Thread: A few questions from a starter...

Hello chaps,

Just looking to ask a few newbie questions of which I'm sure you frequenters are already sick, and maybe get some opinions. I'm looking to buy my first straight razor. I've never used one before. I'm currently using a Merkur Classic safety razor, with which I have no complaints, a boar bristle brush, and a tub of Proraso. I'm not tired of my double-edge or anything, I just think it'd be fun to try a straight blade. Plus they are pretty badass. So of course, I've done my reading and my research, and here's what I've come up with, lend me your opinions if you would!

I like the sound and the look of this blade by DOVO. From what I've read, extra hollow grind, carbon steel blade, and 5/8 size are my choices. Plus I think this redwood scale looks really sharp. Indeed, I intend to ask for the razor to be pre-honed as well.

DOVO Straight Razors

Also, from reading your forums it appears that the boys at classic shaving are very good about accepting returns of any defective items, which is encouraging.

Here's the strop I'm going for. It's 3 and 1/4" wide. I can't imagine why anyone would buy a strop too thin for their blade when there are wider ones available. I, of course, might be missing some finer point to stropping, so please fill me in if that's the case. It also seems to me that the canvas side goes largely ignored by the majority of shavers, so I'm fine with this strop not having one.

Razor Strops, Hones, and Accessories

As far as stones, I like the sound of the Norton 4000x8000. Seems like a good all around beginner stone. My plan for success is to grab these three items, play around with them until I know what I'm doing, and then use them forever, or until they wear out. I'm not really interested in collecting razors. Although I can't deny the price and pre-sharpened advantage of the ebay and classified specials, I much prefer the idea of buying a new razor and tending to it myself.

Now for some questions...

Am I being ridiculous? Do newcomers to honing and stropping generally tend to destroy their kit, or what? It seems everyone here has at least 3 razors, is it because they've blunted their starter blades?

How delicate are these razors? I realize dropping anything you spend a couple hundred bucks on is a bad idea, but are these type of razors finished after one accident, or are they more robust than that?

Used blades, how much metal is removed in the course of regular stropping and honing over say a year? How can these blades last so long so as to be resold decades later without wearing thin?

Thanks for your time, fellows!


Edit: and what does BBS mean?