New to SR, need opinion on Razor

Hello Experts,

I'm so happy that I found this forum. I've seen tons of tutorials and videos on how to use / shave with a SR, but I'm always skeptic on which one to buy. After reading some of the Threads posted here, I found what it could be a great candidate as my first razor and of course, I wanted to get the opinion of the experts on this item. Here is the description of the product:

Thiers Issard 5/8" Singing Straight Razor with White Scales

5/8" round-point.
TI Carbonsong C135 Steel.
Full hollow ground singing blade.
Pre-Sharpened by Thiers Issard.
Leather carrying case included.

Here is the link of the product if you guys want to read more about it and see the picture:

Thiers Issard 5/8" Singing Straight Razor with White Scales | Fendrihan Shaving Store

Any opinion / feedback on this item will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time...:)

Pablo Camacho.

Hey, Yea.

Your choice is a fine razor, but unless you buy from a shop that delivers the razor shave ready - not as received from the factory, you're gonna have a bump (and bloody) road. No manufacturer except Hart Steel delivers a blade shave ready.

I remember WELL the excitement I had. 'Spent a wad on a Dovo at a brick & mortar fiasco that wouldn't know shave ready if it parted their hair.

There's nothing wrong w/ that blade, but it won't be shave ready. That's HUGE. If your heart is set on that razor, find a shop that hones them to shave readiness before shipping.

As an alternative, this will be a journey w/ a bit of learning curve, and it won't be bloodless. You'll need other accessories (strop, bush, soap/cream, and ah styptic/alum). I did what you're proposing (about 14wks ago). I wish I hadn't. Sometimes there's just no stopping the enthusiasm.

If I could do it again, I'd have bought a shave ready blade from one of the forum members, knowing that I would definitely buy several more & couldn't afford to buy all blades new and of that quality. You'll want to experiment w/ different sizes and grinds. Hollows are great. They're not the most user friendly for all beginners. For about a month, I wouldn't use one, 'cause my skills weren't up to the flex when it hit the tall, heavy stubble. I used a monster hollow (15/16) this morn. I learned more, wanted to try more. I doubt you'd regret having the TI blade, but you'll want to try others also. I found the heavier grinds (1/4 hollow) to be the most user friendly to start with. Now it doesn't matter, but I still find myself most fond of the heavier grinds. BTW, my first blade was a full hollow stainless Dovo. For the next 7 wks, I couldn't stand shaving with it.

Whatever you get, make SURE it's shave ready. Read the tutorials, watch the vids. Ask all the questions that come up. You'll find the quality of the help and the quality of the attitudes here to be among the best you'll find in any web forum.

Best of luck, and welcome aboard. It won't be an unbroken string of successes, but you're gonna have the best shaves of your life.

Welcome to SRP

Looks like you get a god start
You should ask the shop if they got an option to hone that razor before shipping
or else you will probably have to send it somwhere else before you can use it

(This is assuming pre sharpened by Thiers Isard means factory edge)

TI's are great razors, but you may want check out the razors from Straight Razor Designs for a straight razor. I don't know if they sell TI's, but they have a great selection. As an added bonus of purchasing a razor from them, the razor comes to you honed and has a certificate for an additional honing.

TI is an excellent first choice, Dovo as well. Fendrihan is a fine shop, and in Canada, so that works out for you. As previously suggested, I highly recommend having the razor professionally honed before you use it. Although they are sold as "shave ready" most aren't and need some work. Welcome to the forum....

+1 on getting it honed.

Check out the classifieds for honing services of your choice. Since you live in Canada, you can send your razors to montreal. A man by the name of floppyshoes (Dan Gauthier) has a listing in the classifieds for us Canucks who need some honing done.

Have fun!

Thank you all for your prompt response..I really appreciate it.

When I started shaving, I always did it the quick way, using a match3 and your can of edge gel. After talking to a friend of mine, he recommended the use of a brush with cream/soap, so I went ahead and bought a nice Brush from crabtree and evelyn (freaking things are expensive) and a nice cream (Nomad) and I could see the difference right away. Skin felt softer and shaving was smoother. Then I thought about taking the next step with a SR, but I didn't have the guts to do it...until now.

I will make sure to buy my razor professionally honed. You guys mentioned that there are memebers that sell honed razors. Can you please provide a contact, maybe e-mail, website etc. Do they ship to Canada?

Thanks.

First of all, welcome to the forum, I love seeing more Albertan's getting on here and into straight shaving in general. I'm a newbie as well, but I grow to love this more and more, and the more I read, the more I am interested. It's going to be rough at first, but stick with it and I guarantee it will get easier/more enjoyable. Be patient, never rush and remember: always mind the razor's angle as it needs to change often, maintain a light touch, stretch your skin, keep your lather nice and rich and don't layer it. Those things have all helped me immensely and should be a good start if nothing else.

Spend time on the forums, if doing nothing else, just reading and learning more. However, a word of caution: lots of what you read on here is overkill. There is a lot of fine examining the form, function and design of this entire world of SR shaving. Sometimes that leads down roads that us newbies dont really need to travel down yet, but as long you keep that in mind, the more you read the more you learn!

I got my gear from Fendrihan and was totally impressed with the speed of service and shipping as well as the quality of packaging. The razor I got was a little less than shave ready by my tastes, but with all the quality reviews they get, I'm sure it's an isolated thing in my case.

You may also want to check out Rasage Poulin Fine Shaving and Grooming Products: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
it's ran by forum member scottlp Straight Razor Place Forums - View Profile: scottlp
and he has a nice selection of TI's, that WILL come shave ready. He is also located in Calgary, so that's a nice close ship for you (heck, you could pick it up that day I'm sure!). He also does honing, so when it dulls up, you get get it back to him and have him hone it up for you.

Check out the classifieds section and you should find something you like and it'll probably be honed and shave ready for you.

+1 on the previous advice. That's a very nice razor, but make certain that you get it expertly honed before putting the blade to your face.

Hello, yeanpac:

As many have expressed, that Thiers-Issard is a good choice, and, yes, please have it professionally honed. You're on your way.

Regards,
Obie

Quote:

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Originally Posted by aeon

You may also want to check out Rasage Poulin Fine Shaving and Grooming Products: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
it's ran by forum member scottlp Straight Razor Place Forums - View Profile: scottlp
and he has a nice selection of TI's, that WILL come shave ready. He is also located in Calgary, so that's a nice close ship for you (heck, you could pick it up that day I'm sure!). He also does honing, so when it dulls up, you get get it back to him and have him hone it up for you.

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+1. You, sir, are very fortunate to live in a city with a local wetshaving shop, and one with a great selection too. Not many of us have the priviledge of viewing or sampling products before we purchase them. Give Scott a call, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Oh, and welcome to SRP from a fellow Albertan. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

+1. You, sir, are very fortunate to live in a city with a local wetshaving shop, and one with a great selection too. Not many of us have the priviledge of viewing or sampling products before we purchase them. Give Scott a call, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Oh, and welcome to SRP from a fellow Albertan. :)

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Hey Ryan, Thanks!. I talked to Scott this afternoon and I'll be getting a Thiers Issard Singing 5/8", Le Canadien, Black Plastic Scales‏ once it gets here (out of stock right now). I'll be picking it up in the NW area of the city..:) (you're right, its great to have a local shop...)

and once again..Thank you all for the help...

Fendrihan has a "shave-ready" option -- they send the blade to someone in Montreal, I think, for hand-honing.

I'd pay the extra $20 for that service. It's not a cheap razor -- if you don't have the skills to hone it yourself, have them do it.

I don't have anything quite as light as a "singing blade"; it should be a delight to use.

Charles

yeanpc,

I have two (2) TI C135 razors, and I have found them to be excellent shavers.

You have made a good choice :)

+1 on the previous comments about getting the razor professionally honed.

The edge on the C135 TIs takes a bit of dialling in, but when they are there, the shave is superb !

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ