Thread: Ready to purchase a SR set from SRD. Need some advice

I just looked at SRD and when you buy the strop with the razor you're paying about $30 for it. I think the extra $10 over the fili is well worth the fabric component as well as a real hardware.

The tip of the DE blade is sharp, but then you have the protruding part of the holder, so I suppose it may indeed be more like a round point than a square point.
If you're thinking that you can experiment with another razor later on, it'll make sense to not overly worry about what exactly would you get now.
If you don't use a brush and cream/soap (or good brushless cream) currently, I think you should definitely start. Proper beard preparation is as important as anything else.

Hopefully I don't get in trouble for saying what I think the best deal out there is...

Right now, the strop + Boker razor set at SRD is the best deal IMHO. I get a great Boker razor, and for another 9.40, I get a 2" black latigo. Plus? get this, lifetime honing? That was too good too pass up for me Besides the items you need for prep (brush, soap/cream, AS, etc) this is a great way for an existing wet shaver to step right into great straight shaving

The Dovo Special Imitation Tortoise is a great razor. i purchased the 5/8 from SRD and love it. As for the strop if you are careful you should be ok and if you do nick it you can always get replacement parts from SRD.

Good Luck.

Lu

Could you practice using the strop with the old razor (no blade in it) until you feel somewhat comfy with it? Gain some muscle memory?

: edited for stupid typing errors.

my options are

Matched webbing
Herring bone weave
100% Hard Pressed wool felt

Which should I go with?

Webbing for everyday use (or pastes, but that would have to be a separate strop). Felt for abrasive pastes or, in particular, sprays. So you should go with the webbing (or the cotton).

I have the Dovo Best Quality 6/8 (from SRD) and I think it's a great razor. I don't sport facial hair, but I haven't had any difficulty with the round point getting some of the tricky spots, like under my nose. Of course, you could use that shavette to touch up the edges of a goatee if the round point doesn't get 'em.

Sorry Gugi, but I have to disagree with you: I think shavettes aren't round points, they're more like "Double spike point." The razor that's actually cutting whiskers has two corners. Just my opinion, though.

Try to go slow on the stropping at first to prevent nicking the leather. Or as suggested by hitman, use your old razor to practice, WITHOUT a razor in it. Worst case, I think you can fix really small nicks in a strop with a dry pumice stone. I know it works for my Filly, but it might be different on smooth leathers.

Whatever you decide to do, I'd make sure to get in your order while that lifetime honing offer is still good!

There's gonna be a ton of opinions on whether to go 5/8 or 6/8 on the razor (I have one of each, and frankly can't tell the difference), as well as the strop width (I have 2" and 3" strops).

What I can say is you'll likely nick your first strop, so I'd recommend going with the cheaper one to start, and upgrade after the thing is hanging by a thread...

I also have a goatee, but I don't use a spike (just because I like the shape of the round razor). I trim the hairline by doing the following:

On my XTG passes, I start at the ear, and shave towards the goatee, letting the goatee stop the razor (there is enough resistance to do that).

After my ATG passes, I then go back and lather around the goatee, and I lay the spine of the razor on my goatee, and the edge on the line, and shave away (blade is toe-north, heel-south, shaving towards the ear). I can get a precise trim that way. I *don't* try to get a clean line by moving the razor N-S... Then I shave under my chin the same way (but this time the toe is E and heel is W.

Have fun!
-Chief

Originally Posted by BHChieftain

What I can say is you'll likely nick your first strop, so I'd recommend going with the cheaper one to start, and upgrade after the thing is hanging by a thread...

Well, the colourful J*el has already blown my cover as a Dovo sales rep, next thing I know, I'll be an SRD promoter.

So here goes: The cost of the SRD strop in the package deal is sufficiently low to warrant a recommendation over any other starting strop. Add to that that replacements for nicked parts (leather, webbing. linen, you name it) can be had equally cheaply, I do not see the need for going to a - comparatively expensive - "beginner only" strop. Needless to say that I personally find a 3" strop much easier to use than a 2" (incidentally, my personal preference being 2.5"...).

When you break down the prices like Robin and Gugi did (should have looked at that myself ), it appears to be a tremendous value, and a "no brainer" IMHO. Congrats on taking the first step!