I kinda deserved my cuts...

So... Some months ago I started using a Safety Razor. I was tired of going to a barbershop and usually did it only twice a month or even less, letting me with a big foot appearance :)

So I got interested in straight razors and found a "shavette", they go for another name here in Brazil (it would be something like "razorette") but works the same, with half a safety razor blade inside. I used that one with great success for 2 months now.

So I did the stupidiest thing I ever did. I bought a Zeepk razor set on ebay. :gaah:

(that is a pause for you to stop calling me an idiot).

Of course I didn't search here before doing that. I bought 2 razors, a strop, soap, brush and hone. They arrived last week and yesterday I tried to shave with it.

You can imagine the pain, of course. The razors are dull as... something very dull, and no matter how much I try to hone it, it doesn't get even close to sharp. The soap stinks and produces an horrible lather... It was ugly. I ended running back to my trustful "shavette" and old shaving cream. At least the brush is better than mine... But ****ed off and frustrated I ended nicking and cutting myself a lot and with irritated skin.

Now I am at a crossroads. I don't know if I keep using my old way, or if I try again to acquire quality products. Living in Brazil means I can't find good hones (Norton doesn't sell stones with 4000/8000 grit here, and finding something finer is very hard), and that I can end importing at great costs from US/Europe. Even the razors I find here are vintage, with real messed up appearances and that I can't check if they have a good edge, because if they don't, there will be nowhere to send it to sharpen unless I send it to US.

Those are some examples:
http://img.mercadolivre.com.br/jm/im...6_3012.jpg&v=O
http://img.mercadolivre.com.br/jm/im...8_2263.jpg&v=O
http://img.mercadolivre.com.br/jm/img?s=MLB&f=86299021_5107.jpg&v=O
http://img.mercadolivre.com.br/jm/im...6_1542.jpg&v=O
http://img.mercadolivre.com.br/jm/im...9_1485.jpg&v=O
http://img.mercadolivre.com.br/jm/im...48_377.jpg&v=O

Any help for a poor, idiot, n00b? :shrug:

EDIT: My wife got that one for me, hope its a good one:

http://img.mercadolivre.com.br/jm/im...4_9398.jpg&v=O
http://img.mercadolivre.com.br/jm/im...4_7205.jpg&v=O
http://img.mercadolivre.com.br/jm/im...4_5098.jpg&v=O
http://img.mercadolivre.com.br/jm/im...4_3441.jpg&v=O

Dovo's are good razors :)

Properly honed up, you should get a great shave from that one! Your wife did good ;)

The Dovo should be a good shaver, I can't access the other links from my work computer, so I can't comment on those at this time.

Those razors in the pics look good. If they are vintage soligen then they should be fine. The first one is on a henckels box, but I dont think its a henckels, at least from what I can see of the makers mark it doesnt look like a henckels mark I've seen.

Looking over your post, I realized you're asking if any of those would be ready to shave with when you got them. Thats really unlikely. As far as I know, you'll have to import stuff. But maybe there is a Brazilian here to help you out with some tricks. You might be able to get good hones and such off the classifieds here, 1st class shipping usually isnt that expensive, as long as you don't need insurance or anything.

that dovo will make you a great shaver when honed correctly. hopefully there are some members over there that may help you.

So... What are the chances of myself getting a fine honing stone and getting it to a good condition? Guy who sold says that the edge is 'good enough for soft beards' so it's not completely dull.

And what are the chances that the zeepk strop I have (canvas & leather) are at least descent enough, or at least better than newspaper or my jeans pants :P

I suppose that my idea is not that good, huh... :thinking:

If you're after a cheaper option for honing, it may be better to bite the bullet and send it to someone in the US, like SRD, for honing. That way you will know for sure the edge is good and not damage the razor inadvertantly when honing it yourself. Its easy to do..!

I dont know about the strop. Assuming the leather is of reasonable quality and in good shape it should be all right for the time being.

Theres nothing wrong with stropping on newspaper and denim though! I've done it before and it gives a good shave.

Good luck!

anythink zeepk on it send to trash back.you need to know how sharp and smooth shave ready should be.that is why please send 1 razor honed .you can check this edge sharp rest of your blades .it will help you.gl

Oh well then, I am on the market for:

- Honing Stone(s)
- Pre-sharpened razor (cheap, if possible)

If any of the sellers here have it (and ship internationally) let me know.

If you check the classifieds, I'm sure the individual sellers could advise you about how much shipping would cost. :)

I also went with a Zeepk first time around. I went with a Dovo Best Quality and it's incomparably better. Hopefully the Dovo you have now treats you well. I'm in the US so it's a bit different, but I plan to send my blade out for honing the first couple of times anyways.

Hopefully you haven't thrown out the Zeepk razors. Someone suggested I practice stropping with them and since I've done that my stropping's improved a lot. I'll probably practice honing with them too.

I'm not sure where the appropriate place to post it would be, but you should make a thread somewhere looking for a honmeister in your area.

I looked at the classified for people offering to hone from Brazil. It wasn't readily apparent if any of them are in your country. I didn't look at all of them, but I doubt any are down there. They might be willing to shop internationally though. How much does it cost to send a package back and forth? If you didn't insure it, would it cost a lot? Straights are pretty lightweight.

I would just look here:
Member Services - Straight Razor Place Classifieds
Send them PMs asking about shipping to Brazil.

I am here to make a publicly thank the member LarryAndro for all the support he gave me those last weeks.
I bought a razor from him, sure, but he went all the extra miles to teach me how to correctly paste a strop, even sending me some Chromium Oxide I could not find here in my country.
Now I am the proud owner of 2 good razors, my Dovo being saved by the pasted balsa strop I made with his help/CrO.

So, thank you again Larry.