Restored Shave Ready or Brand New?

Might I inquire a few opinions:
I have been using a Dovo Shavette for several weeks now and I would like to make the jump into a real straight. I have been browsing the sight for a while along with the classifieds and vendors' sites.
Should I go with a couple of restored razors from the classifieds here say near wedge, half hollow, and full hollow to see what I like. Or should I try to pick up a cheap shave ready and just go for the SRD razor and strop set? Of the new ones I would look at stainless maybe the Dovo Pearlex, Ebony, or Ivory Micarta. Of course I would need a strop (hence the SRD deal) and would need to start HAD. I am more likely to go all in within a short time as I have a hard time parting with money.
I shave daily, more if my beard would grow faster (I love that BBS feeling) and usually use 3-5 passes. I have a Parker Pure badger brush and Edwin Jagger buckthorn hard soap. I just can't decide in how to spend 150-200 USD on straight razors - 1 brand new (of which I may not like) or 3 restored razors and hope to get a new one for Christmas.
Thanks,
God Bless - Daren

I'd head to the classifieds and buy one razor, shave ready, and evaluate and go from there. You'll find a proper straight much more enjoyable than a Shavette. That's not a knock on the Shavette. I started that way, and it worked out fine.

I'd go the used, shave ready route myself. Now, I do own a brand new King Cutter (Boker) to supplement the collection. Actually it's my favorite razor. But I now have MANY used good blades that I actually prefer to shave with.

I'd check places like whippeddog.com and of course SRD, where I got my boker. There is a great strop at Star shaving (starshaving.com) for under $40.00, 3" wide and really nice.

LarryAndro (here on srp) always has a few older, shave ready razor for under 60.00 bucks usually.

I went the expensive route and spent around 300.00 now. I could have done just as well with less than 100 had I known.

Do what you feel right doing of course, but used, shave ready is how I would go!!

Good luck mate!!

My opinion is to get the Dovo Best Quality razor/strop set at SRD and get a vintage from here or Whipped Dog. As a plus, when you get the new razor from SRD you get a certificate for a free honing.

Any advice on which to buy first: wedge, half-hollow or full hollow. I have a moderate coarse beard that I shave everyday with a Shavette, but the blades do tend to get stuck in one or two heavy places. Blades were CVS and 7'Oclock yellows

Be still in your person and in your thoughts. Amid the clamor of possibilities one blade will call out to you. Embrace it and listen for the next. :D

I am relatively new to str8s and prefer a heavier blade. I have a new full hollow that I have trouble getting a comfortable shave from. Could be me could be the razor. When I shave with my wedge my face feels much better when I am done. I would look at a 1/4 hollow to see how it feels for you.

Don't know if you've taken the plunge yet, but I'll throw my two cents in.

New is great, and if you can afford it, buy from SRD for that trustworthy edge and free honing down the road.

I'm more of what you might call...budget conscious(?) and would suggest vintage from the classifieds or from whippeddog.com AKA Larry Andro. The thought here is that you can usually get a good setup for about $50 from Larry, $80 if you want a second razor or a barber's hone to maintain that shaving edge with. If I had it to do all over, I'd go that route.

So far as grind goes, I'd suggest full hollow. Some guys think a thicker grind has less flex and therefore gives a better shave against a heavy beard and requires less finesse for a new shaver. BUT, I'd say a hollow grind keeps the blade from suctioning to your skin as easily b/c there's more space between the face of the blade and the face of your face. :D Certainly worthwhile to try out a heavier grind down the road, but hollows are the most common, least expensive, and if you buy vintage you can usually sell it for what you have in it (so long as you don't break it) and move on to something else.

Me, I have to shave daily. I usually shave at night and with a 3pass WTG, XTG, XTG get near BBS with a hollow, but have a 5'er shadow by five the next evening. With a cartridge I could get 3 2 pass shaves in before it was worn out and started tugging, so that gives an idea of beard thickness and growth rate for you to compare to. On a well sharpened blade I've gotten about 25 shaves before dulling (full hollow Genco), that while learning to strop. We'll see how long she'll last now that I know I have a good stropping technique.

FWIW!

Hi,

I started with a full hollow, which I fully love, from SRD. I have 15 or 16 razors now, and my favorite is a small 1/4 hollow that is smooth as butter. It's older than dirt, but still has a ton of life left in her. Out of my whole collection, I have 2 full wedges, most are 1/2 hollows or greater and 2 full 'extra hollow' grounds. I find that the thinner the blade, the harsher it feels on my face. Now this could be because my technique still stinks, but it's working pretty good for me so far. I've gotten way past cutting myself now. It takes a bone head move, like taking a bad angle, to cut or nick myself these days.

Oh ya, don't get overconfident... Take it slow.

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.

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.

Quote:

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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.

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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

Quote:

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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.

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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....

Quote:

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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....

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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).

Quote:

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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).

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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

Quote:

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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.

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