Need a Razor, Help Please

hey guys. i know i've posted before a long time ago, and i know i should be able to search for this, but i wanted to re hash and discuss it again.

i need a razor, i want a new one, i have plenty of old crooked beat up ones that arent worth saving.

but i want to go on the inexpensive side just encase i don't like it once i get into it (thats not gonna happen) and I don't really need special handle material or anything

i don't care if it's stainless or carbon, if i'm going to put the time into the process of shaving i might as well clean the razor properly when i'm done, and not have to worry about carbon right?

i do plan on having it honed professionally, though i do have a belgian combo stone, diamond compounds, etc. i'd like to have it done right the first time

is the DOVO classic a good razor, does it only lack the bells and whistles?

also, i have a pretty tough beard, so should i go with a more stout blade? maybe a 5/8?

i really appreciate all the help guys. whenever i post i've had nothing but a bunch of great info from all of you. thanks again. i'm really looking forward to jumping into this.

HArd TO answer to your question.Razor's are very wide range and people 's chooses are different.i think the best way to say Depends what you like.My best razor is Ti special that doesn't mean rest razor's are bad.when i started to use start with old razor and till now i do have my first razor hone handle Bismark 406 this was excellent razor and served me very vell.may be 50 years old razor i ma not sure.I hope yo u get the point and this will help you somehow.good luck

thanks for the quick response, i'd like to add that i'm not worried about getting the best razor at the first shot. or figuring out exactly what size or grind i prefer in a blade. I just think that if str8 shaving is as good as it's supposedto be, that i should notice a good enough result with some practice on a blade, that would sway me to use that instead of my quattro. and then i can fine tune my equipment once i know i'm into it.

this was my original intent a few years back but then i relized the old blades i was working with were all pretty well crooked beyond repair. and that pretty much stopped me for a long time

MJ,

Were it I hooked on the horns of this dilemma, I'd kick it up one notch and get a DOVO Special 6/8. Since I have serious RAD, this razor is not my only razor, but were it my only razor, I don't believe I would consider myself poorly shaved.

Good luck,

PM Kenrup for a starter kit.

Best of luck!

Tony

The suggestion of a 6/8 is a good one considering your beard type. The Kenrup starter set includes a 6/8-7/8 Double Arrow razor that has been honed. If you get a new Dovo 6/8 or any other new razor make sure to send it out for honing. They are not shave ready from the factory.

so what's the difference with the "special" dovo?

thanks for all the info, keep the suggestions coming!!

I have some very nice razors that are antiques but shave very well. I can supply you with on if you are interested. A few of these are NOS and no one would be able to tell they aren't new except the manufacturer doesn't exist anymore.

I'm not sure why you only want a new razor. Many of the older ones are better steel than the new dovos and the prices are better.

Check out "B/S/T" you can get lots of deals there, and they are professionally honed as well.

The "Special' is just a model name.

well i would consider an old razor... but i just don't have the experience to mess with something that slightly used or inconsistent from someone elses poor honing techniques.... i'd prefer to mess it up myself!

i just think it might give me a better benchmark to start from and learn with. but if i could find new old stock or something that would be great.

thanks randy.

i spoke with kenrup and i think i'm going to get a wapi from him when he gets one back in stock. and have it honed. i can't wait to get a rozor.... no more stupid cartridge razors!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Michael J. Spangler

well i would consider an old razor... but i just don't have the experience to mess with something that slightly used or inconsistent from someone elses poor honing techniques.... i'd prefer to mess it up myself!

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That's an interesting view - most people who hone their razors will tell you outright the problems with any particular razor even before you ask (or I hope they would). My understanding is that Dovo are fairly consistent (although I've only seen 5 or so and one was vintage) so they would be a good choice. I personally will spend the exta $20 to get the dovo special over the intro model - it is different razor and a better one at that.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Michael J. Spangler

i just think it might give me a better benchmark to start from and learn with. but if i could find new old stock or something that would be great.

thanks randy.

i spoke with kenrup and i think i'm going to get a wapi from him when he gets one back in stock. and have it honed. i can't wait to get a rozor.... no more stupid cartridge razors!

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Getting a prehoned wapi from a member is a good choice. While these sell for less than $20 new the quality control is rather spotty, so even if it's NOS there is a bigger chance that the blade will have serious problems than buying a 'used' razor. Of course, it's all your choice - the only thing cheaper than the wapienica is the double arrow - I believe randy purchased a bunch recently and can probably tell you about their quality.

alright so DOVO it is...... i'm not in the market to save a few bucks and worry about inconsistencies, i just don't need the bells and whistles.

well then i guess i'll step up to the special and have it honed, not worth messing around with cheap stuff.

any suggestions on the best place to buy one of these? thanks again guys!

MJ,

The Mensch's suggestion of buying at the StraightRazorDesigns shop is spot on. At the other two fine online stores, Classic Shaving and Vintage Blades, you would have to pay extra to have the razor honed. Lynn and Don must be having a bit of a "loss leader" deal going for their fledgling business as they are including honing for no extra charge. You can't beat that deal with a big stick.:tu

Good shaving,

When I first tried to shave with a straight, I bought a Dovo from one of the retailers recommended regularly on this forum, and I could not shave with it.

I also could not shave with the first razor I bought from an SRP member in B/S/T.

Then I bought a razor from the member Izlat. That razor was pretty awesome. That one got me started shaving.

Later, when my technique got better, I was able to shave with all of these razors and some that were not nearly as sharp (ones I honed when I was a beginner).


My take on this is, if you get a truly awesome edge, you *might* learn to shave pretty quickly, almost immediately.

But the right edge for you may take a couple of tries.

Good luck.

yeah it really is worth getting it honed the first time, then i can see how good it really is and be hooked so there's no way i'd ever give up on trying to get it right...

i can't wait!

Don't forget that you will want a strop as well. I recommend the Tony Miller starter/apprentice strop. It cannot be beat for the money!

Whatever razor you get, be patient with yourself and your tools. Your first few shaves may not be great in terms of comfort or closeness, but they should be fun. It takes time to get there, so enjoy the trip. :D

Jordan