Thread: First Razor: New vs Vintage

I currently use some old straight razor that I found in an antique
store. I suspect it to be in sub-optimal shaving condition so I'm
looking for a first shave ready razor. I saw a few nice and affordable
razors on

http://www.billysblades.com

but there isn't that much of a saving compared to a brand new Dovo
from

http://www.classicshaving.com

Are the 60$ Dovo low quality products? How should I interpret the
"x/8" numbers? Is it the width of the blade? What should I get? My
beard is not that heavy but I also shave my head.

My first and one of my favorite razors is a Dovo that I recieved new. There are other higher end razors but you will be ok with it. The X/8 is the width of the blade. The theory here has been the heavier your beard the bigger the blade should be. I don't know that I have a heavy beard but I prefer a 7/8 sometimes and a 4/8 on others . Shaving your head with a str8 wow you are brave. . I will now add that there are razors to be bought from members here that will be priced right and be honed very well. (Lynn is the founder of the site and hones razors with the best of them he has a number of razors that he has for sale that you will be happy with. ) Take a look in the users gallery.

Initially I was set on a new DOVO for my first razor till I happened to get a great antique on ebay. With a little honing on a Norton 4000/8000 waterstone it is now one of my best shavers. I also have a Böker which was practically custom ordered (wood scales and a rounded spike) from one of the members and it arrived sharper than I could have previously imagined. That's a definite benefit of getting a razor from a member.

Just as a thought. If your current razor is simply dulling, you can get it topped up by one of the honemeisters and return it to your shaving rotation right quick.

X

P.S. Welcome to the group BTW. There's lots of great advice here and even friendlier people.

If you're talking about the $59 or so Dovo, white plastic handles, and says "Best Quality" or something on the blade, it is a fine shaver. That was my first ever razor, 10 years ago give or take. It's still in my daily rotation. I have a heavy beard, and it needs stropping mid-shave, but it takes a good edge quite easily. I personally like the stainless that Dovo uses. I have a couple different Dovos with stainless and they both hold their edge much better. The tradeoff is a little more work to get it there in the first place.

I know alot of people here probably won't agree with me on this but in my opinion if your just starting out and really don't know jack about shaving and aren't motivated to become a hobbyest in this thing I'd buy a new razor like a midline TI. My first razor was just such a razor and even though most razors aren't at optimum out of the box my TI (and other TIs I've since bought) have shaved very well out of the box.

Of course if you get bitten by the bug and really want to get into this thing then I'd say buy from one of the regulars who sell on this site.

My first razor was a DOVO Micarta (No.105), and it is one of my best shavers. DOVO are very good quality products. I think the stainless steel myth is only that, a myth, and stainless steel blade will give you much enjoyment just like any other...

For best shave-ready solution, get used one from the members here. You will get a benchmark for all of your honing jobs to follow.

Get 5/8 to start, then progress if you like heavier blade.


Nenad

Thanks for all those informations. So to summarize the Dovo are great
razors but they don't come shave ready so I still need to get a razor
from a honemeister. Right?

I kind of like this one:

http://www.billysblades.com/StraightRazors/852.htm

What do you guys think about it?

Is it a problem to have straight razors shipped to Canada?
Technically any knife that can be opened by swigging the arm without
using two hands is prohibited here.

I currently have a 1000/6000 japanese waterstone. Is it of some use?
I have a wide array of polishing compounds that I ordered for a
polishing job on my motorcycle. Do I really need to 4000/8000 Norton?
I have no doubts about the quality of the Norton but the price tag is a
bit prohibitive...

I'll also order the QX5 microscope so I can save a few picture of the
honemeister job just in case I destroy the edge with improper
stropping.

Tony's stops are quite affordable so there is no reason to but do you
build your own strops? I made one my gluing pieces of an old leather
coat to a flat wood block and impregnated it with green rouge
(chromium oxide) the result is an aggressive strop that removes the 6000
stone scratch pattern in only a few strokes and leaves a nice mirror
finish. I suspect it to be a bit too aggressive for daily use so I
might do another one for red rouge (aka jewellers rouge, iron oxide).
I might also order a stop from Tony...

My local jeweller supply store almost gives polishing compound away, 7$
for a 15cm long bar, and he accepts returns. Do you all use
specialty strop paste?

I will probably wait before I get my Dovo so I get an all stainless
one instead of and entry level one.

Regarding shaving that head, if you think about it, a straight razor
if the best option. It is true that shaving the head the first time
that I tried the straight razor was not wise and I got a few ugly cuts
but I can now shave daily without any cuts. The cartridge of safety
razors suffers major packing problems when shaving the head. The
straight razor is a bit more dangerous but it does a much better job,
just like it does for the face. The head is also much more flat than
the face...

So many great blades to try, so few shaves in one life. Thanks again
for all the info, you guys are going to cost me a bundle!

Once you get the razor you'll find out rite quick if it needs to be honned before using. I have two dovo's a Bergisher Lowe and a stainless. The stainless came shave ready the other was not so its the luck of the draw. If you decide to buy new check out the TI's before you buy.

The 1000/6000 is an odd type hone for straights. The 1000 is only for using on blades in very poor shave where you have to regrind the edge. The 6000 is too fine for heavy duty sharpening. It will work but will take a very long time. Most of us use the Norton 4K/8K because its just the right combination for Straights the 4K for sharpening and the 8K for polishing.

I don't think I would ever make my own strop the way you describe. The strop should be one continuous smooth piece of leather if its got any seams across it it will destroy the edge of the razor. You can buy a new one from some on this forum for very reasonable prices. For everyday stropping stay away from pasted strops they'll just wear down the edge. Just use a plain strop. The pasted strops are just for occasional light touch up on the razor when needed though there are some who use the diamond abrasives on strops for heavier sharpening.

Originally Posted by YGingras

Thanks for all those informations. So to summarize the Dovo are great
razors but they don't come shave ready so I still need to get a razor
from a honemeister. Right?

Either that or use the pasted paddle strop that you already have. Then make another and use 0.5 micron chrome oxide on it. Avialable from www.handamerican.com.

I kind of like this one:

http://www.billysblades.com/StraightRazors/852.htm

What do you guys think about it?
If you have an average beard then this razor owuld be OK. Else you will need a slightly larger blade, in terms of width.
Is it a problem to have straight razors shipped to Canada?
Technically any knife that can be opened by swigging the arm without
using two hands is prohibited here.

I currently have a 1000/6000 japanese waterstone. Is it of some use?
The 1000 is good for removing nicks in blades and establishing a new bevel. The next grit to use is a 4000 followed by either a 6000 or 8000 and finished with a 8000.
I have a wide array of polishing compounds that I ordered for a
polishing job on my motorcycle. Do I really need to 4000/8000 Norton?
I have no doubts about the quality of the Norton but the price tag is a
bit prohibitive...
If oyu buy a new razor or a refurbished razor from a foum member you can probably get by with the Pasted paddle strops for awhile.

I'll also order the QX5 microscope so I can save a few picture of the
honemeister job just in case I destroy the edge with improper
stropping.
NOW YOUR MAKING ME JEALOUS!!!!

Tony's stops are quite affordable so there is no reason to but do you
build your own strops? I made one my gluing pieces of an old leather
coat to a flat wood block and impregnated it with green rouge
(chromium oxide) the result is an aggressive strop that removes the 6000
stone scratch pattern in only a few strokes and leaves a nice mirror
finish. I suspect it to be a bit too aggressive for daily use so I
might do another one for red rouge (aka jewellers rouge, iron oxide).
I might also order a stop from Tony...
Tony makes some good strops. Your best bet is a pasted paddle strop, 4 sided, with 1.0, 0.5 and 0.25 abrasive pastes. Tony can help you with that as can Ray at www.classicshaving.com

My local jeweller supply store almost gives polishing compound away, 7$
for a 15cm long bar, and he accepts returns. Do you all use
specialty strop paste?
Aways know the micron size of the abrasive pastes that you use. Green and red and black and ... come in different grit sizes depending on the mfg and they usually do not tell you what the sizes are. Check out classicshaving and handamerican.

I will probably wait before I get my Dovo so I get an all stainless
one instead of and entry level one.

Regarding shaving that head, if you think about it, a straight razor
if the best option. It is true that shaving the head the first time
that I tried the straight razor was not wise and I got a few ugly cuts
but I can now shave daily without any cuts. The cartridge of safety
razors suffers major packing problems when shaving the head. The
straight razor is a bit more dangerous but it does a much better job,
just like it does for the face. The head is also much more flat than
the face...

So many great blades to try, so few shaves in one life. Thanks again
for all the info, you guys are going to cost me a bundle!

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