Thread: My first straight razor...

Today I received my first straight razor as a gift... It's a DOVO carbon steel razor, with a black wooden handle. I was surprised and didn't expect it; I don't have a strop and a hone.

The razor is wrapped with oil and I don't want to use it before I am ready and have the proper equipement.

So here are my question:

Can I start by stropping the razor in a newspaper?
Where can I find cheap strops for starting; Maybe used?
What's that oil and where can I buy it from in case I'd like to store it for some time without corrosion?

Any advice will be appreciated.


Thank you gentlemen for your time, I can't wait to try it!

I know SRD uses camelia oil for the razors they sell, I do not know what other vendors use.
To protect the blade you can use mineral oil, baby oil, Ballistol, and of course camelia oil.
I would not recommend using hones on your new razor, except a barbers hone or a polishing stone. Some very popular polishing stones are 12k Naniwa Super Stone, 12k Chinese which is very slow but much cheaper.
I'd suggest that you get a cheap ebay special and try honing if you want to learn and in the mean time send the Dovo to a honemeister when needed.

++1 on Stefan's advice. Stay away from honing at this point. Focus on learning the other skills that are key to a good str8 razor shave--beard prep, stropping and blade angle.

Was your new razor expertly honed before purchase? Find out. If not, send it to one of the SRP members listed in the SRP Members Services for honing before shaving with it.

You can purchase an inexpensive "Filly" strop to get you started. Personally, I purchased a 3" Latigo strop from a vendor who advertises here at SRP. That made learning proper stropping technique a lot easier for me. Go slow at first, you don't need to go fast on your strop to maintain your blade's edge. Attach the strop about waist height to an immovable object (dresser, bathroom vanity) hold it taut and use light, even strokes. There is no need to bear down. Let the weight of the razor hold it on the strop. Your hand is only there to guide it along the strop.

Take care--and here's to your smooth shaving.

All you need to start is your razor, which sounds like a nice one, a strop, that Filly is a great starter strop, and some soap and a brush.

As has already been said, if the razor is not yet shave ready have it honed by one of the honemeisters here. Then, grab up all the info you can find here and go for it. I follow the advice to start on your sideburns and cheeks before moving to other areas of your face. Take your time and don't forget your preshave routine. Bring in other areas of your face as you gain confidence.

Practice stopping with a butter knife before using your razor, and if your razor is shave ready use it before stropping so you'll know what a new, shave ready razor feels like.

Welcome to the club.

Thank you all for your replies!

I don't know if the razor is shave ready. I tried the trick with the hair, but didn't cut it.

I think the razor is sold, after DOVO's production without any further sharpening.

Maybe if I strop the razor, get better results because it sits long time without use?