Thread: Restored Shave Ready or Brand New?

I would recommend whippeddog. I really like the razor I got there. I would also go ahead and get the strop and a barbers hone from him.

Mjhammer is right on. You are asking for advice on a first razor on a budget. As a noob myself, I decided to remove all the variables and give myself a good standard to compare all others to. I also have a burning desire to become a restorer. my needs are a little different. It sounds like you are looking for a good, quality, smooth shaver to fall in love with straights as we all have. If I were in your shoes, I would purchase a Dovo Special with faux tortoise shell scales with a full hollow grind blade honed at SRD. This is an outstanding razor and eliminates any variables pertaining to steel, honer's skill, restorers skill, hone wear, metal pits,...........on and on. Then you can truly analize what you do and don't like about this very consistent razor and decide from YOUR experience which way to go for Your perfect razor. I hope this helps, good scraping.

Originally Posted by donjcschilde

It sounds like you are looking for a good, quality, smooth shaver to fall in love with straights as we all have. If I were in your shoes, I would purchase a Dovo Special with faux tortoise shell scales with a full hollow grind blade honed at SRD. This is an outstanding razor and eliminates any variables pertaining to steel, honer's skill, restorers skill, hone wear, metal pits,...........on and on. Then you can truly analize what you do and don't like about this very consistent razor and decide from YOUR experience which way to go for Your perfect razor. I hope this helps, good scraping.

Ya know, don... You said exactly what I stumbled upon. It's important to be able to remove the variables, but you can still get a great razor from say whippeddog.com that is professionally honed and gauranteed to be a solid viable razor. There are more than one styles available, as probably a starter should go for a rounded tip. Just gentler around the ears.

Now our guy here, who started the thread, has experience with a Dovo shavette, which we all know is another skill, akin to, but not identical to str8's. I think a good beginners razor, whether from SRD, Whippeddog or another reputable site, that probably doesn't cost more than 70$$, shave ready, or professionally honed, to again, eliminate the variables. The object is to gain the technique, so any problems encountered can only be blamed on the person shaving and not the equipment.

So in summation, any good beginners razor, proffesionally honed, easiest if a rounded to start, and probably any grind 1/4 hollow or greater.

BTW, it is so easy to get bitten by the restoration bug. I have more old razor's from ebay then I know what to do with. Once you start getting into straights, it's impossible to not want more, just to find that 'perfect' shave.

Good luck man, let us know what you end up getting, and from where..

Mike

Originally Posted by rearviewmirror

i recommend a few restored razors. you can try different grinds, different shapes (get rounded to start, your earlobes will thank you) and different sizes.
then when you find a style you like, spend the $ on something new.

After reading the suggestions here, I think I am going to try to get three restored razors: a wedge-1/4, a half hollow, and a full hollow. I will also look to get some of those in round point, barber's notch, and some type of point (for detailing around my soup catcher). Everybody has been great around here and helpful. I have read and re-read the wiki watched many videos and practice stropping my Shavette on my palm ( if I nick my hand it will heal and I learn a lesson on stropping at the same time!) I have been browsing the different classifieds and vendor sights for some time.
Thanks all and stay sharp!

edit: Oh, after I get my restored razors, I should hope to know which beauty from SRD to buy - choices, choices....

Originally Posted by coachschaller

After reading the suggestions here, I think I am going to try to get three restored razors: a wedge-1/4, a half hollow, and a full hollow. I will also look to get some of those in round point, barber's notch, and some type of point (for detailing around my soup catcher). Everybody has been great around here and helpful. I have read and re-read the wiki watched many videos and practice stropping my Shavette on my palm ( if I nick my hand it will heal and I learn a lesson on stropping at the same time!) I have been browsing the different classifieds and vendor sights for some time.
Thanks all and stay sharp!

edit: Oh, after I get my restored razors, I should hope to know which beauty from SRD to buy - choices, choices....

Finding a wedge and a half hollow that are shave ready and won't break the bank is NOT impossible, but it will take some time. Wedges show up--I scored big time at a local antique shop and got one with a smile and broken scales basically as a freebie, but it was a long way from shave ready. That was several months ago and I still haven't been able to shave with it as I'm still working on scales/hone acquisition.

The waiting is up to you, but I know how anxious I was to actually experience straight shaving, and I wouldn't have been able to wait until I could get three razors at once. You can only shave with one at a time anyway (though you can shave with many through the course of a full shave).

Originally Posted by BigJim

Finding a wedge and a half hollow that are shave ready and won't break the bank is NOT impossible, but it will take some time. Wedges show up--I scored big time at a local antique shop and got one with a smile and broken scales basically as a freebie, but it was a long way from shave ready. That was several months ago and I still haven't been able to shave with it as I'm still working on scales/hone acquisition.

The waiting is up to you, but I know how anxious I was to actually experience straight shaving, and I wouldn't have been able to wait until I could get three razors at once. You can only shave with one at a time anyway (though you can shave with many through the course of a full shave).

I have been doing quite a bit of searching lately. I have several options. You reminded me that I did want to try a blade with a smile It might help get the whiskers on my neck that like to grow sideways - in a spot that is hard to get even with my small shavette. Scything works a little better as well as several passes from different directions. Being somewhat of a perfectionist though, I want BBS all over every time. Oh, well
God Bless

Originally Posted by donjcschilde

Mjhammer is right on. You are asking for advice on a first razor on a budget. As a noob myself, I decided to remove all the variables and give myself a good standard to compare all others to. I also have a burning desire to become a restorer. my needs are a little different. It sounds like you are looking for a good, quality, smooth shaver to fall in love with straights as we all have. If I were in your shoes, I would purchase a Dovo Special with faux tortoise shell scales with a full hollow grind blade honed at SRD. This is an outstanding razor and eliminates any variables pertaining to steel, honer's skill, restorers skill, hone wear, metal pits,...........on and on. Then you can truly analize what you do and don't like about this very consistent razor and decide from YOUR experience which way to go for Your perfect razor. I hope this helps, good scraping.

I'll second this. I bought the Speacial and absolutely love it. Would recommend to anyone as a first razor.