Thread: Good investment or bad idea?

Originally Posted by Cochese2323

Your're not kidding about the eye candy part of it. Even their low end "Evide Sonnant Extra" is better looking to me than the nicest Dovo. I wonder if there is a mental aspect to shaving similar to say, something like golf where if you think your equipment will work better it usually will.

That's why some guys with 20 handicaps buy a new set of irons every year. They don't work on their swing, so they figure new clubs will help them. It doesn't work and they're back at it the next year. There certainly is a mental aspect to shaving, in fact it may be the biggest part of it. If your mind isn't into it properly, you'll be out buying a styptic pencil fast.

Sometimes the shave is special just because the razor you are using is. That's why big blades, customs and beautiful restored razors are so popular. It transcends the shave quality.

Originally Posted by ace

That's why some guys with 20 handicaps buy a new set of irons every year. They don't work on their swing, so they figure new clubs will help them. It doesn't work and they're back at it the next year. There certainly is a mental aspect to shaving, in fact it may be the biggest part of it. If your mind isn't into it properly, you'll be out buying a styptic pencil fast.

Sometimes the shave is special just because the razor you are using is. That's why big blades, customs and beautiful restored razors are so popular. It transcends the shave quality.

I always tell other golfers, "it's not the arrow, it's the Indian."

That being said, with razors, sometimes it is the "arrow." - Dovo and TI are both good choices although I'd recommend getting the standard TI over a mid-range Dovo any day. I think you'll be more happy with the purchase, at least.

Get a Dovo and you'll be thinking - damn, I should have bought the TI for just a little extra.

Best solution - buy BOTH!

I personally favor a DOVO from SRD or some other reputable vendor. And take advantage of the honing expertise at SRD. You may want to consider stainless steel. The carbon blades do require more attention to prevent rust, especially around the scale hinge. A shave ready blade is very important to your learning exercise. The DOVO, TI and Boker brands are all excellent razors with a few pros and cons to each. There is nothing wrong with TI or Boker. I just think a basic DOVO 5/8" with half or perhaps a full-hollow, possibly stainless, will be your best introduction. Then when you are ready, add a TI or Boker to your rotation; which you are likely to do later anyway. I still get superb shaves with my Best DOVO 5/8" half-hollow carbon; even though I have added several others into my rotation. Congratulations and welcome to SR shaving.

Originally Posted by ats200

I always tell other golfers, "it's not the arrow, it's the Indian."

That being said, with razors, sometimes it is the "arrow." - Dovo and TI are both good choices although I'd recommend getting the standard TI over a mid-range Dovo any day. I think you'll be more happy with the purchase, at least.

Get a Dovo and you'll be thinking - damn, I should have bought the TI for just a little extra.

Best solution - buy BOTH!

I would be the guy with buyers remorse who says damn, why didn't I get the TI. That alone has my conviced. But your idea of buying both is the obvious solution. I think buying the TI and then buing a cheap used one to learn honing is the best bet.

Originally Posted by Gammaray

I personally favor a DOVO from SRD or some other reputable vendor. And take advantage of the honing expertise at SRD. You may want to consider stainless steel. The carbon blades do require more attention to prevent rust, especially around the scale hinge. A shave ready blade is very important to your learning exercise. The DOVO, TI and Boker brands are all excellent razors with a few pros and cons to each. There is nothing wrong with TI or Boker. I just think a basic DOVO 5/8" with half or perhaps a full-hollow, possibly stainless, will be your best introduction. Then when you are ready, add a TI or Boker to your rotation; which you are likely to do later anyway. I still get superb shaves with my Best DOVO 5/8" half-hollow carbon; even though I have added several others into my rotation. Congratulations and welcome to SR shaving.

I wish SRD sold the TI razors. I really want to buy from them for the service they offer. Regardless of where my razor comes from, I am going to by a strop from them and they will be where I send my razors to get honed until I have the skill/gear to manage on my own. I definitely want to buy a razor from a supported vendor. VintageBladesLLC is the only place I found that sells TI and hones in-house. ClassicShaving.com sells the razor I want to buy (TI "Evide Sonnant Extra"), but from what I can tell, they send their blades to SRD to get honed. So shelling out the cash and then waiting 4 weeks is not very appealing to me. They say their TI razors come "shave ready", but I would rather not leave that to chance. Does anybody have a shave ready TI they want to sell for $200?

As for the carbon steel, I am aware of what is required for maintenance.

Good idea, bad investment.

I actually think the current evide sonnant are worse than the dovos. The workmanship is worse in every aspect, and the grind is wrong. That's why all my evide sonnats are the vintage versions.
Of course, on an advertising picture things can be made to look much, much better than they really are, I see it all the time with all kinds of razors, from poor ebay restores to the mass production lines to custom made.

BTW as far as I know Lynn hasn't been honing for classicshaving for years. Last I knew it was the hart steel people who honed for them.

Um, not to rain on your parade, but I'd recommend buying an inexpensive shave ready razor to learn on (you will likely roll the edge at least once while learning to strop correctly etc...I know I did) and it's way more annoying to do that with an expensive razor then it is with an inexpensive one (it's not going to hurt the razor just means it needs a trip to the hones, and if you are sending it off that's time without a straight to shave)

My recommendation is to buy either a shave ready previously loved razor from the classifieds with an inexpensive strop, or one of the sight unseen deals from whipped dog to learn with which also includes the cheap strop kit (that way when you nick or slice a 20 dollar strop it's more of an "aw darnit" moement then a "$*)$($)(#$U)" moment


FWIW, I am not a fan of Dovo, i just don't like their newer Razors, I have a 6/8 that I got from SRD and while I love SRD (Fast shipping, good prices, GREAT communication etc) the Dovo not so much, once I feel I have really progressed with my skills I'll keep trying it and if it doesn't get better then I'll sell it. My TI is a much better shaver (Also Pro Honed by Lynn but it came from the factory with a piss poor grind and hone wear... )

oh, and all my truly FAVORITE razors are all older models that I got from other members or the bay...(Genco's Bokkers etc)

Hope this helps

Originally Posted by gugi

Good idea, bad investment.

I actually think the current evide sonnant are worse than the dovos. The workmanship is worse in every aspect, and the grind is wrong. That's why all my evide sonnats are the vintage versions.
Of course, on an advertising picture things can be made to look much, much better than they really are, I see it all the time with all kinds of razors, from poor ebay restores to the mass production lines to custom made.

BTW as far as I know Lynn hasn't been honing for classicshaving for years. Last I knew it was the hart steel people who honed for them.

Thanks for the good info. I am so torn now. I understand that SRD's honed razors are probably the best choice and I really want to purchase from them. My only problem with that when I browse their site for a razor, every time I click on a razor that fits my eye, it is out of stock. Their selection is pretty limited in that aspect. Again, why can't they just sell TI razors.

VintageBladesLLC has a TI SilverSteel with black horn scales in stock that they do a professional hone. At this point, I am thinking "c'est la vie". You only live once, get what you really want.

Yeah, I agree, just get what you really want, if you don't you'll still get it later. That's what disposable income is for, after all.

Originally Posted by Cochese2323

VintageBladesLLC has a TI SilverSteel with black horn scales in stock that they do a professional hone. At this point, I am thinking "c'est la vie". You only live once, get what you really want.

If you look at the top of the TI page at VintageBladesLLC, numbered paragraph 1. Lynn at SRD does their honing.

I shouldn't do this to you, but here's a link to TI, UK. You might enjoy looking at the TI selection in Europe. Most of these I have never seen in the US. TI straight razors

Also, here's a link that has TI's and hones their razors. Thiers-Issard Straight Razors

Good Luck with your choice!!

Regards,

Howard

you could also buy your gear from SRD and pick up something cheap in the classifieds (in terms of a razor)

I know how it is though - the new razors just look awesome compared to the lower priced vintage ones in the classifieds. My first was a Dovo prima and I sold it within 2 months for a $12 no name razor that is still dirty and gross looking.