First razor problems.

I'm torn between razors to buy as my first and hopefully only. There are 3 that strike me.

Firstly there is the Iwasaki. This is the one I really really want. I have been looking at it and reading about it for 2 weeks. The only thing holding me back is the fact that people say it's hard to learn on and no one uses it as their main/only razor.

Secondly there is this dovo Dovo 1226850 Straight Razor I like how clean it looks. The down side of this is that I would have to import it to the UK.

Finally there is the Henckels Friodur. I like this because it's supposed to be a good razor and it looks really classy. I am finding it hard to track down one with a black handle though.

Any thoughts please chime in and help.

Welcome to the Forums Fossala!

Ill go in order.

I would pass on the kamasori(japanise) style razor. I think it will be a lot easier to learn on the regular straight!

There is nothing wrong with the dovo, the are great starter razors. Although, shipping to the UK will be expensive.

The henckles Friodur is a great razor. I have one, it is my best shaver! Can't go wrong with it either!!

Hope this helps!

Parker

Any ideas where I can get a Henckels Friodur in the EU? Because I'm a complete novice with razors I feel uneasy buying of eBay.

Here is here some henckels are Custom Handled Henckels Friodurs : Shaving Shop - luxury classic wet shaving products - straight razors and stay away from kamisoris right now

Thank you for the link, I found it earlier but shipping and tax raises the already high prices. Is there any fixed reason everyone is telling me to stay away from kamisoris?
EDIT: also isn't 7/8 a bit big?

Welcome to the Forum.

Here is a trusted UK vendor who sells Dovo, Thiers Issard, Japanese Iwasaki and Vintage razors.

Introduction to razors

Yes, I have been looking at getting the Iwasaki from him. I'm also tempted by some of his Dovo's. I just love the look of the Iwasaki and the fact it is made and not produced.

I've been thinking about it this morning and I can't work out why I shouldn't get the Iwasaki. If I will get it eventually, what is the point of me learning a tool that I don't want (western razor). I know there is a steep learning curve but I still have my electric and disposables as backup for the hard to shave sections while I'm learning.

Is there any reason you should NOT use it? What I see is that most people use western, so they get used to western razors. In turn the then say that what they are not used to using is harder.

You can get Dovo's widely in the UK. There are plenty of vendors that sell them online and even in stores (Trumper's in Green Park and even Harrods for a start).

Be aware though that you will still need to get it shave ready after purchasing it, so I would personally go with something from the classifieds board right here at SRP.

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Originally Posted by fossala

I've been thinking about it this morning and I can't work out why I shouldn't get the Iwasaki. If I will get it eventually, what is the point of me learning a tool that I don't want (western razor). I know there is a steep learning curve but I still have my electric and disposables as backup for the hard to shave sections while I'm learning.

Is there any reason you should NOT use it? What I see is that most people use western, so they get used to western razors. In turn the then say that what they are not used to using is harder.

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Personally I have never tried a Iwasaki so probably not the best person to answer this, However...
I believe they are 'handed' meaning you can only shave with one side of the blade. This must be extremely awkward and you would surely be better off buying two ( a left & right hand model ) £££
Also have read despite giving an excellent shave they are very slow to shave with. About twice as long as shaving with a Western razor which already takes long enough !
Its hard enough learning to shave with a straight so must be a bit of a nightmare learning with one of these.

May be wrong about this but surely worth thinking about.

Best of luck with whatever you decide and let us know how you get on.

Thank you for the response. I'm now looking at either getting an original Le grelot or a new one by Thiers issard.

Welcome to straight shaving! TI's are great, but I have read the new carbon song steel can be a PITA to hone (YMMV I guess). Also, no one has asked this yet; are you planning to do your own honing? If so, then one razor should be good, if not, then I would look at two that will fit into a price range you are good with. I say this because if you only get one and don't do your own honing you will eventually have to send the razor to someone, and I don't know about turn around times with the post in your neck of the woods. Either way, enjoy whichever you go with, I think either razor would be great! :gl:

Think of learning to drive a car. Would you rather take your first lesson on a car with an automatic transmission or a manual? That sums it up. it takes more to learn the kamisori but in the end you learn it and that's it. Most buy one after using a western type so you have to relearn to use a straight all over again. Starting out with one you don't have that issue.

Also, it takes no more time to use a kamisori than a western type and though they are designed to be used with one side of the razor most probably use both sides. it will work.

I plan on doing my own honing. I'm going to buy a couple of stones and a cheap 20 quid razor from ebay and practice on that.

It seems like that everyone telling me not to buy a kamisori has never used one. I can't see why I shouldn't buy one, other than the one handed thing. The more I look at the TI the more I like it though.

I'm with thebigspendur here, get what you want now. If you decided to get a western style now or later you will have to learn technique either way. Besides, everyone here says I'm going to get my one razor for life :roflmao: Many people said it's best not to get square points to start with; I did, and haven't gouged myself once; they are also my prefernce now. I too would love a kamisori eventually. Besides every razor has a bit of a learning curve to it: geometry, balance, feel, grind, yada yada yada :deadhorse:

I have decided what I'm going to do. I'm going to buy a cheapish one of each style. NOS Kamisori razor shave ready - Straight Razor Place Classifieds is the kamisori I'm buying and will be buying best quality dovo as my western. When I decide which I like I will then spend more money...

or you could buy a cheap shave ready razor from this website for under $50 like i did, from people who know what shave ready actually means, learn how to shave and strop, and go from there. Generally only a couple of weeks delivery to NZ, so probably sooner for you.

Yeah, I can do but the amount of time I have spent talking to the guys over at theinvisableedge.com makes me want to spend money there. They have been so helpful and I like to support companies that are.

@fossala

I think you did your research and will be rewarded for it, I aslo think the same as TBS above, I love my Kamisori, but they feel just a tiny bit awkward in my Western Style trained hands.. I have manged to get quite proficient with them in a relatively short time, about 3 years compared, to 31 years with Western styles. I would bet if you start with them you will learn much faster then those of us that had to re-learn.. Please let us know how it goes, there is an excellent Vid by JimR on here that shows how to shave with them, he uses only one side which is the correct way to shave these, myself I cheat and use the back side too :(

Steve over at the Invisible Edge is a well known Vendor on here, and can put a wicked edge on razors, you can't really go wrong with anything from him...

Yes, I've seen the videos. I think I won't buy a western unless I find the kamisori too hard. Just looking forward to my first straight razor shave.

I'm going to email the seller again about size but it seems like it's a Henkotsu I'm going to ask what size it is.

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Originally Posted by fossala

I'm going to email the seller again about size but it seems like it's a Henkotsu I'm going to ask what size it is.

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That was the first thing I thought also "Henkotsu" but I do not claim to be an expert on the Kamisori identification :p

I'm completely new to razors but it seems to have the same box as others I have seen.

Iwasaki must be deadly sharp in order to use. They take a lot of time to learn and are difficult to sharp and maintain. I DO NOT RECOMMEND AS A FIRST RAZOR. UNLESS you are Japanese

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Originally Posted by BanjoTom

Iwasaki must be deadly sharp in order to use. They take a lot of time to learn and are difficult to sharp and maintain. I DO NOT RECOMMEND AS A FIRST RAZOR. UNLESS you are Japanese

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What does my ethnicity have to do with anything?

I think you oughta get the one you want. Your logic is indisputable so far as I can see. You want a kamisori...get a kamisori. :) You'll be fine.

I am getting one, just a cheaper one to test the water.

Maybe someone can help me understand the problem...
fossala lives in the UK, for many of us in the Straight Razor World home of one of the "Holy of Holy's" - Sheffield...
Are there are not a dozen choices for a great razor close by?

I too am drawn to the Kamasori but adding yet another layer of skills to learn early on is like trying to learn how to juggle with meat cleavers...that gssixgun sharpened for you and are reading for the "flying HHT"

My thought is that kamisoris don't look that much harder and "westerners" only find it harder because they are used to western blades. As for Sheffield steel, it's good but I'm drawn to kamisoris.
I'm starting to think me starting this thread in the first place was pointless, my heart has already chosen to go with a kamisori.

Go with what you want. I just want to add that I consider the Invisible Edge excellent, advice and products.

I'm getting the razor I linked. I will be getting my strop and accessories from the invisable edge. If I get on with the kamisori I will buy an Iwasaki from them as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fossala

I've been thinking about it this morning and I can't work out why I shouldn't get the Iwasaki. If I will get it eventually, what is the point of me learning a tool that I don't want (western razor). I know there is a steep learning curve but I still have my electric and disposables as backup for the hard to shave sections while I'm learning.

Is there any reason you should NOT use it? What I see is that most people use western, so they get used to western razors. In turn the then say that what they are not used to using is harder.

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I think one of the reasons you are getting the "stay away" is that the Kamasori was designed for Monk A to shave the head of Monk B. It was not originally intended for Monk A to shave Monk A with it.
It has a front and a back, is made to be held with the dominate/design hand. When you shave "western" you can (and most say should) learn to shave with both your dominate and "weak" hand so that you can get be best possible approach. WTG, XTG and ATG normally requires shifting the grip and hand as you move around your face.

If you are using a Kamasori to shave someone else this is not a problem. When you shave yourself you are going to have to make compromises...lots of them.
Either hold the blade "backwards" (face in) and/or limit the direction of the pass and your ability to see what you are doing.

Want the style of a Kamasori but the directional flexibility of a western? Give a Feather type razor a look.

In the end you get to do what you want to do, like someone said in another post about the subject "it's your face and your razor, you do whatever you want".

I do know that the info I received on SRP saved me money, time and blood...and made learning how to use a Straight a great experience.

Good luck!

Lots of theories here about Japanese razors. Them and a buck fifty will get me on the bus.

In Japan most use an electric razor. The use of kamisori in Japan is such that straight shaving would be a common occurrence in the U.S by comparison. When I got my first Tosuke about 9 years or so ago my friend in Japan went into a big all purpose Hardware store in Tokyo and found some in an obscure corner and the clerk asked him why in the world would he want one of those. The few kamisori they had there had been sitting there for years. I personally have this strange feeling that most barbers in Japan who use them learned their use as a tool to shave women's faces which is common there and shaving men's faces is a different task they never learned and kind of adapted. But that's just a feeling I have.

In the end it's just another shaving instrument and another opportunity to extend your shaving horizons. Don't fear them just learn them and poppycock to all the naysayers and "experts".

I was considering a Kamisori a while ago, and decided not to buy one just right now. I didn't want to confuse myself just now. When I got in to Vintage Germ,an Medium Format cameras I bought 7 different cameras, one after the other. I should have stuck with just one for longer, as I really did confuse myself a little.

I've never used a Kamisori, but I guess if that was what you were going to use then you'd get used to it. You're right, ethnicity has nothing to do with it, in this instance. However, everytime I go to a Chinese restaurant I always srart out using chop sticks and then say 'what am I doing, I'm not Chinese, and pick up the fork'. However, in this instance, it's not really the same, as you haven't 'grown up' with either a straight OR a Kamisori; so it's not like learning to use a Kamisori isn't valid just because you're not Japanese.

I wonder what that razor looks like without the rubber grip? I was looking at a similar one a while ago and, while considering buying it, couldn't decide if I DID buy it if I'd remove the rubber handle and use it either without any grip or wrap waxed string around it like the string I used when I was stationed on a Navy ship years ago.

I hope you have fun learning both razors.