Thread: Advice on what gear to buy, for a first timer

Originally Posted by newstraight

Looking to buy my first straight... is this a good razor to start with dovo solingen straight edge cut throat razor as i don't have much money to spend. If i treat it well ho long should this one razor last??

Thanks

If you don't do anything drastic to the blade it should last several lifetimes. I think you will probably have to send it for honing as well, in which case you may be better off buying it from theinvisibleedge (i think he also sells dovos). You'll get much better deal in the classifieds unless you really need to have brand new razor (note that once it's honed it's not really brand new anymore).

good luck

I have coached many through the steps needed for successful and satisfying str8 shaving. I can't emphasize the importance enough of skill building. You don't have to go out and buy a $200 razor, a $200 stone, and the best strop money can buy. Learn to use your Norton. Lapping it flat is pretty important. When you get as good an edge on a razor as you can from the Norton, try some kind of finishing stone. Practice your shaving also! Many problems are blamed on the razor or the stone when really it's shaving technique. Remember to enjoy this and have fun.

Hi Dustin, welcome to the board.

The advice you've gotten so far is certainly sound.

If you can't fix your strop, I would go to The Well Shaved Gentleman The Heirloom Razor Strop Company : Home and get a strop from Tony. Tony is a member here and is a fine gentleman to deal with as well as a great craftsman.

Something that doesn't get as much mention as it used to (I have no idea why) is a pasted strop for touch ups and to keep you going while you learn to hone. You can get pasted paddle strops or bench hones from Tony, or, if you're handy, make one yourself. I found the pasted paddle really useful for touching up my razors while I fumbled my way through learning to use a hone. That's just me, YMMV. Anyway, be patient and you'll get there.

Jordan

Thinking of buying a straight off Home - are they any gd. Has anyone brought a razor off them. Was also wandering if anyone had are their razors really shave ready as they say they are??

Thanks

If you want a Dovo, I would go for this one: Rasiermesser DOVO 5/8" The Different Scent: (site is in German). Nice size and grind, and easy to use. The shop I am linking to is round the corner from my home, and the guys who run it are simply great.

Originally Posted by newstraight

Thinking of buying a straight off Home - are they any gd. Has anyone brought a razor off them. Was also wandering if anyone had are their razors really shave ready as they say they are??

Thanks

They should be, he is the member blueprinciple here.

If you're looking for a new razor, and provided that you can't fix that strop, my advice would be to go to vintagebladesllc.com. They have some excellent kits put together with a strop, brush, mug, soap, and razor for great prices. That's where I went.

The razor I got as part of the kit was a Dovo with a black plastic handle, inexpensive and a pretty good shaver. Dovo blades are great. You can't go wrong with a Dovo.

But whether you choose a new blade or an old one, make sure you get it honed first, because if you don't you won't be able to shave with it. Vintagebladesllc.com offers a honing service, as do most of the vendors. It's well worth the extra few bucks.

Oh, and welcome to the world of straight razor shaving!