Need help getting set up

I'm new to straight shaving and would appreciate any opinions on what I shoudl buy to get set up. I'm the type of person who would rather spend the money up front and get something I'm going to have and use years down the road. Here is a list I have come up with based on my research.

Dovo Solingen Trilogy Themed series 5/8 ($157)
3" Heirloom™ Red Latigo strope
Straight Razor Designs Silver Tip Shaving Brush #1
Colleen's Shaving soap

Is there another razor I should be looking at for that price range of around $150? Also I can't find a website that carries that razor pre-honed. I live in California and don't know of anywhere I could get it honed. The other razor I was looking at was the DOVO Extra Hollow Ground "Singing" Razor, 5/8, for 200 pre-honed. Whats the difference?

I think you're spot on for the strop, brush, and soap. Can't go wrong there.

As for the razor, I think there is a lot available for $150. That Dovo is very nice. I might look at SRD to see what other options are available. Are you strictly looking for a new razor? You can also find some nice restored razors that will perform just as well, if not better, than current production.

Good luck and let us know what you end up getting!

You can get great antique restores in the classifieds here for half that. The expensive ones are always there and, for my money, better purchased after you know what style razor you prefer.

X

Thanks. I looked through the classifieds and still the one that keeps grabbing my attention is the dovo. I really like the Dovo Redwood "Prima Klang", 5/8" from SRD. I'm not 100% sure of what you mean by style of the razor, I think I want the carbon steel blade as it seems they are easier to sharpen and from what I have read I want the round point, as a beginner maybe it will save my face.

The Prima Klang is a singing razor (ultra hollow ground). Generally speaking, newbies should start with a razor that is somewhere in the middle, not a wedge (very thick) not a singing razor (very think). Later on, you may decide that a particular razor type (i.e. wedge) gives you the best shaves. The point may also be an important consideration with round points being the most forgiving razors. Carbon or stainless should make little to none difference in the quality of the shave.

Al raz.

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Originally Posted by j8sn

Is there another razor I should be looking at for that price range of around $150? Also I can't find a website that carries that razor pre-honed. I live in California and don't know of anywhere I could get it honed. The other razor I was looking at was the DOVO Extra Hollow Ground "Singing" Razor, 5/8, for 200 pre-honed. Whats the difference?

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Check out Classic Shaving.com, they carry lots of prehoned razors around that price range, including that Prima Klang for way less money (last I checked). And if I'm not mistaken they are in California too.
BTW - welcome to SRP, j8sn!

Ross Cutlery is in LA and they can hone your razor.
Or you can send it to one of the members who offer honing service - check the classifieds.
I am not going to recommend you a razor as there is little point of me doing so. I think there are better razors than this one, especially in your price range, but they will likely not be new and may not have the look of the one you like so much. Plus a lot of this is a personal preference, may be you'll really like the one you've picked up.

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Originally Posted by gugi

Ross Cutlery is in LA and they can hone your razor.
Or you can send it to one of the members who offer honing service - check the classifieds.

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Can't really go wrong with a Dovo. Chances are very high that it's not going to be your last razor. I bought a Dovo for my first, hardly every look at it now, with lots of other favorites. That's how you learn what works for you. Gotta jump in and try or you never know.

OT:
Wow Gugi, not only is that a building I never went to in my 21 years in LA, that's a good find for a cool razor related shop. For sure going there next time I'm in LA. If for nothing else than to say I was in the building they used for some of the shots in Blade Runner.

After using an inherited razor lovingly restored by Lynn, then getting a low-end razor, shave-ready from Classic Shaving, I finally got a Dovo Prima Klang (again from Classic Shaving) and haven't even looked at the other two! I don't know what it is about that fully hollow ground shape, but I'm BBS every day and loving it.

That aside, I do indeed agree with the previous posters... start off with something a bit more basic if you can, and develop technique before really taking the plunge. Heck, I'm still discovering which way the grain goes (sometimes I think it changes just to make me wince).

Could you guys recomend me some specific razors? I really like the looks of the Dovo Solingen Trilogy Themed series 5/8 and the prima klang but they are both full hollows and as you said eariler I might want something inbetween that and a wedge. I don't really know what I need, just what looks good to me so any specific razors that you could recomend to me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again.

I talked to Don from SRD and this is what I decided to go with

Dovo Prima Clang 5/8
3" Red Latigo strope
Stephens wookworking brush #1
Tabac shaving soap

Thanks to don and everyone else for helping me get started!