Thread: 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.

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.

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

Originally Posted by BKratchmer

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

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...

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!)

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!

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.