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Hi, just some ideas...
But if you read the articles in the Library, and search the forum for your main points, you'll find a HUGE amount of answers here.
(1) Learn to sharpen yourself
(2) You strop before each and every shave. I do 30 canvas, 70 leather before the shave and 10/10 after. Stropping is important and you need to take time to learn it properly. You can damage your razor if you strop poorly. You should hone when your razor is dull. Your razor will possibly dull sooner when you are new to SR shaving due to poor stropping technique at first.
(3) Possibly within about 8 - 10 weeks. This depends on your hair thickness, frequency of shaving, stropping technique, etc. Norton 4/8 PLUS lapping plate.
(4) Not sure. I have only had one strop, a Dovo. I'm sure most strops would work OK.
(5) Lots of possibilities, but all you really need is a razor, strop and hone (and brush and cream of course). After that, I would recommend a second razor as the next purchase. Switch between the two and try to make each as sharp as the other each time you sharpen, or leave one for just one day a week.
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When you purchase your first razor be certain it has been professionally honed and is sharp. The new razor will help you learn what sharp is . Learn to strop without dulling your sharp razor. Keep asking questions. This is going to be a fun ride.
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I would be leery of the Lifetime honing as a buying feature. This has been a conversation that has come up in person a few times lately. I do not see how a reputable provider can offer this. I know of another provider offering this and they are willing to shut down and start up again if business gets to be to much with the free honing. Their business model is based on volume not customer service and in fact they do not want allot of repeat customers.
Now that being said if the razor you like is the same price at the providers that is offering free honing as anyone else then your not losing anything. But if your paying a premium be cautious
Now as far as the razor. Most of today's razors in the entry level price point have similar made scales. When you go up the chain of price you can get Olive wood and other nice exotics. Many will tell you to buy a cheap starter razor this is good advice, I guess. My advice is buy something you like and can afford. if you can afford to buy the nicer more expensive razor. Do it. It is your razor. If you are on a tight budget and just want to get started then you can do that too. In the end this razor will out last you if you take care of it and it is a reputable brand. So get something you like and enjoy.
Personally I would get the Bamboo one. Straight Razor Design is reputable and take the time to help their customers learn the art of straight shaving. They are not in this for the quick buck and then gone in 6 months or a year.
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Welcome to SRP!
since you already have the brush and stuff form aos... i would suggest you contacts a vendor like Straight Razor Design or Vintagebladesllc or classic shaving and select a dove and a strop from their site... then you would know for sure that you are getting a truly shave ready blade to start with. i would be wary of "free lifetime" anything.
the strop from rup razor will serve you well for years if you take care of it.
you really do not need a sharpening stone right away. when you are ready for that you will have to decide where you want to go in this hobby. check out GSSixgun's beginner tips.
enjoy,
jim
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Thanks for the advice :)
I think I decided on the bamboo razor. I did more research and a lot of reading and I don't think the honing and stropping are worth buying the whole set. I do already have a brush set and I think it would end up cheaper to just buy the razor I really want and the Filly strop. Eventually I plan on buying a honing stone sometime after a few shaves so I can keep my razor sharp without sending it away. On a second note, I found a cheap straight razor I bought from a knife catalog a while ago and I was thinking of practicing my stropping (and maybe honing) with this. Its fairly dull and has a bit of rust forming on the spine. Would it be better just to practice with a butter knife tho to protect my strop from getting cut?
the razor looks similar to this (and I think it cost about as much): Straight Razor - The White Razor
I don't know how good this razor could be for $5, but would it be worth it to send it to get professionally restored? carlmaloschneider mentioned purchasing a second razor to compare sharpness, would this work for that?
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Pmorris,
Personally, I wouldn't waste my money on that five buck wonder as a stropping practice razor. Just use a butter knife from your kitchen to develop your stropping technique.
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That's the same razor I've been eyeing. You can get that Dovo from here and even pick out which scales you want:
Dovo 415875 Straight Razor
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I just bought a Dovo 6/8 half hollow from Vintage Blades. I love the thing! It is a big blade but that makes it easier for a newbie. Dovo seems to have gotten a bad rap but I don't know why. The edge is wonderful on mine and it is easy to touch up on my Norton 4/8K stone. Stropping a wide blade like this is also easier for a tyro. I like it so much that I'm going to get another one to go in my travel kit.
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I got a similar Dovo in a kit from SRD. I can't imagine that you would need to have it re honed more than once before you start to learn yourself. The one I got has been used about a month and a half and I just touch it up with some CrOx compound and it keeps a nice edge. Keep in mind the do sell kits with just blades and strops or you can get the whole deal with the brush and everything and they allow you to change certain items to your liking.
