Thread: Howdy!

Originally Posted by Brandonii54

I believe I have a strop and a "kit" that includes a badger brush, a bowl, soap and a stand for everything picked out. I am sending Cuda a PM right now. Do you believe it would be worth it to buy a dovo shavette first, or just dive right in. I always try and buy the best thing first, instead of wasting money on one, and upgrading later.

Shavettes are tough - and I say that as somebody who owned a Parker shavette as a beginner razor (before I bought a straight) and still owns a Feather shavette that I use for travel. Those things are merciless. There's really 2 lines of thought - shavettes will cut you worse, but they're DEFINITELY shave ready and will teach you technique (and I would go with a Feather system over anything). If you can shave with a shavette, you can shave with a straight. Straights are a little more forgiving, but you will need to learn to strop. In retrospect, I would have gone with a straight first and saved myself the scars. I still love my Feather shavette, but even after getting to the point where I can do a 5 minute straight shave, that shavette still intimidates me.

Originally Posted by MajorEthanolic

Shavettes are tough - and I say that as somebody who owned a Parker shavette as a beginner razor (before I bought a straight) and still owns a Feather shavette that I use for travel. Those things are merciless. There's really 2 lines of thought - shavettes will cut you worse, but they're DEFINITELY shave ready and will teach you technique (and I would go with a Feather system over anything). If you can shave with a shavette, you can shave with a straight. Straights are a little more forgiving, but you will need to learn to strop. In retrospect, I would have gone with a straight first and saved myself the scars. I still love my Feather shavette, but even after getting to the point where I can do a 5 minute straight shave, that shavette still intimidates me.

There is always this
http://www.amazon.com/Shaving-Straig...ight+razor+kit

It LOOKS perfect for beginners, but I am weary. It is a cheap golden dollar SR, which I haven't heard good things about. Any thoughts on that kit?

Originally Posted by MajorEthanolic

... Those things are merciless....

That about sums it up perfectly...I had a Parker to try, ended up giving it to a friend who wanted to try a single edge blade...told him they are different than straights, but you'll get the idea, and you may not thank me later...they are merciless!

Originally Posted by Brandonii54

There is always this
http://www.amazon.com/Shaving-Straig...ight+razor+kit

It LOOKS perfect for beginners, but I am weary. It is a cheap golden dollar SR, which I haven't heard good things about. Any thoughts on that kit?

Yea, I wouldn't mess with that. GDs from what I've read they are really hit and miss. Some work great, others not. It's a coin flip. Better to spend $100 on a razor that you know is good. You don't want to get a bad razor and think that's as good as it gets. PM cuda and I'm pretty sure he'll be able to find you something good for about that same price. And you'll know it's a good razor. He's also great for sending things back for honing. I mail all mine to him. Trust me - you will mess up stropping in the beginning and you will need to have it rehoned. But talk to the mentors on here (I mentioned razorfeld) and they'll talk you through the process of stropping. Takes a few misses, but once you get it you're good. I've only been straight shaving for maybe 7 months, and I've gone from a week to now many months on my current with no need for honing.

Originally Posted by Brandonii54

I believe I have a strop and a "kit" that includes a badger brush, a bowl, soap and a stand for everything picked out. I am sending Cuda a PM right now. Do you believe it would be worth it to buy a dovo shavette first, or just dive right in. I always try and buy the best thing first, instead of wasting money on one, and upgrading later.

Welcome to SRP! I think if you find a good shave ready straight that really is shave ready, you will find that it gives you the closest shave you ever had & will be happy with it!

Originally Posted by engine46

Welcome to SRP! I think if you find a good shave ready straight that really is shave ready, you will find that it gives you the closest shave you ever had & will be happy with it!

That's really exactly what I'm trying for.

Originally Posted by Brandonii54

That's really exactly what I'm trying for.

I'll be on the lookout. Also look on the classifieds on here if you haven't yet. I just looked & there are some shave ready razors for sale by guys from the forum here that you can trust to be shave ready more than ones on eBay.

Originally Posted by engine46

I'll be on the lookout. Also look on the classifieds on here if you haven't yet. I just looked & there are some shave ready razors for sale by guys from the forum here that you can trust to be shave ready more than ones on eBay.

I have checked out the classifieds on here, there are definitely some good looking SR's there. I am also currently talking to Cudarunner, and he is working on getting me started as well.
Is there a place to check prices, or a way to make sure I am not getting ripped off when buying a razor? I know a very cheap razor isn't going to be as good as a mid priced razor, in most cases, but I see a lot of vintage SR's on eBay for 30-60 dollars, promising to be honed by the seller (most have 100 percent feedback) and if you are dissatisfied with the honing send it back for free and they will redo it. But what's the catch there?

Originally Posted by Brandonii54

I have checked out the classifieds on here, there are definitely some good looking SR's there. I am also currently talking to Cudarunner, and he is working on getting me started as well.
Is there a place to check prices, or a way to make sure I am not getting ripped off when buying a razor? I know a very cheap razor isn't going to be as good as a mid priced razor, in most cases, but I see a lot of vintage SR's on eBay for 30-60 dollars, promising to be honed by the seller (most have 100 percent feedback) and if you are dissatisfied with the honing send it back for free and they will redo it. But what's the catch there?

First of all Cudarunner is a good guy to deal with. He's very helpful & he might find you something. Also there are guys from the forum here selling on eBay. If they have 100% feedback & are williing take it back for re-honing, chances are they are a good seller. If you see something on eBay that you like, send me a pm with the item number & i will help you out as much as I can. I have (3662) 100% positive feedback & have been on there since 2002.
Steve

Originally Posted by engine46

First of all Cudarunner is a good guy to deal with. He's very helpful & he might find you something. Also there are guys from the forum here selling on eBay. If they have 100% feedback & are williing take it back for re-honing, chances are they are a good seller. If you see something on eBay that you like, send me a pm with the item number & i will help you out as much as I can. I have 3662 100% positive feedback on there.
Steve

I appreciate your friendliness and will take you up on that offer now. Expect a PM in the next 10(?) minutes. Also I appreciate everyones willingness to help.