Thread: Lots of questions from a newbie

I hope this helps...

Originally Posted by travelwell72

Been wet shaving for about 20 years but only recently started using proper wet shaving techniques.

Bought my first Merkur HD DE safety razor 9 months ago and have been hooked ever since... but have recently had a look at straight razors.

so i would like to ask some questions before i plunge into Straight Razors.

1 . how many razors do i need ? i saw a vid and this guy said that you need to rest your blade for 24 hours before your next use ( to cool down the blade he said ) ?? true or false
if it's true , then that would mean a min of 2 blades to be kept at all times..sounds a little bogus to me as i haven't heard of such a thing on this forum. Resting the blade is a myth. you can get by with 1 blade, but I recommend having 2 in case you dull the first on accident.

2 . with so many different sizes of blades , which one should i start with and why ? 5/8 seems the like the most talked about size . There are a lot of options with size and grind, many people jump into a full hollow because it sounds cool, but I think a wedge or 1/4 is better to learn on. as for size, a heavier or larger blade slides easier IMHO, but larger means less manuverable in areas like under your nose or chin. Generally a 5/8 or 6/8 is ideal when starting.

3 . how long do i have to go before i have to hone my blade again ? i guess that depends on how many times you shave, but lets consider shaving every other day with a min of 2 passes and sometmes 3 just for fun. The reason i ask this as i can see that i might become lazy and not wish to prep my blade for 1/2 an hr each time before shaving. If you have only 1 razor, and you use it daily, depending on the razor's hardness, and degree of sharpness, and the thickness of your hair, you can get on average between 2 and 4 months between honings. If you have 2 razors, each razor will last twice as long.

4 . Strop i assume is for keeping your blade sharp inbetween your visits with the hone that you have bought .. correct ? The strop is used before every shave to align the edge, it doesn't sharpen, it just keeps things where they need to be.

If you add a pasted strop to your geer, that will sharpen the edge some, but you will still need to send your razor for honing once or twice a year. (depending on how often you use it) Keep in mind a pasted strop is not something you use daily, or even weekly. It should only be used occasionally.

5 . lastly if i was to venture into Straight razors , DOVO or Thiers-Issard ( TI i guess for short )
which one is better ? i read the reviews on TI and Dovo , and it seems that TI is the sharpest but the finishing touches not as good as others ... but isn't sharpness the most important aspect of a blade anyway ?

Dovo and TI are both good, but the difference really isn't in sharpness.
The difference is in the feel and look. TI's feel much smoother to me. they can also be a bit tempermental, and I tend to lean towards the styling of the dovos more.

Dovo offers a High carbon steel blade as well as stainless, where TI is only the HCS,

It really comes down to what you are looking for, and what you are willing to do for your blade. I strongly prefer the feel if my Ti's, but they are also notoriously easy to stain/rust, so you have to be very good about drying and storage. The feel of a Dovo isn't as smooth, but they are easier to maintain.

Dovos (and TI's) can be very nice, or very cheap depending on the one you chose. If I was traveling a lot, and there was a chance I would not have time to properly dry my razor, I'd want something in stainless.
If I want an ultra smooth shave, and am not in any hurry, I would reach for a TI. Both will shave equally close, and irritation free.

Keep in mind that this smoother feel that I'm talking about is not something a beginner would notice.
My opinion about TI is that it is a great razor to upgrade to. because it is smooth, and needs proper care, I would say get a vintage, or something inexpensive to learn on, and save the TI for something special. Wait 6 months, use an inexpensive razor off B/S/T, or a Wapi to make your mistakes with. When you think you've mastered your first (or second) straight, then buy yourself a nice middle to high end TI.

anyway , thanks for answering these questions from a newbie