An Odyssey

Hello, all!
I'm just getting started acquiring everything I'll need for SR shaving...I've been reading for months, and think I have a pretty good idea what I need, but I also have some questions. I'm starting this thread as place for my continued questions and experiences as my products arrive.

What I've ordered:
A Vulfix 28mm Super Badger Brush
One cake of citrus spice soap from Classicshaving.com

I'm looking at DOVO razors, since they're high-quality and more in the beginner price range. They have a roughly $100blade with (I think) plastic or ebonite scales and a high-carbon 6/8ths blade. There is also a (very nice looking!) "Classic" with a "silver steel" blade and ebony scales for about $120.
My question is, which of these should I go for? If 'silver steel' is in the high-carbon ease to sharpen as opposed to stainless, I'll go with the really pretty, ebony scaled-razor. (I'm planning to send it to a 'honemeister' for the first few hones, then start learning to hone after I can shave and tell what a good edge feels like.)

I'm planning to buy:
A razor
A strop
A soft cotton towel

What else might I need, and what recommendations do you have for these? I'm a college student, and it'll be about two months until my spending budget can handle the purchase, so we have time to discuss. :)

-Benjamin

Welcome to SRP Benjamin ! Those Dovos are fine shavers. Whatever you get make sure it is pre-honed to shave ready. If you haven't already done so check out the SRP Wiki here for many good tutorials to start you out in the right direction. :gl:

Welcome Benjamin,

I have a Dovo Special and a Classic. I love them both and recommend them. However, since you're a student on a tight budget, check out the Classified (above) for some really nice deals on vintage blades.

Check out Tony Miller strops at The Well Shaved Gentleman, Heirloom Razor Strop Company, Straight Razor Shaving Supplier He offers a starter strop that you can add to later. I don't have a TM (yet), but I've never heard anything but great reviews here.

CS has some Steaming Towels for under $3 Men's Grooming Essentials and I've used them for hot towels. They're a little thin, but they work fine. My wife says that hand towels go on sale for under $3 sometimes, so watch for sales. :gl:

Hi,
If you buy a new Dovo, bear in mind it'll need to be made shave ready. The stainless Dovo's aren't too bad to hone. Stainless just benefits from a slightly different approach i find. I've got good results from a BBW straight to a polishing stone, instead of the usual progression that i use with carbon blades.
If you're staying at college, keep the razor away from your friends. They'll damage it! Oh, & don't tell the college. It'll frighten them.

Hey Benjamin,

Seems your on your way to a fine start!

The Dovos sure look fine but you could also have a look at the Classifieds for a shave ready vintage..

Good luck and have fun!

Maarten

Welcome to SRP

With most reputable vendors such as straightrazordesigns, classicshaving, vintageblades, etc. your razor would come honed (if it's an option make sure to check it off).
Don't worry about honing, I haven't yet found a Dovo that was hard to hone. Keep in mind that touchups on a well honed razor when it starts pulling after a while are immensely easier than honing a razor initially.
If you don't need to be the very fist owner of a razor you can probably find a very nice razor in the Classifieds for less money.
Personally, I actually quite like the Dovo ebony scales, if that is important to you. Of course, not as much as I like ivory, but definitely a lot better than the plastics :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BKratchmer

What I've ordered:
A Vulfix 28mm Super Badger Brush
One cake of citrus spice soap from Classicshaving.com

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A hearty welcome to SRP. Please feel free to ask away, and to read the WIKI.

A few recommendations. First, I think the CS soaps are mediocre at best. We are fortunate to have two wonderful sources of shaving soaps here at SRP. Both make really great soaps at very reasonable prices. And both have large, and fiercely loyal followings. They are:

Shaving, Bath and Body, Skincare, Home Fragrance, Brushes, Creams, Soaps
Mama Bears Soaps , Mama Bears Shaving Soaps and Bath Products for the Discerning Gentleman and Lady

You have chosen a nice razor. As already mentioned ensure that it is truly shave ready. Many vendors will tell you the razor comes shave ready from the factory. It ain't so, no how! If you buy from a merchant you will likely have to have it honed. Many offer that service for an additional fee. You might want to also check with Kenrup, a member of this site., He offers very nice razors a good prices. The classified are another source of razors too. Our members sell razors there for extremely great prices. They are not junk razors being dumped. Our members have reputations to protect. The ad will indicate if the razor if shave ready. The ads are also a source to find people to hone razors, for a fee.

Welcome to the right way to shave... :gl:

Okay, so my notes thus far:
1. Buy a Miller strop.
2. hide my esoteric hobbies from my alma mater and peers. ;)
3. Don't sweat the difference between carbon steel and stainless

Is that right? And could someone who has one or really knows strops guide me through the options from Miller? I have no idea what the advantages or desirous attributes of all the materials or styles he makes!

Thanks!

4. Find a better soap. :) (I'll happily try them ALL....I have a feeling the worst of them beats the Gillete-production junk I've been using!)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BKratchmer

O And could someone who has one or really knows strops guide me through the options from Miller? I have no idea what the advantages or desirous attributes of all the materials or styles he makes!

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IIRC two leathers are available latigo (cow) and horsehide. The later has much smaller draw, but that's a matter of preference. Then there's a canvas vs linen on most strops, and this part is also I think matter of preference. Using x-pattern to strop is generally better, so the width is not very important either, at least not to me. The rest should be obvious - different hardware to match your preference.

Okay, next question:

How do you dry your razor? As I understand it, you always want to minimize contact with the edge, as it is malleable and fragile. So it seems to me like any sort of toweling or wiping is out of the question. Hot air would oxidize it...really pure alcohol? It's flummoxing me, and I couldn't find anything in the Wiki.

(BTW, As far as Meyers-Briggs tests go, I'm as INTJ as they come...so I always, ALWAYS have a plan, and backups, and backups...so that it always (haha) goes well....prepare to see this manifest in SR shaving! Lot of queries!)

Wiping, keeping the edge away from the towel. Then do 10 rounds on the strop.

I saw excitedly in my SPO today after class a box from Classic Shaving; I nearly soiled myself with joy. *cough*

So I ran back to my dorm, boiled up a towel and some scaldingly hot water, and softened my beard, lathered up with my new, GIGANTIC Vulfix silvertip brush...and shaved with my Gillette Fusion. :(

But it was amazing. My skin feels so much softer and moister, without the 'slimy' feeling the canned foams leave behind. It just feels...smooth. And the feeling of building lather on the face with a brush is unreal! I'm never, EVER rubbing viscous foam from a can on my face again!


I can't WAIT to get my hands on a straight razor....1.5 weeks until payday...

After learning how to make a really nice lather I too will never go back to anything in a can. I just started out about 3 weeks ago and I'm sure once I get my technique and more experience I'll never go back to a electric razor or a store bought blade again. I always bought the top of the line Nerelco so the price of one of those is equivalent to the price of a really good straight. I bought a Thiers-Issard Sheffield Silver Steel Fully Hollowed "Singing" 5/8 Round Point and am very happy with it. Stay within your budget. I went a little overboard and probably didn't need to as a beginner.

Next question:
How do you clean your brush? Is there any hard, fast rule? I've been gentle 'milking' out the lather under hot running water, then gently turning the brush and shaking it lightly under slow, hot water. When no more lather comes out, I vigorously shake it until no more water flicks out, then put it in a stand hanging knot-up.
I ask because I'm a little paranoid about hurting my $90 baby, and for the first week it lost no hairs, but today it lost one while building the lather on my face. Am I doing something that damages the knot?

Thanks!

It doesn't sound like you're doing anything that could harm it. I'm a bit more vigorous getting the lather out of mine, but it sounds like you just have more patience & take the time to be a little more gentle. Keep an eye on the shedding, but it's probably just settling in.

Youre doing fine, its not unusual to lose a few hairs when the brush is new.

Glad to hear it! I LOVE this brush and soap- even thought I know they aren't the very best, they're so much better than anything I'd used before! Even with my Fusion razor I can get a super-close, comfortable shave...I get a lot of razor bumps on my neck, especially where I hold my viola, but...I've found the only thing more uncomfortable on the neck than razor burn is anything less than smooth skin!


I can't WAIT to get a strop and a straight!

This is a constant debate, but I prefer to store my brushes brush down. Now before anyone gets defensive I'll just say that for years I only used cheap boar brushes and stored them knot up by just standing them up on the handle. None of these lasted more than a couple years before losing most of their bristles. Then I rigged up a stand to hang the brush knot down and that brush lasted 6 years. I believe the difference was the change in brush storage orientation.
After switching to badger brushes, I don't believe badger brushes care which way they are stored. Their capillary action is such that the brushes dry out much more rapidly than boar brushes and that likely prevents degradation of the knot.

Brush Care- Rinse it in warm water, shake it vigorously exactly fifteen times and sit it down on its handle to dry. Stop Brush anxiety.

Razor- One Dovo Special Imitation Tortoise Shell 6/8 prehoned from Strait Razor designs. $114 you'll get the razor delivered swiftly, works fine, is ready out of box, brand new, nice looking, .Can't ask for more.

Strop- Tony Miller 3" Latiqo Heirloom WITH practice strop- use the practice strop UNTIL you can strop without nicking or cutting your strop to pieces.I'm not there yet. Strop works, is beautiful and regarded as the best.

Now sir your problems are solved:). One newbie to another good luck , so far to me its too much fun .

You're off to a great start. One thing not yet mentioned is that the first few weeks of straight shaving is pretty aggressive to your skin even though it usually feels great. Give your skin time to adjust to the extra removal of the top layer by shaving every other day at the most when you start out.

X

Had my first straight shave today. Had to use my Fusion to finish parts of the job, and it was....well, not the best shave. I think the razor is a little duller than would be ideal, and my technique is definitely questionable...

But fewer weepers than my normal shave, and a heck of a lot of fun! (If a little harsh around the edges...)

I'm awfully happy!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BKratchmer

I think the razor is a little duller than would be ideal, and my technique is definitely questionable...

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I am on about shave 10 and I am finding that my razor which seemed dull, is magically getting sharper. In other words, it was never dull but with proper technique, the sharpness is seen.

I am improving:

- Stropping
- Lathering
- Technique (skin stretching and blade angle/position)

I think this is genuinely dull. The fellow who sold it to me said it "Shaved him well enough, but I'm no honemeister". It's definitely been honed at a shallower angle at the toe, gets fairly sharp toward the toe-middle end, and is blunt at the heel, where there is also a ding in the edge that was incompletely honed out.

I think I'm going to A.) Buy a razor from the classifieds here
B.) Send this to a honemeister to get it fixed up.

Good ideas. Then you will know and you'll know that you know, and we'll all know that you know too. :D

X

Well, I've mailed off this original razor to Utopian, who generously agreed to fix up the edge for me. I've been shaving with it, though, and it's certainly possible to get a good shave from it...provided you are very patient. It's hard to cut yourself, though.
That's what determines it needs honing to me- unless I do something painfully, blatantly stupid (happens once or twice each shave) it doesn't cut me...and based on my tension, technique, etc. I should look like I've been in a knife fight.

I also picked up this Torrey from a local antique store; it's so dull you can't cut a thing with it, and it was pretty badly stained, but no rust and only one small pit- virtually no hone wear! I'm planning on sending it to Lynn....

I've also got a strop from Tony, some MWF, TGQ soaps, alum, aftershaves....all on the list to buy. And more razors. Many more. So pretty! PRECIOUS!

I'm also experimenting with making my own bay rum; I plan to experiment until I get a really great blend, then buying some glucose-based fixatives to make it a long-lasting scent. Anyone who is interested (provided the product is good) I would be happy to share samples and recipes with.

The odyssey continues! I'M HOOKED!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BKratchmer

Had my first straight shave today. Had to use my Fusion to finish parts of the job, and it was....well, not the best shave. I think the razor is a little duller than would be ideal, and my technique is definitely questionable...

But fewer weepers than my normal shave, and a heck of a lot of fun! (If a little harsh around the edges...)

I'm awfully happy!

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Today marks 1 year of exclusive straight-razor shaving. :beer1: First round is on me, chaps!

Not bad, Benjamin, not bad at all ;)

Congrats! Heres to many more! :beer2:

It was cool to see that first post again, but with the Moderator badge next to it..! I did a double take when I first saw that Lol!

Congratulations Benjamin!

I bet your shaves are way better today! :beer1:

Congratulations on the anniversary Benjamin. :beer1:

Wow, has it been a year already!