Thread: brand new, need advise on what to buy!

ok well I just purchased my first straight razor today over the phone from a crags list offer. I've never even seen a straight razor in my life but I had a sudden urge to get one. I was going to try and snipe a dovo off ebay for under 60 bucks but it dosen't seem that this will do. well I should have in the mail coming a razor exactly like the one in this post.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/buy-s...o-14173-a.html

it's suppose to be brand new, never used just in storage forever.

First question, does anyone have any info on this razor? like what year it was made? if it's a good one to start with, etc?

My most important questions are, if some of the more experienced shaves could give me their favorite and least favorite item (or advise to stay away from) for each.

1.strop
2.brush
3.soap
4.cream
5.strop pastes??
6. what to clean razor with afterwards

I'm looking to try and get the best I can for the least amount of money, so please please please, give me some names/numbers/brands to try, and those to stay away from.

thank you very much! and great forum you got going here

Welcome to SRP.

No information on this particular razor, and it does not appear to be in the SRDB, either.

Regarding your set of questions, I encourage you to take a look at these two articles in our Wiki:

1. Beginner's guide to straight razor shaving - Straight Razor Place Wiki
2. Frequently Asked Questions - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Affordable quality strops can be had from our members kenrup and Tony Miller. Reviews of other pieces of shaving kit you may wish to acquire can be found in the Reviews - Straight Razor Place Forums and http://straightrazorpalace.com/archive/.

Cleaning a razor is as simple as rinsing it under hot water, and towelling it dry, maybe blowing some air through the pivot area prior to that. As long as it is dry, and also stored in a dry place, there is no real need to apply mineral oil, unless you intend to store if for an extended period of time.

awesome! Thanks for the very quick response to my post Sorry for you guys but I'm going to be asking all KINDS of questions on here! and I'm hopping to make a lot of new friends from it. I intend on taking this new razor I purchased by the horns and ride it till I'm an expert 2. but till then I need to do some training
and thanks for the opportunity to just jump in your great forum, I'm loving it

Welcome, Zwaldo! I'm new here myself, so I'm not going to be giving you too much advice, but one thing I will say straight away is do not attempt to shave with that razor till it has been properly honed. There are people here who can hone it for you as there is no way you will have the expertise to do it yourself yet.

Welcome aboard to SRP! Please don't hesitate to ask questions. Read through the various threads and the Wiki. There is a veritable wealth of information and knowledge here.

As to what particular items to get, most of it will come down to personal choice. The decision between soap and cream, strops, brushes must be made by you. I can give you my personal likes and dislikes, but others may have just the opposite.

What do I recommend, though, is to look through the classifieds and through the Vendors Corner forum. You can't go wrong on quality with any of those sources. The vendors are members here, as well as the items in the classifieds. Our members have reputations to protect so you won't be getting junk.

Looks like you have a good razor. Now send it out to one of our honemeisters to have the correct edge put on it. I highly recommend not trying to do that at the start. Otherwise you will be trying to figure out what the source of a problem is, technique or edge.

You will need the following:

1. Shave ready razor (already addressed)
2. Strop (hanging is best, paddle will work)
3. Shave soap/cream
4. Brush (from $10 to obscene prices)

Be sure to check the classifieds section here on SRP and then look under the heading "member services" to get that blade honed.

All excellent advice but no one has yet looked at the mater of brand names or providers. Here are some of the names out there, and to forum members please correct me if I am not correct.

Dovo - Has the lower cost market
Theirs and Issard - Middle ground maker.
Zowanda - Higher end market

If you are new I typically recommend starting with a Dovo, no sense in spending over 1K for something you will never use. Try out a $100 one first then move up if straight shaving suits you.

I typically recommend Classic Shaving becasue they work with the master of sharpening straight razors (honing) Lynn Abrams. Everything they sell has been to see him. Buy it else where and you can be guaranteed that it has not been honed and it is not shave ready.

do not attempt to shave with that razor till it has been properly honed. There are people here who can hone it for you as there is no way you will have the expertise to do it yourself yet.

IMHO this is good advice,and I would add a little more.If you get your razor honed by a pro,don't try to strop it right away as you could ruin the edge before ever shaving with it.You will have to learn to strop correctly,and if you are reading the wiki articles,you know to ALWAYS roll the razor on it's spine when stropping.

Hi,
Aside from the wiki here, this guide was very helpful for me:

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkjEV3E...azor-Shave.pdf

Welcome aboard,

-Chief

Strop - you can get a good strop for around $35. Illinois Strops are an example.

Brush - Badger brushes are more comfortable than boar bristle brushes, you can get one at a reasonable price from tweezerman.

Shaving soap or cream - There are a number of good brands out there and there is no reason to pay more than $15.

Strop pastes - not really needed

Cleaning the razor - rinse with water and dry, works for me.

If you want to get into honing your razor, a Norton 4000/8000 combination waterstone is all you really need and it is realatively inexpensive. Unlike many here, I am a proponent of honing your own; it's not that difficult to learn.