had no idea...

Originally Posted by EAD

Yeah
No matter what am I going to buy, it is a MUST to buy Lynn DVD and the sharpen service
But
What razor to pick up?
I have read many people that prefer the Carboon, even after they know pretty good how to hone
They say that a carboon can get a real keen edge that some steel would never get (or it might be very hard)

But, I don't have a problem getting a steel, I just want to know what is the best of the best that will serve me for years to come and make it a real delight every time I use it and hone it

what do you think guys?

They are all going to be high quality razors, and differences are going to be very small, at least at this stage in your journey they will be small. I would order which ever one you like the best as far as appearance. Any of these razors will fill your needs.

Matt