Bearded newbie in Dallas

Greetings all,

So I ran into this forum out of desperation. I went from knowing basically nothing, to knowing what I want and not being able to find it. Hopefully you all can help and before too long I will be able to contribute to this community. I sport a beard with hard lines and right angles. I had been using a combination of a safety razor (for the big areas) and Dovo shavette (for the hard lines and angles) for a long time. Now the blades for those (standard safty razor blades) are getting hard to find. Or the one brand that is available is junk (black and orange box, "ice tempered"). So I decided to make the plunge into a true straight razor. After a lot of research I now I have a pretty good idea of what I need but cant find it. I'm looking for a 5/8 or less, straight, hollow ground, with a spike or Spanish or maybe french point (reasonably pointy on both the toe and heel so that I can create the nice tight angles I like), folding, preferably under/around $200, but is... short? I don't know what the term is for a blade that is only the length of a typical safety razor blade and I don't see it in the description of the blades that I see for sale online. Also I have no idea who's blades are worth it and whose should be avoided. Any help would be appreciated. Seirously... I am not far from giving up the search and seeing if I can just make it my self.

A beard and a shaving forum? ????
Look on the classified sector over here there are nice shave ready razors.

I'm not trying to talk you out of a straight, as I use one and wear a beard as well, but if you want to stick with your safety razors, DE blades are readily available online at Straight Razor Designs, Lee's Safety Razors, and other shaving sites.

The short bladed straights you're looking for are called dwarf or shorty. That might help you with your search.

Yep DE. Blades are not in short supply, so many brands that I can't list them on a single post! Plus a lot better than your mist likely using now, as to a razor I second , look in the classifieds to get you a good starter razor that will be shave ready which is more important than any thing else, trimming up to a beard line after you learn how to shave and strop will be easy enough to do, or find a shorty if you really think that's what you want. Or stick with a replaceable blade razor but get a decent one like a Feather SS or DX and some blades and your off to shaving proper!! Tc

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Originally Posted by Moonshae

The short bladed straights you're looking for are called dwarf or shorty. That might help you with your search.

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Thanks I'll try that.

I don't trust things left at my door to be there when I arrive so shipping is a bit of a problem.

Is using a straight razor that much different that a shavett? I had assumed that the danger was in the sharpness and so the DE blades would be on par with the straight razors at least in terms of sharpness. And thus a shavett was something akin to "training wheels" for a straight razor. Am I just completely off on that assumption?

The major difference for me was blade width and weight. With the shavette, you have much less blade to pay attention to, that led me to some less than pleasurable experiences. As far as the weight, a straight you more or less let it's own weight cut the hair off, whereas with the shavette I kinda push it through the face fur. The shavette is definitely a good training/travel straight, it's been my ol' reliable for a while now. I would suggest placing an add of "want to buy" and see if you can pick up a refurbished shorty from a member.

As far as getting stuff shipped, getting a box at the USPS or UPS is pretty reasonable. Then just fill out the order forms with that address. I had to do that when some people in my apartment were on a five-finger discount spree....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dinnermint

The major difference for me was blade width and weight. With the shavette, you have much less blade to pay attention to, that led me to some less than pleasurable experiences. As far as the weight, a straight you more or less let it's own weight cut the hair off, whereas with the shavette I kinda push it through the face fur. The shavette is definitely a good training/travel straight, it's been my ol' reliable for a while now. I would suggest placing an add of "want to buy" and see if you can pick up a refurbished shorty from a member.

As far as getting stuff shipped, getting a box at the USPS or UPS is pretty reasonable. Then just fill out the order forms with that address. I had to do that when some people in my apartment were on a five-finger discount spree....

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What he said, drop box at the UPS store, Kinkos, if your satisfied with what you have buy it there in the store, but that's the problem nit much good equipment to find, online is about it for this business unless you live down the road from SRD. Or West Coast Shaving,, those Art of Shaving dpstores I don't recommend. Tc

The blade length of a straight would make a bit if difference. Broken blades go cheap and getting it converted to a shorty is easily enough done by one of the vendors I would think. Maybe have a chat to one and get an idea. Sure it would be under the price you mentioned easily

Welcome to the forum.