Thread: About to get my first straight

So then, been using electric razor for awhile but never really liked it. So after some looking around I've decided to go with a straight razor. Needless to say there's all sorts of information out there and not everyone agrees. Anyways onto my plan.

So I am a bit on a budget for this, would prefer not to spend more then $300-$350 to get most/all the basics. That being said most of the *kits* i've seen appear to be of very low quality. Then I saw this. I can't find anything wrong with the kit and the price makes it tempting. Input on quality or any items that are missing would be nice. I am mostly wondering about how sharp the razor will come. I do plan to learn how to hone but will I need to hone it right out of the box or should I use it and see how it works out first?

I also am considering hones to be part of the basics, as they are needed unless I want to send out my razor every time. I already have a DMT coarse diamond stone that I also use to lap other stones. However I don't really have anything above 4k. So I was thinking getting a Norton 4/8k at first, then once budget allows picking up something like a spyderco ultra fine as a finishing stone.

EDIT: I am planning to start with a rounded edge mainly because I'm new to this and it seems to be one of the only things people agree on, start with a rounded tip 5/8". For the record I do plan to keep a mustache and was wondering if going to something like a french point once I know what i'm doing would make shaving around my mustache easier.

And if you do get stones, get another razor to hone and keep the professionally honed razor as a bench mark.

+1 on straight razor designs. I am not sure if the royal shave is truly shave ready or not....but someone who knows should chime in here because you will really want a shave ready razor on your first purchase.

I personally would not worry about the hones for awhile. Properly done, a razor can be kept shave ready with the strop and a paste (crox) or diamond spray for some time. Make sure to read thru the library and check out Lynn Abrams youtube video on maintaining yours straight razor. Welcome to the addiction!!

I dont know the retailer, but you could use the search box to look for threads about them (top right of the screen), dovo blades are meant to be pretty good, again no specific experience, but they are one of the 3 or 4 recommened new production manufacturers, there was a thread discussing how honed the royal shave blades are, but i cant recall the outcome, you could always email them to ask if the blades are factory honed or honed on site.
The omega cream is very nice in my opinion, in fact i was thinking the other day that i could just use it ongoing, but realistically i will want to try other stuff
Have you looked at straight razor designs? they have their blades honed by lynn if i recall so they will definately be shave ready, again i havent tried their product but they invariably get stellar reviews. i believe they also sell the ralf aust line, which are supposed to at least compare to dovo, and their modular strops seem to be pretty good value considering that you are able to get a large range of replacement strop materials for relatively low prices.
The other alternative is to buy the various things you want in a non kit form, and look for a nice vintage razor.
A SRD modular strop (i have even heard guys recommned just buying the pads for the paddle strop and making your own base to save a bit of cash) is about $90, the omega is about $10 if i recall, if you dont mind boar brushes you can get a semogue 1305 for about $15, a lather bowl can be made from a continental coffee cup ( a couple of dollars if you shop around)or just a small bowl from your cupboard (free), and that still leaves $95 to pick up a razor (or more if you just buy the leather (and fabric) component(s). you should be able to get a reasonably nice vintage from the SRP classifieds for that, or a new razor even.

+1 on Redcane's suggestion on getting a new razor from SRD. An SRD razor comes professionally honed. It would hence be shave ready once you received it. It would also gives you a solid idea of what shave readiness is, which would serve as a good benchmark once you start doing your own honing.

The 3 inch strop is easier to use when starting out because you can fit the whole length of the razor along the strop and not have to do an X-stroke.

Looking at the Dovos you linked to, I think the differences are quality of scales (the pricier one has wood) and goldwash etching. So yeah, likely just aesthetic differences.

I own a Dovo best as well as just sold the almost exact same razor with black ebony scales (still the classifieds as sold) and they are exactly the same except the scales and gold wash. Same shave both quality razors.

A 3" strop is easier to use in my opinion, but you will still want to develop an "x" or "wiper" stroke to ensure that any irregularities I the stropping surface don't prevent the entire blade from contacting the strop.

For price and quality you can't go wrong with SRD. As said honing takes practice and is best learned on razors your not shaving with. Start knowing your equipment is good and just focus on stropping and shaving for the moment. And no matter the strop you want to use an x stroke. Good luck

Ditto on all the plugs for SRD the razor will be shave ready ,, then you will have to learn how to shave, and strop , then when you do mess up the edge, and you more than likely will, they will honed it for free once more. Forget honing till you can shave well then you will know if the edges your putting on work. And by the way after you can shave and strop well, honing is not something you do all the time , the investment in stones doesn't justify, taking care of 1 or 2 razors , I easily get months out of my edges before they need only a refresh, and a pros edge will be right every time and only cost a few dollars , Good luck. Tc