Thread: Torn on First Kit to Buy

I went with the Dovo SRD set a few weeks ago, tweaked it a bit and have no regrets at all.

You would be happy with the SRD set if you go that route.

I voted SRD full set because I believe that a hanging strop is easier to use in general especially starting out and good stropping really is essential to a great shave. otherwise they're both very good options.

I have a Dovo Special and it is a good shave everytime.I have the 5/8. Depending on who you ask the 5/8 or 6/8 are good middle ground starting widths. Wether you get a paddle or belt strop,most will tell you...you will nick it at least once,most everyone does. So take that into consideration. I would just start with a standard strop and get the learning curve over with.Just remember to keep the strop taught and not slack.Strop slowly and don't rush,speed comes with practice.Just concentrate on your technique for now.And most important of all,before you buy research the Wiki.There was a post just recently about a 1905 shaving Manual(located in the Parlour section of the forums area).A very nice little primer to get you going. If you buy a pure badger which is the lower end of badger brushes,you will still get a nice feeling brush with a more economical price.As far as a mug...you could just start out with a small puck size bowl of any kind and it would work just fine and be more economical. SRD will gaurantee you a shave ready blade and you will get a coupon for a free second honing. Just my two cents....Welcome to SRP.

Originally Posted by ElChe

You summed it up perfectly! That's EXACTLY why I'm torn. That and I also hear that the modular paddle strop may be easier for me to learn on since it's 3" and flat. After I cut it up while learning, I can just replace a pad.

I have both. I cannot say one is easier than the other. I personally like the "live" feel of a hanging strop over the paddle strop. You can replace the leather on either of them when you cut it up. SRD has replacement leather for their hanging strops as well as the paddle strop.

So here is my 2 cents. The paddle strop gives you more versatility for sure. There are a lot of pads available and you can try out many of them for not much cost. But the feel on a paddle strop is very different than a hanging strop. If that is what you learn on that won't be any problem for you. It also makes a good travel strop. If that is what you get, I would not put the diamond spray on the felt yet. That is a tricky proposition for a beginner and I personally put 5 razors out of commission the first time I tried it. Diamond spray can be very aggressive and you can wreck an edge pretty easily if you don't have much experience. Plain felt and Premium I leather are a really good combination.

Having just bestowed all of the virtues of a paddle strop, I still prefer a hanging strop. But that is just me. There are a lot of guys here that love the SRD paddle strop.

The rest is up to you.

BTW - if you hadn't noticed yet, there are a heck of a lot of opinions here and they are mostly based on personal preference. It takes skill in your hands to implement this. That takes time to develop. That goes for stropping, shaving, honing, mixing good lather, etc. All we can tell you is what works for us. If all you have is a hanging strop, that is perfect - you will do well. If all you have is a paddle strop, that is perfect - you will do well. If you have the DOVO Special - perfect. If you have the Dovo Best - perfect.

See the pattern here?

Some equipment may be easier to learn on, but that does not mean you won't learn. Relax a little about buying "perfect". Get some stuff, make sure your razor is shave ready and get going. You will make mistakes - we all have, but that is the way to learn. Trust me, you have already made the most important decision you can, which is to hang out here at SRP.

First, I just want to thank everyone again. Your advice, suggestions, and opinions were very helpful to me.

I also just want to circle back and give an update on what kit I went with. I was ready to go with Option #1, but took one more look at pricing Option #2. I got Option #2 to within $15 of #1 and just decided to go with #2, instead.

My kit looks like:

• 6/8 Dovo Special (SRD)
• Modular Paddle Strop (SRD)
• 22mm Silvertip knot and handle (thegoldennib)
• Backyard Gazebo Soap (Mama Bear) - found a 10% off B&B coupon
• Camellia Oil (SRD) - impulse buy for blade protection during those times that I'm traveling or "sticking it to the man" and not shaving for a while

So far Mama Bear and TheGoldenNib shipped today, which I great because I ordered all of my kit late last night. Now I'm just waiting for SRD to ship!

Looks like you're off to a good start! Good luck learning with your new toys!

Yer not gonna regret that Dovo Special.There are so many nice blades out there ,but if I had to have one and one only,that would be it. It's like and old dependable friend that never lets you down. As Stubear told me when I first joined in regards to straight shaving,...The shaves only get better and better. As for the rest of the kit,good job as well. Welcome to SRP and good shave to u m8te