Thread: Good investment or bad idea?

So I am new to straight shaving. Been wet shaving with a safety razor for a while and I absolutely love it. The whole ritual and process and the satifactionof doing it the old school way has really become an enjoyable hobby for me. Plus it has been nothing short of a miracle for my sensitive skin that was prevoiusly tormented by year of mass marketing shaving crap. So I have a very strong feeling that I will love straight shaving just as much if not more.

So on to my question. I just heard back from my tax guy and it turns out my return is better than I had anticipated. Plus my 30th birthday is coming up so I have been planning on getting a basic Dovo straight/strop set from SRD. But now that I know I will have a few extra bucks, I was thinking that I might splurge and get a Thiers-Issard razor. I am fairly diligent at taking care of nice things and don't mind paying a few extra bucks for quality equipment if it performs well and lasts. Would it be pretty foolish to buy this as a first razor or would it be a fair investment (and nice treat for my 30th)?

Thanks,
Ryan

If you think you can make the transition/learning curve, it will be worth it.

TI are very good razors, made very appealing to the eye too IMHO.
If you have the money for the razor you like go for it.

Originally Posted by mainaman

TI are very good razors, made very appealing to the eye too IMHO.
If you have the money for the razor you like go for it.

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.

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.

If I am not wrong TI produces less than DOVO, perhaps that is the reason they put more detail in the blades such as spine work and different points. The scale materials are in general more exotic which also drives the price up. As far as how TI shave I like them a lot, I have had good shaves from Dovo too.

I started w/ a Dovo--great shaver and a fine leaning tool. The razor suffered no ill effect from being my starter, so in the future, if I decide to part with it(read: sell), then unless I drop it in the sink or some such fool move I will be able to recover most if not all of my investment. Using this logic I'd say get the nicest razor you can and make the most of the experience. As with all things in life YMMV, and a TI, although retaining more resale value than a Fromm, could still break or be damaged in a fleeting, distracted moment. Using that logic I wouldn't learn on a Livi!

I might also add that some of my best shaves have come from unexpected and less expensive acquisitions. Six months from now, when you're SR shaving daily and have 40+ razors (and a deeper understanding of the dangers of RAD--not that I know this from experience ) this decision will seem small and trivial.

Can you get RAD before you even buy your first razor??? I think I already have it....

I would only recommend TI to experienced honers. They can be tricky to hone.

Originally Posted by Cochese2323

Can you get RAD before you even buy your first razor??? I think I already have it....

Yes! I've ordered 2 already and bid on a 3rd on ebay and as yet have none in my possession.

Originally Posted by Kees

I would only recommend TI to experienced honers. They can be tricky to hone.

For the honing, I plan on leaving that to the pros, at least for a while. I figured maybe pick up a cheap used razor on the classefied to practice honing until I get the hang of it. Send the nice razor to SRD for honing til I get decent at it. I can always use my safety razor while its out being honed correctly.