rookie mistake

So I've been wanting to get into straight shaving for a while, but never got around to it. So I decided to ask my wife for a starter set for Christmas. Not really thinking much about it I found the cheapest set online that I could, and told her to get it. This is very unlike me. I usually buy quality, but kinda thought a razor is a razor. It wasn't till after she ordered that I started really researching and now realize the mistake I have made. I ordered from vintagestraightrazor.com and have read nothing but bad things about the quality. I mean come on, I paid $65 for a razor, strop, puck, brush, and bowl. Now that I've been on this site I see the price was too good to be true. I was just ignorant of how detailed this really is and during the last week of researching have realized how incredible straight shaving culture is. Anyway I'll return it and get a quality razor for the price like a Dovo Special. Just thought I'd share this story with yall. Can't wait to get shaving and learn all these new skills.

Sig

Hi Sig,
So you haven't used any of it yet? You might be surprised and it might be OK. My first razor was pretty cheap, a Burrell Top Flight, but it's still one of my favorites. I don't think I'd ever buy a new razor, one; because I just like vintage stuff and like the idea of re-using, etc, and two; because you can get some really nice vintage razors with really nice steel pretty cheap...

I've just heard nothing but bad things in the forum about the quality of razors at vintagestraightrazor.com, frowning blades, honing with electric kitchen knife sharpeners, overall poor quality. So many members have said to stay away from these questionable razors. Members have talked about how these blades don't hold an edge through one pass. Just too much negativity surrounding these razors for me to want it as my first straight.

Sig

welcome

I agree with what Shooter said. As for the strop, it's probably a good idea not to start off with the best. If you are like most people, you'll cutting it up while learning to strop. :D

If you are trying to stay to the 65 dollar price point. You might want to try Larry over at whippeddog.com . He can get you the bulk of what you need for under that price point with his sight unseen deal and his poor man strop kit.

Sight unseen deal is vintage razors cleaned up and made into shavers. It won't be a show piece.

Many of use here started with one of Larry's blades.

Then head over to Walmart and get a Shea moisturizer badger brush and a puck of vdh deluxe and you will be set.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Castel33

If you are trying to stay to the 65 dollar price point. You might want to try Larry over at whippeddog.com . He can get you the bulk of what you need for under that price point with his sight unseen deal and his poor man strop kit.

Sight unseen deal is vintage razors cleaned up and made into shavers. It won't be a show piece.

Many of use here started with one of Larry's blades.

Then head over to Walmart and get a Shea moisturizer badger brush and a puck of vdh deluxe and you will be set.

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I have ordered "the works" from Larry (sight unseen deal + poor man's strop kit + silvertip badger brush + soap) and can confirm that he was extremely helpful, very good service and it is obvious at a glance that he runs the site out of a passion for straight razor shaving and not so much to make huge profits. I'm still waiting for the razor to arrive as I'm all the way in Australia but I know it will be what I'm looking for and if it's not I know i can send it back to Larry (razor only) for a refund or exchange. I'm really glad I found this forum before making any purchases (I nearly forked out 250AUD at shavershop for a 150 dollar dovo)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Castel33

If you are trying to stay to the 65 dollar price point. You might want to try Larry over at whippeddog.com . He can get you the bulk of what you need for under that price point with his sight unseen deal and his poor man strop kit.

Sight unseen deal is vintage razors cleaned up and made into shavers. It won't be a show piece.

Many of use here started with one of Larry's blades.

Then head over to Walmart and get a Shea moisturizer badger brush and a puck of vdh deluxe and you will be set.

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+one on Larry at whipped dog. I have a razor I got from him and I love it. You can be sure it will come professionally honed too. I would go there. I also ordered from the vintagestraightrazors place. I got my razor in the mail today. It looks solid enough, but I do suspect it was honed on one of those electric sharpeners. I may keep it though just to practice honing on. If I can put a good edge on it maybe I can get some use out of it. Its not a bad idea to have a cheap razor anyway just for practice of stropping, honing (when you get to that point) etc. You can be sure to get quality at any of the sponsor sites on this board. I just purchased from vintage blades llc. Not to be confused with the site you ordered from. Vintageblades has excellent customer service as well as quality stuff and you can ask questions before you buy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Castel33

If you are trying to stay to the 65 dollar price point. You might want to try Larry over at whippeddog.com . He can get you the bulk of what you need for under that price point with his sight unseen deal and his poor man strop kit.

Sight unseen deal is vintage razors cleaned up and made into shavers. It won't be a show piece.

Many of use here started with one of Larry's blades.

Then head over to Walmart and get a Shea moisturizer badger brush and a puck of vdh deluxe and you will be set.

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+one on Larry at whipped dog. I have a razor I got from him and I love it. You can be sure it will come professionally honed too. I would go there. I also ordered from the vintagestraightrazors place. I got my razor in the mail today. It looks solid enough, but I do suspect it was honed on one of those electric sharpeners. I may keep it though just to practice honing on. If I can put a good edge on it maybe I can get some use out of it. Its not a bad idea to have a cheap razor anyway just for practice of stropping, honing (when you get to that point) etc. You can be sure to get quality at any of the sponsor sites on this board. I just purchased from vintage blades llc. Not to be confused with the site you ordered from. Vintageblades has excellent customer service as well as quality stuff and you can ask questions before you buy.

IF anyone has any experience with these as to whether or not they hone well please let me know.

Thanks for all the input guys. The budget is higher than $65. I just jumped on that so called deal because thats what I thought I was getting, a deal. I don't mind spending the money on one of the cheaper Dovos or Bokers, or even a nicer strop. I just pulled the trigger on that starter set too quickly and without any research. I have only heard good things about Larry at whipped dog, but I think I'll end up getting a new razor.

The name brand of the blade in question is Buckingham and Sons, which nobody here can seem to find any legit info on.
As far as keeping the blade and sending to a honer, Blix did a review on the razor after honing it and talked about how it just couldn't keep an edge.
Gonna play it safe and start over. I don't want a low quality razor to discourage me right off the bat.
Thanks again for all the input.

Sig

Is this the place? Vintage Straight Razor | Straight Razor Sets | VintageStraightRazor.com

I have never heard of them but they look like they might have some half decent things? I can't find a package for $65 though. That really is something.

Check these threads out concerning the Buckingham and Sons razor from vintagestraightrazor.com
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ons-razor.html
http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...-virginia.html
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ress-test.html

Sig

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sig84

Check these threads out concerning the Buckingham and Sons razor from vintagestraightrazor.com
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ons-razor.html
http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...-virginia.html
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ress-test.html

Sig

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Oh man - that bites. Sorry.

My Dovo special arrived today. It's a 30th gift from my wife so won't be allowed to use it until 27th Dec :(

That said it is a beautiful bit of kit and something I feel will last.

I looked at the bismark and the inox but decided that the special with tortoise shell scales was for me.

Good luck!

I tried to hone mine last night and could not even set the bevel.

I also really liked whippeddog.com, and purchased the Poor Man's Strop Kit, for about $25. Unfortunately, I ended up cutting my strop on the first passes (probably because I didn't practice beforehand). Oh well, I suppose that can happen, and I'm much more careful now. The advantage is that I didn't end up wasting the $85.00 or more on purchasing a strop from the Art of Shaving (though, I do like their shaving creams).

In addition, I purchased my first razor at an antique shop here in Salt Lake City. I read through the different posts here and on Badger and Blade to find a decent used Straight Razor, and ended up lucking out with a great vintage full-hollow round 5/8 from Solingen, Germany (at a great price).

Best of luck to you in your transition to Straight Razor shaving. I know that I've only done it for a couple weeks now, and wish that I had started earlier in life.

-Bishop

To earcutter, you don't have to be sorry, I already talked to Luke at vintagestraightrazor.com and he said unused items may be returned.

To davethegeordie, how do the scales on the Dovo Special look? Are they cheap looking, or do they look good? I'm also debating between the Special and the Ebony Silver Steel.

Sig

Thanks Bishop, looking forward to getting started.

Sig