Thread: Beginner in straight razor shaving help!!!

Hi, first of all my name is Ilié and i leave in France. I'm 18 years old and i am shaving with a sh*tty BIC razor....
First of all: does a straight razor give a closer shave than the mach3/BIC razors?
I want to get started in straight razor shaving and i would need some advice about what brand and type should i buy, and also the honing tools...
I have found a DOVO razor at home , with some rust stains on it, and i would like to ask you what do you think about it first. Is it worth the effort of bringing it back to life? or i should buy another dovo?
So please give me advices please!!

I'll post a photo of the razor. i think the blade is pretty decent, i tried to hone it but i think i did more bad than good things haha....
can you tell me if it's worth something? good quality or crap?

THANK YOU!!

Dovo are good razors just needs a restore.

Hi, firstly, yes a straight razor will give you a much closer shave.

That's a nice razor there and I'm sure cleaned up would be a great shaver. I would recommend though to start off getting one that is shave ready, there are usually some great offers on the classifieds on here. If you don't want to buy a razor then get that one professionally restored and honed. It's worth the cost to make sure you have a great edge to learn with. Again the classifieds member services will help with someone to restore it.

Hi, and welcome to SRP!

First thing I would do (and I know this will sound weird, but I will explain) would be to smell your razor, particularly the scales. If there is a sharp, vinegar or camphor-like smell, then before you do anything, consider getting that blade out of those scales. It may be suffering from cell rot. That occurs when celluloid in the scales chemically breaks down, releasing gasses that eat away steel. This tends to affect the past of the blade in closest proximity to the scales (i.e. the bit that is between the scales when closed) which appears to be the case here, which is why I advise checking for that.

That razor started out as a very good blade, but IMHO will require considerable work to restore. Because the rust extends to the cutting edge, a considerable amount of steel will need to be removed before you get to a good cutting edge. So it may be salvageable, but it will take some work.

+1 to the advice to look in the classifieds here and a BIG +1 to the advice to start with a shave-ready razor.

Shaving with a straight will eventually be better and smoother than the plastic things, but you'll need some time and patience to get there. This is not a process that should be rushed since it involves moving an extremely sharp object along your face, and because it involves many variables that take some time to master. But be patient, stick with it, and it will all be worth it! Spend some time on the site here, and all the information you need is at your fingertips.

Good luck

EDIT: for more information on cell rot, use the search box at the top-right of the screen. There are many threads about it here in the forum.

+1 To what Cangooner has said. The blade is salvageable but it will require a decent amount of work so definitely isn't going to be the cheapest option. The classifieds are good for a shave ready razor that's good quality. Good luck and make sure you check out the library.

Im a little bit sick but i can feel a sharp smell on the blade.... how do i remove it from the scales?
I consider buying another Dovo razor or filarmonica razor? I can put around 190€ for it with a strop, is it enough ?

Originally Posted by Ilie

Im a little bit sick but i can feel a sharp smell on the blade.... how do i remove it from the scales?
I consider buying another Dovo razor or filarmonica razor? I can put around 190€ for it with a strop, is it enough ?

That's more then enough.

Originally Posted by S0LITARYS0LDIER

That's more then enough.

what should i buy? Filarmonica or dovo? I've read some myths about filarmonica sharpness....

Originally Posted by Ilie

what should i buy? Filarmonica or dovo? I've read some myths about filarmonica sharpness....

It's more about the condition of the razor and not the brand. You want to purchase the blade that is in better condition. Are you looking at vintage razors? Filarmonica razors are very desirable so one in good condition will generally cost more than the average vintage razor.

Originally Posted by Ilie

what should i buy? Filarmonica or dovo? I've read some myths about filarmonica sharpness....

To be honest, buy the one you want. They will both work well, and beyond that it really is a matter of personal taste. As noted above, Filarmonicas now command a premium because they just happen to be insanely popular and in demand at the moment. The same can be said for many of the vintage makers such as Wade & Butcher.

Stick to your budget, investigate what is available (and make sure that it is shave-ready or you'll have to send it out to get honed) in your price range, and then get the one that you want. As long as it is from a reputable maker, you'll be fine.

You can find some tips on buying here:
The straight razor - Straight Razor Place Library

A list of some well-known reputable brands here (you can also add Ralf Aust to the list):
Good Straight Razor Brands - Straight Razor Place Library

And a list of brands to avoid here:
Brands of Straight Razors to Avoid - Straight Razor Place Library