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Thread: New Guy here

  1. #1
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    Default New Guy here

    Hello Gents,

    Looking to start using a straight razor, I have always used the Mach 3 razors, but recently switch to a DE razor and the difference is very noticable, now I want to get into using the straight razor. I've seen videos on youtube, google, you name it. It looks very scary, but with time, patience and practice it will all be fine.

    I've already read a few threads on here on what to buy and not to buy. With so many razors out there , how do you know which is the best one? Obviously price will play a major role on the purchase of a razor, I've been looking at Dovo, DA, Wapi and so on, the one that really caught my eye was the Dovo brand, maybe because it's made in Germany and they make good products over there, but their prices are a little steep, and the price is just the razor, not a started kit like some of the others I've seen.

    Having a "good" razor is very important, but what about the other stuff that you need? How important are they? Is it ok to spend 100 bucks or more on a razor and be somewhat cheap with a strop, brush etc? And I am nor looking to spend 10-15 bucks on ebay, one thing I know from experience is that if you buy cheap, it will cost you more in the long run.

    Any recommendations?

    Thanks in advance

  2. #2
    Senior Member dward's Avatar
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    Don't confuse cheap with inexpensive. Tony Miller and others sell quality starter strops at very reasonable prices. Look at this way, do you want to put that blade against your face without haven't been properly prepared? Purchase what you can afford. Stay away from that Zeepk crap on ebay!

    By the way, you can get a very nice, shave ready razor in the classifieds for $50 or less. They aren't crappy razors being dumped by members. Our members have reputations they want to keep! You might also want to invest in Lynn's CD. It is a very good investment for beginners (and some like myself who are beginners anymore). It's over 3 hours of information concerning almost all aspects of the straight razor...

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    Willm3053 (12-21-2008)

  4. #3
    Senior Member jszabo's Avatar
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    hi and welcome to srp +1 with what dward said about using the classifieds just a thought but vintagebladesllc.com has about the cheapest prices i have found on new dovo's and they carry several in stock that has been honed by lynn for an additional $20

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    Willm3053 (12-21-2008)

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    Comrade in Arms Alraz's Avatar
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    I know exactly what you are going through. First, there is no such thing as the best razor but there are some to avoid, check the wiki for that. You may want to be in the middle for everything here: medium with, around 5/8, medium hollow and probably a round point which is a bit more forgiven. This would give you an average perspective of the straight shaving world. The farther you deviate from these guidelines, the more biased the shaving experience would be. Some people prefer huge blades with no hollow and others ultra thing singing blades but those are extremes. later on, you may find that you like one of the extremes but it would not be the best for your first experience. A strop is another piece that equipment that you will need some people here suggest that you should not spend too much on your first strop because you will dent it as you acquire proper technique. I bought an Illinois 827 because it had good reviews and the price was right. A brush is another important piece of equipment. Badger brushes are preferred over boar. One good brush is the Crabtree and evelyn small best badger brush (130291). I bought this one because of the reviews and the price. I cannot compare it to any other because this is the only one I own but it makes good lather... Good luck and let us know how it goes. Avoid Ebay for your first purchases..., at least.

    Al raz.
    Last edited by gugi; 02-09-2009 at 11:04 PM. Reason: correcting the brush number as requested by poster

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    At this point in time... gssixgun's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Alraz View Post
    . Avoid Ebay for your first purchases..., at least.

    Al raz.

    Welcome to SRP glad to have you aboard !!!!!

    Al that might be the single most important thing to tell new guys in just one sentance... Very simply and succinctly put...
    It takes a bit of experience to buy off E-Bay and not get stung....

  9. #6
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    Thanks to all your post and helpful advise. I was checking out Vintage Blades and saw some nice razors on there, new and vintage. They have some pretty resonable prices for their razor sets, like this one VintageBladesLLC::...

    Can anyone please tell me whats the difference between buy a prehoned razor as oppose to one that is not? I am guess that if I buy one thats not honed I will not get a sharp one? Please can someone enlighten me, show me the way of the STRAIGHT RAZOR!

    Thanks.

  10. #7
    Black belt shaver spanx's Avatar
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    One that is not pre honed will not provide the same quality shave as a honed one. Don't get me wrong it will be very sharp just not refined enuf for a real smooth shave. If you already now how to properly hone a razor you can forgo the honing service but if not, get the honing option. oh yeah welcome to the club.

  11. #8
    Junior Member echomercury's Avatar
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    +1 on the inexpensive straight razor from the forums here. My experience is limited, but I got a well-cared for, Shave-ready razor off here for $45 shipped. I figured that would do until I had more experience and knew what I wanted.

    From my reading, and limiited personal experience is that when you get a "Shave-ready" razor from these forums, it's truly SHAVE READY. I got a junker off eBay for $9 to practice honing on. I am not going to 'practice' on my current shaving blade. Good luck.

  12. #9
    Senior Member kahunamoose's Avatar
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    Even the good new blade makers (TI, Dovo) are notorious for claiming shave ready out of the box when in fact they are usually not. A new blade will probably be sharp like you have never experienced, perhaps in a knife. Yes, it’s sharp but it is not going to do the job when you shave. Your next new experience is a degree of sharpness that is truly sharp enough to safely shave your face. Remember, that piece of steel is going to be sliding over your face and neck. If you have to apply any pressure as you do this, you are apt to dig that puppy right into your skin. If the blade is so sharp that it will slice off a whisker but still glide over the skin with no pressure, that is what you are trying to achieve. This is where getting a honed blade comes in. Someone taking the time to do the detail work on your blade to make this happen. Someone with the skill and fine sharpening stones/hones to know how to get that scary sharp edge. Someone who knows when this condition is actually present on the blade! Lots of guys here do it themselves and no reason you can’t also – eventually - if you want to get into it. But for now get a blade that is honed by someone that knows what a blade needs to feel like in order to make you a happy shaver. Of course, as you use the blade it will become less sharp eventually, and then you will need to have it honed again, probably a few months down the road. By then you will either be doing your own or you will know you don’t want to bother with all the paraphernalia and effort involved. That’s OK to, you just send your blade to a honemeister, there is nothing wrong with that.

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    Senior Member mikemeatman's Avatar
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    Hi, Welcome to SRP. Vintage Blades offers allot of complete set's with everything you'll need to get started for around 170 & up. If you go for it get the pre honed option during check out-!! I spent around 200 & got everything I needed to get started. Good Luck

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