First SR suggestions

I kinda found this site by accident when I watched a honing video of Lynn on you tube. No I wasn't looking for straight razor stuff but I found it big time. Anyway, I have shaved with a DE I don't know about 17 yrs now and was never happy with a disposable. I have always wanted to use a straight razor but until finding this site and stores online I didn't know where to begin. In looking at the online stores there is a huge amount of different razors to choose from makers, size, style, price and such. From what I have read so far which has been only a couple days a good general size is either 5/8, or 6/8. Makes are Dovo, TI, Boker, and a bunch of others with Dovo and TI being what I have seem the most on websites. So, my questions as a newbie are as follows. 1. What size would be good to start with 5/8 or 6/8 as far as balance and ease of learning to use handle properly? 2. Of the SR makers what model in either size would have the best balance, metal, and quality? 3. If you were to have only one new SR that cost less than $200 in a 5-8 or 6/8 what would it be?

The sizes you suggest are a great starting size. Either will do the job really. Round point will make things easier too.

Balance shouldn't be an issue. From 3/8 up to 9/8, a well made razor will balance. Weight is another matter, but they should all balance.

Dovo & Revisor both make razors that are a great price for those starting out. Vintage from the classifieds is another route worth considering.

Whatever you get, there's a not insignificant chance you'll damage it during your "training" (:D), so please don't spend a fortune, or buy anything too beautiful, & ensure it's shave ready.

Also, don't forget the strop. Either get a quality cheap starter strop, or one with replaceable components, as you WILL do some damage to it whilst you learn to strop. When I say some, I probably mean a lot! Good luck & nice to have you here.

P.S. $200 is way more than you should be spending on a razor at this stage.

I saw the review on here of the revisor 5-0003 5/8. The other stuff like strop I figured I'd start with an inexpensive but good one. I wouldn't spend $200 on a SR until I know I like shaving with one and I know what the heck I'm doing. I know there are razors that cost ALOT more than that and some guys will pay that, I more than likely won't no matter what so that was kinda my limit to what I'd spend after I'm at it for awhile. thanks for the reply

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Originally Posted by thumper15

I know there are razors that cost ALOT more than that and some guys will pay that

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There are plenty that do & a thriving market.

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Originally Posted by thumper15

I more than likely won't no matter what

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Hahaha, you wait!

It's not just whether you like shaving with one. There are so many sizes, steels & grinds. They all give a different feel & experience. Everyone has different tastes, so what works for one chap may not be quite your cup of tea. Don't be intimidated by that though. It's great fun finding out what works best for you!

Your right I might not be able to resist having more than a few, BUT, I can always try lol. I completely understand the collecting part for some. When I was a kid my dad was always trading, buying, selling things with an old guy that was an antique nut so I got to see and hold alot of old SR's, they always kinda fasinated me but old stuff did anyway. I believe you get what you pay for so I try to buy the best quality I can over the cheapest stuff out there.

Don't forget the classifieds... You can pick an real nice shave ready razor at a reasonable price. No need to spend a lot of money to get a quality razor. I already have a nice collection of nice straight razors.

Richard

Yeah I looked at the classifieds and that's true. I don't know alot of brands and which ones are worth buying. Therefore, I don't want to be stuck with a junk razor just cause it was a good price and didn't know the brand. So I need to know more about brands before I bought a name I didn't know anything about.

I am new, and don't know so much about razors as the gurus here, but the Gold Dollar from eBay has been getting fair reviews here.

A Gold dollar, filly strap from ruprazor, and dimestore soap and brush should run less than 45 bucks.

As said in the review forum the "shave ready" ones should be purchased, or else sent out for honing.:gl:

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Originally Posted by jeffegg2

I am new, and don't know so much about razors as the gurus here, but the Gold Dollar from eBay has been getting fair reviews here.

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Make sure you read enough to get the complete picture on the GD's. I think that the quality may vary. As far as I recall, many of them need a fair amount of work before they are up to snuff.
By the time you've either done that, or paid for it, you may be wondering why you didn't just buy an alternative.

Consider buying a vintage razor either from the classifieds here, ebay or an antique shop. I have six of these, all quality razors and none cost me more than US$35. There are a number of good brands, what I have are:

1 Boker
2 Dubl Duck
1 Geneva (aka Genco)
1 Case
1 Keen Kutter (A hardware store brand).

If you buy from ebay or an antique store, you will need to either send it out for honing or hone it yourself (I did it myself). If you buy from ebay, you run the risk of getting a razor that is so damaged it cannot be salvaged (I did get one like this).

The total cost of all six of my great razors, including the cost of the seventh unusable one, is still under the $200 you set.

This link should take you to the Wiki, it is a list of brands to avoid.
Brands of Straight Razors to avoid - Straight Razor Place Wiki
If you buy a razor from the classifieds the odds are are you're going to be getting a good razor, I don't think I have ever seen a brand to avoid in the classifieds. Then again I'm new to all this too.
Adam

Boker and Dubl Duck are two I know have a reputation of good razors. Boker is apparently still making or just started making them again. Antique ones I'm guessing should be good since the quality of steel and craftsmanship were of more importance back then than it is nowadays. So if I found one in good shape and a good price I'd probably buy it.

There's nothing wrong with chasing a particular maker or razor, but at this stage, try not to get hung up on a name. Any vintage blade in decent shape is capable of shaving well. They didn't make them for show in those days. If they didn't shave the company couldn't exist.

Honestly since I'm new and don't know much about what they offer it's kinda hard to be stuck on a name I know nothing about. It'll just depend on what I find and what I learn to make an educated choice.

Have a look also here

Good Straight Razor Brands - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Near any vintage Solingen brand is quality. But tons of great English and American brands out there as well. I agree with Ben - try not to get too hung up on brand names this early in the game.

I know the quality in german steel especially solingen, mainly from hunting knives and cutlery so SR steel will be just as good. As a matter of fact my father had a hunting knife made with german steel and it was indestructible and kept on hell of an edge. So, I was thinking it would be a solingen made blade. I could use more info on the different models of dovo and boker that seem to be good SR's to start with.

OK I have one possible model that might work for me the Dovo Classic 5/8. Seems to have good features like jimps, third pin, hollow ground, not a bad price, a no frills kinda deal.

Thumper15,

For a well-priced razor, the 5/8 Dovo Best (either full or half-hollow) is hard to beat :)

It was the first straight I bought when I got back into straight shaving, and it is still in my rotation. Very easy to look after - it responds very well to pasted strops - and is a very competent razor in its own right.

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

The DOVO Classic 5/8 would make a great first razor, for sure. They are well made, take a good edge and are a reputable make.

I'd avoid GD's though. They are not well made and require some pretty major work to get them into a shave ready condition. They also dont shave that great and theres no real zip or zing to the shave. The scales are very cheap and plasticky and the grind on the blade is pretty poor.

You also have to grind off the hanging heel when you get them as well, and its never a good sign when the first tool in the honing progression is a Dremel! Definately avoid them.

You'll also need a strop, brush and soap so check the vendors corner here as well doe suppliers of those items.

Good luck and keep us posted!

GD's? I saw on the reviews here quite a few were liking the dovo specials as well for a beginners razor so that's another possible.