Thread: help with razor I am ordering

Originally Posted by Shaotzu

+1 to Ralf Aust recommendation and SRD. I got the RA from them and they've been a great vendor and the razor has been awesome. Being new to straight razor shaving, it was a great introduction and made the transition easier knowing that it was my technique and not equipment failures.

+2 ⬆︎⬆︎ -- same thing I would do!

Whatever you do, don't buy a gold dollar!!!!! They are worthless. Buy you a Dove or a Boker. That will be your best bet. If you buy the kit from SRD, Lynn will hone it for you for free plus give you a certificate for a second honing for free. The kit is best because it comes with a strop but you will first need to learn to strop. You can do so by going to the Library & you will find it in there but don't get in a hurry, take your time learning how to do it. One wrong move on the strop & you will dull your blade & you will have to send it out to get it honed again. You will probably want to buy you a 2nd straight razor for when you send one out to be honed, you will have one to shave with. Later after you learn o hone you can invest in some good stones & learn to hone. There are videos in the Library for that. Sit there & watch them over & over again until you feel confident, then you can try & hone!

Originally Posted by Phoenix51

Go with the RA...no contest.
RA=better fit and finish, keener blade, nicer balance.
Dovo=OK, just not as well appointed or ground as the RA..my opinion. (Yes, I own and have owned both. Kept both my RA razors, sold one of the Dovos).
Pick youself up some Taylor of Old Bond St. (TOBS) cream while you're there. Excellent sandalwood and the Eton College is another winner. So is the rose and the St. James for that matter....buy one (or two) then get a tub of Cella. You're set for a year or so...well at least quite a few months.

I haven't owned the Dovo, but I've heard from everyone that the quality vs. cost difference, the Ralf Aust is a better razor - that's the one I have and it's been great. As for cream, I've got Musgo Real, and some Art of Shaving Sandalwood. I also picked up the Bigelow Proraso from Bath and Body Works as well. Otherwise, have a puck of Col Conk Bay Rum, and I really like that one too.

Go with the RA, I heard that is a much better quality razor so there you go. If I were you, I would go with the Ralph Aust. Much better quality for your money!

OK sounds good, thanks guys! For the strop does the color matter? and what about the back strop? Razor oil and sack? Ordering from srd, how long is the shipping?

Originally Posted by iz858

OK sounds good, thanks guys! For the strop does the color matter? and what about the back strop? Razor oil and sack? Ordering from srd, how long is the shipping?

Color? Not really, whatever you prefer. I like the reddish color

Back strop? One like another unless you're going with linen (and even that's kind of a hard-core case sort of preference..I use either coarse weave or fine weave canvas fabric and really cannot tell any difference)

Razor oil? A can of Ballistol will do you as well or better plus, you can use it for lots of other stuff. Actually any light grade gun oil or 3 in 1 will work as well

Razor sack? Yeah, they are handy and pretty much negate the need for oil (but it's good to have some Ballistol around anyway for other tasks)
Shipping? As fast as anyone out there

Yeah it says back strop viration, I didn't know what that meant.

Originally Posted by iz858

OK sounds good, thanks guys! For the strop does the color matter? and what about the back strop? Razor oil and sack? Ordering from srd, how long is the shipping?

SRD ships quickly. I like the kit you are ordering. I would recommend you upgrade the strop to 3" with the standard webbing and you pick the color you like. I would skip the oil. The sack is a good idea.

Let us know how this goes for you.

iz858 you are welcome to pm me your mailing address and I will get nice shave cream off to
you no charge. I have not read this entire thread but you will need a brush to complete your start up
items.

Originally Posted by lz6

SRD ships quickly. I like the kit you are ordering. I would recommend you upgrade the strop to 3" with the standard webbing and you pick the color you like. I would skip the oil. The sack is a good idea.

Let us know how this goes for you.

Agreed on the 3" strop. I got that with the premium fabric and works well.