Thread: 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.

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. 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.