New young man

Hi,

I am Matthijs, from the Netherlands and since a few weeks I wanted a straight razor to shave. I have almost no beard growing yet since I am 17, so I dont even know if it makes sense. But I think it's so cool to straight razor shave myself!

I bought a cheap razorblade on ebay today for €7,50:
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u25/QAFS/02.jpg
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u25/QAFS/01.jpg

Probably I cant use it instantly? I dont have a leather strap so I dont really now how to sharpen it, only option is to machine sharpen it, but I read that was very bad.

I already have a brush, and I will buy shaving soap from the Dutch brand called 'De Vergulde Hand'. That's a good soap I read.


I dont have huge amounts of money to buy lots op expensive stuff, so if my cheap ebay razors dont work i'm not even sure if I will buy an expensive straight razor.

Does anybody have tips for me?
And is this something good to use, a straight razor style razorblade, but you can use normal DE's in them if I understand it correctly:
Rasiermesser Edelstahl schwarz Wechselklinge ausklappba bei eBay.de: Rasur (endet 19.05.10 09:24:56 MESZ)



thanks in advance!

Matthijs

Hello, Matthijs:

Welcome to Straight Razor Place.

From what I can determine in the photo, that razor looks good. It probably will need to be professionally honed, I don't know. You obviously will need a strop.

Before you do anything, however, please read the wealth of information provided for you in the Wiki. It will tell you many things beginners need to know before they start using a straight razor. Beyond that, if you have questions, please post them.

Regards,
Obie

Thanks for the quick reply.
I recon it's a Chinese razor or something like that, since there is nothing to find on the internet about this brand.

Does a cheap leather strop the job?
Like this one:
Abziehleder (Abziehriemen) für Rasiermesser SPEZIELL bei eBay.de: Rasur (endet 13.05.10 18:21:32 MESZ)

Goeden avond, Matthijs,

That razor would the first of its kind to shave well. The strop looks quite horrible, to be frank. This one looks a lot better: Bestseller Spannriemen Rindleder mit Leinenseite - MESSER RÖDTER © Solinger Fachgeschäft mit Schleiferei gegr. 1909 - Kochmesser Messer Scheren Rasiermesser Shop. I can recommend the shop, having visited it and shopped there, too.

De Messenwinkel / Oud huis De Koordenwinkel is nearer to you, and I have heard nothing but good things about them. If in doubt, get a shavette. If you just want to give straight shaving a try, I have a razor I can borrow you. Badly beaten up - but functional - scales, and the blade is shave ready.

So, welcome to SRP, and enjoy your stay.

Regards,
Robin

Welcome to SRP Matthijs.
I am rather skeptical about your razor. It looks to me it's one of those decorative ones that are no good for shaving. It's obviously trying to mislead as being similar to the Dovo Renaissance, which is an actual razor and from what i hear very good one.

Unfortunately there isn't a shortcut to this. A good razor costs money so does a good strop. And poor quality ones are not going to do the job.
To save money you can skimp on the condition, but not on the quality. A good quality razor with some pitting and staining can shave just as good and often better than a brand new one even if it doesn't look so attractive.

So, I think you most likely just wasted 7.50 euro for something that will not shave, or if it does will do so barely, however there is no way to know without somebody who is good at it attempt to sharpen it.

Though I hold Obie's opinion in the highest regard, sorry to say, I have to disagree with him:
Brand new, under 10e blade with no maker's stamp and etch very similar to Dovo renaissance and one-pin-scales. Odds are that this is just another addition to the brands to avoid list of unfit razors.

Unsure about that strop too.

Take a look at the beginner's guides
Straight Razor Place Wiki:Books/Beginners Guide - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Shopping list for beginners - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Buying a beginner's set on a budget - Straight Razor Place Wiki

That shavette/feather/DE-type razor does accept halves of DE-blades and they offer excellent shaves on budget too (though I haven't had that exact model. I use one by sanguine. Mind you, the DE version. "Normal" versions are on the brands to avoid list), though they are a different beast than straights.

It is very advisable for newbies to start with a known quality gear, not just the cheapest ones off ebay. If the money's tight, I would recommend that DE-type of razor, affordable brush and good soap/cream from that golden hand. Get a quality razor and strop later when you can afford them. They're not all that expensive, so keep an eye out in the classifieds, vendors' and members' websites. That DE is probably safe, but it is advisable for newbies to hold off buying on the ebay until they have the expertise to independently evaluate what they're buying into.

Good luck.

Hello, Ursus:

On a closer look at that razor, I must agree with your opinon. You are so right, my friend. The razor really looks suspicious. Many thanks for your thoughts.

Regards,
Obie

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ursus

That shavette/feather/DE-type razor does accept halves of DE-blades and they offer excellent shaves on budget too (though I haven't had that exact model. I use one by sanguine. Mind you, the DE version. "Normal" versions are on the brands to avoid list), though they are a different beast than straights.

---

So you're saying it can be used. Gillette Super Silver blades are available at my local drug store, for only €5 for 5 DE blades. That's kinda cheap. And since I have hardly any beard grow, they last quite longer than normally.

So I can buy that razor where DE blades can be placed in, and in that way I can practice how to shave with open razor blades?

For only €5 for the whole thing including 3 DE blades, it can't be beaten, right?

EDIT:
This thing is an advantage for me right? I don't need to buy a strop since the razorblades are replacable, and I can still get the open razor experience, or am I wrong?

Most probably that could be used very efficiently, though 5e per 5 blades isn't exactly cheapest you can get DE-wise, but certainly hands cartridges their backsides in a hat price- and performancewise. I get the same price here for gillette swedes, but there cheaper places to get them, check your favourite vendors bricknmortar, online and connaught shaving in the uk (online). I got my DE-straight from sanguinescissors.co.uk (xd-20), but there are many firms that have them. Dovo, Fromm, moniseur charles, etc. Including that ebay store you posted.

As I said, a DE straight is quite a different beast than a real straight razor. It is not exactly the same shave. You can get excellent shave out of them, IME, but they can be more sharp and less forgiving than a real straight.

I think Robin (BeBerlin) offered to loan you a real straight. That is definitely a great offer and a display how great this forum is. With a strop and a soap/cream, you can get the real straight experience. But those DE's ain't bad either. I sure love mine, though it isn't going to win any beauty competitions =)

No, you don't need a strop with those DE-thingamabobs. Just change the blades when they get dull

dag matthijs,

you can also try this store i think it's in breukelen.
it's a very friendly man with quick response on the questions you ask him through his site.
If you're looking for a real straight you can look for the klassieke en gebruikte open scheermessen.
he has also strops and everything you'll need
If you have questions just ask them

grts
Stijn

Welcome!

You've been given some excellent advice here, so good luck with it and keep us posted! Make sure you have a good read of the links in Ursus's, BeBerlin and my sig line. They are full of great advice.

Good luck!