Thread: Moving from disposable straights to vintage. Question on first major purchase

I will very soon be moving from the cheap disposable shavettes to more elgegant straights. I have been reading the forums for quite some time just taking in as much information as possible. Eventually I will be purchasing a bottom line dovo but my question is before that even happens should I purchase a 4000/8000k stone (I already own a basic two sided coarse and fine) and really cheap razors off of ebay (aroung $15.00- $20.00) and get all of the practice honing and sharpening these to shave ready? I would prefer to use dispoables until I am atleast somewhat confident in my honing abilities rather than ruining a $90.00 Dovo blade. I have been looking through classified and they are also higher than I would like to throw away on ruining a blade.

I guess what I am asking is will this provide any benefit in the long run; will these blades shape and hold an edge for atleast one shave in order for me to get a "feel" from going from "dull" to "sharp"?

Right now I wouldn't worry about hones. Just learn proper stropping and getting a feel for the blade. I've been using a sr for 7 months now and still havent had it honed. Although it depends on how often you shave among other things I would hold off on the hone develop my technique send it out to get honed once to remember what it feels like to shave with a truely shave ready razor and then try my shot at honing.

A "bottom line" Dovo has the same good steel that the more expensive razors have. I have a couple Dovo's and the edge will last around 30 shaves before needing a touch-up if all I use is a leather strop. Keep in mind that I keep my razors in tip-top condition when it comes to the edge.

On honing: Find a mentor, so you can learn to crawl, walk, run. If you were to put your location like the town or nearby town you live in in your member information someone may offer to help you to learn.

First learn what a shave ready razor is all about, they will be different from your disposables. Your shaves will be smoother, much smoother. Honing is something you will not learn in a few days. You have to learn the "feel". I personally recommend learning backwards, which is learning to touch-up a shave ready edge. If you are anywhere near me, PM me and I'd be glad to show you the ropes...

Thanks for the responses. I will take the advice and begin with getting stropping down to second nature first. Next question. Is there really that much of a difference between a $20.00 and $50.00 strop. I don't want to to throw money away. And I am in West Virginia in a college town; Doubt many college kids attending the number one party school even know what a straight razor is haha

Stick to a cheap strop now. Once you learn to strop properly and don't knick it then go to a better one. A cheap one will do. Check out whippeddog.com they have a poor man strop set for like 20 bucks.

Also for minor nicks I've learned that you can rubber cement the flap down ten sand the strop. Good as new

**then sand it

No need to wait! You can learn how to hone cheap flea market razors while you are shaving with the Shavette. Worked for me!

Thx everybody! Will be going the strop route first and picking up any cheap straights I ind locally (alot of "vintage" stores in town) and practice on them.

Whipped dog also sells Nortons that have been cut into quarters. You can get a full set of four surfaces for around 60 bucks. You can also get a finishing stone (12K) for cheap there as well. 1/4 of a Norton is plenty for a razor! I honed my first razor on a set like this and I took a butter-knife like surface to something I have shaved with 3 times now! I am certain a mentor would certainly improve my honing and may look into mentors in my area soon!