Switched from Parker Shavette to Boker King Cutter...WOW!

First a little background:

After MANY years of using an electric (rotary type) razor, I really started getting tired of the razor burn, especially on my neck. It was a daily occurance. I was going to work with a red neck each and every day. My grandpa used a straight razor for years, and I decided it was time to grow up.

Bought a cheap Parker SRW "Shavette" with Shark blades for about $40 on Amazon. Added some Colonel Conk's soap (four different kinds). Been doing this for two weeks or so, and only had very minor cuts the first week.

Got my Boker King Cutter in the mail yesterday from SRD after watching almost every single video Lynn put on YouTube. Took and shower and lathered up. Not ONE knick or cut with the Boker, both against and with the grain Unbeliveable difference from the Shavette. Got a really good three inch strop, watched Lynn on YouTube another 2-3 times, and gave it a good stropping. Man that thing is sharp and cuts nicely.

Since all I own now is a Boker and a cheap Shavette with 200 blades, what advice do you guys have for my backup razor? I am sure I will need honing a few months from now, and definitely don't have the skill to match the job SRD did on mine right out of the box. Gosh I am so beyond impressed with SRD, wish I found this months ago.

Thank you!

Keep your Parker as a backup until you have some more experience and preferences. There's a million different razors out there and a lot of them are excellent choices. But before you drop a couple hundred on a razor, get some shaves under your belt and approach your next selection with an opinion on what you want to try. BUT, that being said, when it comes to new razors I have a special love for Revisor. And vintage? I would highly recommend a Henckles Friodur. There are many great ones out there at very reasonable prices considering what they are. You can get one under $200 and it will rival any other razor in my opinion. They look great, shave great, and hold their edge a long time.

I'm in this about a year and a half and my approach was to start with a new razor (Ralf Aust from SRD) and then pick up a bunch of less expensive razors as funds allowed with edges I knew were honed well. That consisted of the classifieds here on this site and Whipped Dog. As I used different types of razors I narrowed in on the type of razor I like and that works well for my face and beard. In the meantime I've learned how to get a razor shave ready and have bought a few off of eBay that I've honed up and tested out. Now I am unloading the majority of razors I've tried, keeping the styles and types that I really like. I'm even making a profit on most of them.

Once I build up some funds I'll be purchasing a Revisor as I've heard good things about them (thanks OCDshaver!) and maybe a vintage Henckels in excellent condition. It has taken some patience but the process has worked for me.

Sounds like Revisor is the way to go..I am going to check the classifieds online to see. Thank you both for the help!

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Originally Posted by coryschmidt

I'm in this about a year and a half and my approach was to start with a new razor (Ralf Aust from SRD) and then pick up a bunch of less expensive razors as funds allowed with edges I knew were honed well. That consisted of the classifieds here on this site and Whipped Dog. As I used different types of razors I narrowed in on the type of razor I like and that works well for my face and beard. In the meantime I've learned how to get a razor shave ready and have bought a few off of eBay that I've honed up and tested out. Now I am unloading the majority of razors I've tried, keeping the styles and types that I really like. I'm even making a profit on most of them.

Once I build up some funds I'll be purchasing a Revisor as I've heard good things about them (thanks OCDshaver!) and maybe a vintage Henckels in excellent condition. It has taken some patience but the process has worked for me.

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Watch a lot of youtube videos on the correct way to strop your razor. The cardinal sin is pushing the razor down into the leather and lifting the blade before your finish the stroke. Begin by stropping slowly with the razor completely flat on the strop. Use a light touch and the razor will glide across the leather.

I agree with the advice from OCDshaver, learn to shave and how maintain your Boker. Use the Parker as a backup. Take your time and research various models of S.R. When the time is right select your next S.R.

There are many different options and types of razors to choose from. Maybe try a different size or grind from what you have. Unfortunately it is a personal choice and until you try different razors you won't know what suits you best. Maybe try find someone local and they can show you what they have and that might help with choosing what is best for you. Vintage is s good way to get razors cheaper and there is far more to choose from. Good luck with your search

Welcome to the club your story sounds a little like mine I used a shavette myself for a month or two before I bought my first s/r from SRD. I was amazed as well with less nicks from a true s/r versus the shavette. I now have 4 different razors so becareful they are addicting as you will probally learn or have already heard. The most challenging part for me was learning to properly strop yes I was that guy that nicked the strop within the first few days but now good to go. Have a good journey and a great shave.