Thread: First straight

I have been wet shaving for about a year with DE and as with many have become consumed with the ritual which I thoroughly enjoy. Have been considering trying straight for awhile and am getting closer to taking the leap. I see there is a DOVO INOX on Ebay now (currently at $152.00). Can someone tell me what this razor is worth? I don't mind spending $$ for a razor that will last me the rest of my life. Should I be looking at carbon instead of stainless as it will be easier to sharpen? Any suggestions will be welcome. I have been lurking about for awhile and am trying to read as much as possible before I jump in.

Hi, and welcome to the board. You can check at classicshaving.com or vintagebladesllc.com to see what the new Dovo Inox is worth. I don't know exactly what you're looking at on ebay, though.

Obviously, you can do what you like, but I don't see any reason to spend that much on your first razor. Carbon steel is great - its the "standard" really. There are a lot of good razors for less. Check the BST forums here as well as on-line vendors. Whatever you get, have it professionally honed. Also have realistic expectations - your first few shaves probably won't be great - fun, but not great shaves. Be patient. Good luck!

Jordan

First off, Welcome!

Secondly, that isn't a bad price for the DOVO, but I don't have one, so I can't say whether it's wothwhile or not.

But I would recommend that you buy one from a member here, or from a place like Classic Shaving as ebay can be a gamble sometimes. The B/S/T forum has some really good deals sometimes and you can usually find a handful of good razors for less than $100.

thanks for the advice. I think I will try the B/S/T section here rather than risk EBAY.

Welcome on board!

Dovo and Thiers Issard are both good modern manufacturers. It is also worth considering a vintage razor as your first buy. Razors produced in Germany, France and England are usually worth considering.

It is great to study your subject matter before jumping in with both feet, but there has to be a balance between studying and getting on with it. Just do it! It will take time to develop the skills required, but it will be worth it in the end.

Good luck, and be sure to use the excellent knowledge available from the friendly chaps that frequent this wonderful forum.

Welcome to the forums! As others have stated, I would recommend that you buy a razor from the BST section and get it professionally honed. Good luck.

Dovos are great razors. If you plan on learning to hone it yourself, it might be better to start out with a razor made of carbon steel or silver steel. Stainless steel can be a bit more challenging to hone.
If you're not living in the rain forest, I wouldn't worry about rust too much. 30 seconds of proper care after each shave is all it takes to prevent corrosion.

Welcome to SRP,

Bart.

Welcome to the forums!!!! I have to agree with some of the other guys here. First I recomend ths BST for a razor from one of the many great guys here. It would be shipped to you SHAVE READY(in most cases) and that way when you start you can have peace of mind knowing it's your technique and not the razor causing you bad shaves. If you still want a new razor, Classic shaving has a great selection and offer the option of honing it before you get it. Either way have fun amnd welcome to this wonderful hobby that fast becomes an addiction.