Thread: Intrigued by the Straight

I have been using a DE razor for awhile and have recently become interested in trying a straight. What should I look for in a beginner razor? For instance is full hollow favored over half hallow? I will most likely buy a new DOVO but am open to other possibilities. Any information is appreciated.

welcome to srp

the usual recommendation is 5/8 to 6/8 hollow ground. most people find extra hollow trickier to use when starting, but the regular dovo grind is on the stiff side of hollows.

and of course there are the vintage blades, but if you want a new dovo there's plenty of them readily available.
make sure to pick up a good quality strop too (meaning not the cheapo zeepk, selective, etc.)

As above. You'll also be guided towards a round point, so that you are less likely to remove an earlobe. As long as you're careful any point is fine in my view though. There are fewer Dovo's that aren't rounds.

Thank you for the information. The main reason I plan on getting a new Dovo is that I am a Merkur retailer. So...when I place my next order for Merkurs I thought I'd pick up a Dovo straight and strop as well. They list the concavity as 1/1 or 1/2 which I understand is full hollow and half hollow. What is extra hallow?

It's just terminology, really. Extra hollow, finest hollow, all sorts of pretty useless ways of describing a grind - especially as the definition changed as grinds became hollower and hollower.

I think, if you're used to a DE, the extra heft of a half hollow might feel more comfortable, but I have no experience of swtiching between the two my self.

extra hollow are the prima klang razors.
if you take a look at the wiki of this site there is the henckel's scale of hollowing - they had 14 different levels.

you will have to send your razor to one of the guys who offer honing services as they don't come very sharp from the factory.

Welcome
please read WIKI Before you start to use straight . there is should be videos available too.
gl

Dovo Special Tortoise
3" canvass/leather strop
4 sided pasted strop
Best Pure Badger Brush
Col Conk Soaps

All are still going strong for me, although I added two more straights to the rotation.

Pabster

Originally Posted by gugi

extra hollow are the prima klang razors.
if you take a look at the wiki of this site there is the henckel's scale of hollowing - they had 14 different levels.

you will have to send your razor to one of the guys who offer honing services as they don't come very sharp from the factory.

That is what I understand...they say they are shave ready but they really aren't. Thank you for the added information.

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

Welcome
please read WIKI Before you start to use straight . there is should be videos available too.
gl

Absolutely. I will probably read the forums and watch videos for a couple of weeks before I attempt to straight shave.