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Hello everyone...
I am 'very new' to the world of cut throat/straight razors.
As a newby, I will probably have at least a few questions I'm sure.
Here are my first couple of questions;
1) In your opinions, what are the best 'starter' straight razors for a newby like myself?
2) And afterwards, when I hopefully become more proficient with a straight razor, what would be the best brand of straight razor to serve me the rest of my days?
Please advise...
Thanks! :)
-Outlaw-
The 'best razor' for a starter is shave-ready as well as budget-ready. Examine how much you have to spend and then take a look at the offerings. The only razors to avoid are on the 'do not buy' list found in the wiki.
Since admitting that you're new, I recommend something from the classfieds, whipped dog, or one of the vendors here on the site. You're guaranteed to meet both of the aforementioned requisites for a good beginner razor. Avoid buying your first razor from either ebay or antique stores until you've discovered for yourself what a good shave is. The wiki also gives specific example of what to look for on either ebay or antique stores. while you're learning to shave, bone up or print out the material and begin studying what to look for in the wild.
Go with a "shave ready" razor from the classified's and stay away from Ebay. Other than that, it's whatever your budget will allow. If you have to have a new razor, I would recommend Straight Razor Designs. You can get your razor shave ready adn a free honing (that's worth $20 + shipping) if you buy from there. The best part is that it is honed by the Master Honemeister himself...Lynn Abrams.
Outlaw,
For new production razors, I would recommend starting with the Dovo Best, in 5/8 or 6/8. They are well priced, shave extremely well and are very easy to maintain.
Razor Acquisition Disorder precludes the concept of one (1) razor for the rest of your life !! :borg:
However, if I was forced to choose only one razor from my rotation, it would be the TI C135 5/8 full-hollow :)
Have fun !
Best regards
Russ
I can recommend Dovo and Geisen & Forthoff Timor. I use and enjoy both brands. Check for a quality used razor from the classifieds here though.
Mick
I bought a 6/8 Dovo Special (imitation tortoise) from Straight Razor Designs and really like it. It allowed me to get a quality, new razor at a modest price and the free honing (as mentioned by Shooter) will come in handy.
Hi there Outlaw,
First off, welcome to SRP!! A great group of folks here...can answer perty much any question you can come up with.
Dont do like I did, I bought some sure nuff some cheap sh*t, so dont waste your money......
I finally bought a vintage shave ready crown and sword, a really great shaver!!! Well worth the money, and still gotr it for half the price of a new one, and it has history to it....
the second one I got was another vintage shave ready, a James Barber Sheffield.....another really great shaver...
For now that is all I have in my rotation....but they are great shavers, and I got two that have some history (one dates to the early 1900's and the other back in the 1800's) and both cost less than allot of new one's.
Just my 2 cent's...most of all take it slow and have fun with it....and listen to the experts here, they are great!!!!!
Kent
Welcome, Outlaw (from a grizzled veteran of a few months!). I too started with a Dovo 5/8" from SRD, and it's a great starter razor. +1 on the classifieds! There are some killer deals there all the time!
By the way, I like your avatar: "The Dude abides." Great flick.:)
+1 on the Dovo 6/8 noted here. It was my second. My first was a Dovo Astrale 5/8, I think full hollow ground.Quote:
Originally Posted by ElChe
I was too ham-handed to handle the full-hollow very well, and was about to give it up when I tried the 6/8, which seems to me maybe to be half-hollow. Anyhow, the slightly larger size, weight, etc. made it easier for me to "let the razor do the work."
Now, 4 months in, I'm enjoying my full hollow 5/8s, but not without appreciating the others.
The Dovo 6/8 Special is a solid starter razor. I also like that SRD sells it hand-honed, with a certificate for a free re-honing included. Such a deal!
Welcome to SRP.
The Wiki has a good answer to that:Quote:
Originally Posted by Outlaw
Frequently Asked Questions - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Well, you could use the same razor. Or read the SOTD for inspiration...Quote:
Originally Posted by Outlaw
Or just buy a Livi. :)
Welcome to SRP. I agree with previous posters that the Dovo is a good place to start. The 5 top razors will vary with each of us based on personal preference.
I think a lot of newbies start off with a Dovo, of one sort or another (myself included) and then through experience or knowledge gained from other users try different brands and grinds.Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyHAD
Beware
dovo's don't come shave ready, so will need honing :)
The best razor in the world whether you are a rookie or seasoned veteran is the one you can master and maintain and gives you the kind of shave you want. Everything else concerning the razor is just window dressing.
Welcome aboard, Outlaw!
+1 on the Dovo as a good place to start--my second razor was a 6/8 Dovo Special from SRD (first was an old 5/8 Bengall from the classifieds here--both great). Check out SRD's specials--they often have a razor and strop deal that is significantly cheaper than buying them separately.
Another +1 for DOVO here, they're a great blend of price, performance and aesthetics.
My first razor was a DOVO Black Star and I quickly added a Bismarck after that. Both are amongst the top shavers in my rotation.
Take a look here for some sensible advice -- much like what you've gotten already:
http://www.theinvisibleedge.co.uk/ch...aightrazor.pdf
"Shave-ready" vintage razors can be bought for around $40 in the "Classifieds" on this site, Dovo "Best Quality" (bottom-of-the-line) for about $80 from SRD.
Either one should last many years, or until you get Razor Acquisition Disease (RAD). I have a mild case of that . . .
Charles
I have only been straight shaving for a few months, and started with a full-hollow Dovo Best Quality 5/8 from SRP (perfectly honed, btw - that thing could circumsize a gnat!). I have since acquired some vintage razors of different grinds from various makers and cleaned/honed them up myself with the techniques outlined in the Wiki section (a true fountain of wisdom).
I wish that I had known how much of a difference the grind makes when getting started, as I've since learned that a quarter hollow or a near wedge offers a very close, remarkably comfortable shave. As each face and beard is different, you may want to research the grinds a bit before making your purchase.
IMO, the brand of razor doesn't matter as much as the quality of the steel, but some of these other folks are much better qualified to attest to that than I am...
There's a lot of plain "personal preference" in deciding which razor is "best". You can "research" grinds all you want -- you may end up loving a wedge, and somebody else may choose an ultimately thin, no-shoulder "singing blade" as his favorite.Quote:
Originally Posted by CDogg
If preferences were universal, we wouldn't have the variety of blade shapes, thicknesses, and so on, that we do.
Maybe there's a need for a "razor rental service", that would let people try different designs _without_ buying them. A "steel NetFlix" ? <g>
Charles
PS -- the practical difficulties in setting up such a rental service are immense. It's still an interesting idea.
Very well said:beer2:Quote:
Originally Posted by cpcohen1945
I am a Dovo and Parker straight razor guy. I like those two brands by far and think they make top of the line straight razors especially for the price. I don't see the allure of buying an 800$ razor and don't see much of an upgrade really. So yeah.
I would stick with either Dovo or A.P. Donovan. My dads had his Dovo for wow... as long as I can remember, and I purchased my A.P. Donovan back in 2014. Those are both quality razors, and at a price that won't break the bank. lol.
I don't know what's funny, but yeah, Dovo makes a pretty good razor.Quote:
Originally Posted by osully88
Blatant self-promoters revive necropost for big bucks!
News at 11. How dumb. :gaah:
Welcome to the forum osully88. I'm really curious and have to ask, how many shaves have you done with your razor? How often do you need to do touch ups for it? Is it your only razor?