Thread: just ordered my first straight razor!

since i cant get to a real barber shop to get a good shave i decided to just order the stuff and learn how to do it myself.....hope i dont slice myself to ribbons the first time trying this, but i did give it alot of thought and consideration.. vintage blades llc had the best prices and actually ship to an APO adress and on top of that i hope made a good choice on razors its a dovo 5/8th "tortoise" about the only thing i have left to get is a hone but i dont see myself needing it anytime super soon i guess when that time comes ill worry about it then cheers

hi,
read the wiki here and it will get you going in the right direction. did you get a strop? i have the 3" latigo from vintagebladesllc. you will need the strop right away. you may also watch ebay for some of the old razor hones to use. i have a couple i got for around $20. later on you can get a norton 4000/8000 and that will get you close to everything you may need...good luck and remember to take it slow and do not rush or get discouraged, it will all come in time and you will enjoy this type of shaving more than you ever thought..

they had a sale on vintage llc either way it was the cheapest i found dovo razor, 2" black latigo strop, pure badger brush, matching drip stand for 199 i didnt think that was to bad a price....i was looking around for a good used 5/8 round point vintage razor
that way when it was time to hone it i wouldnt feel ba if i screwd it up a little since it was already old and didnt cost me an arm and leg...i really like the bone handles and damascus blades but they are way out of my budget i guess i get the expensive taste in cutlery and firearms from my old man

Welcome to the place of smooth faces. I would just suggest to take your time and do not give. At first it will be really hard and you might even want to quit but you just have to stick to it and give it time. It will all be worth it.

i figure this will be good as time as any to learn to do it myself....i still have another 10 months in the land of suck also called korea.....as of reading a little more it says it has a full hollow grind dont know if thats good or bad....sounds like its gonna make things that much easier to slice my face.. also says it comes pro honed should it be good to go when i get it or should i strop it first?
OH and should i try and find an old strop to start with im not sure what the chances of me destroying a brand new one are so if its not a good idea to learn on a new one im willing to pay a little for a good used one to learn with

if you have an old strop i would advise using it, i even put some nicks in my 3"latigo, i thought i was ready but was not. i would try the razor straight out of the box if indeed it is shave ready you should have no problem. what i do is i strop on the linen about 10 laps and then leather about 25 before each shave and after about the same, now everyone here has their own style. the best i can tell you is i get a clean comfortable shave everytime using my routine.
you say that you are in korea, are you in the service and if so what branch...good luck

yea im in the AF im at Kunsan AB for another 10 months then going to germany

I'd recommend Lynn Abrams dvd and start slowly and carefully. My first was a dovo also and I only did my sideburns and cheeks for the first few weeks just to get used to a new way of shaving. You're on the right track! Bon Courage.

Rich

“You ought never to call you aged grandpa a “rum old file” – except when you want to be unusually funny” – Mark Twain

your thinking the same way i am i was planing on sideburns and cheeks until i was good with it maybe think about ny neck. what would be amazing if a burned copy of this said DVD was to show up in the mail!.......
on another note i scored a 1940's merkur saftey razor thats is brand new in the box i have no idea where it came from it was an ebay find...thats what my old man is getting for christmas

Welcome!!

Suggest you check out the videos on shaving, and stropping if you get a chance. This has helped me a great deal as I am a newb also. I bought the Dove tortoise from Straight Razor Design and have loved it since it arrived about 3 weeks ago. Any questions that you have the guys on this forum will answer with wonderful advise and information.

Good luck and have fun!