Thread: New here - seeking advice

My name is Max and I've recently developed an interest in traditional shaving and straight edges. Reading around the forums has been a great way to begin to learn about straight edges, this is a terrific site - thank you all.

It would be great if anyone could help me out a bit with choosing my first straight edge. I've read the various getting started threads, shopping list for beginners and so on - which has been tremendously valuable.

I agree 100% that at this point it's better to go for inexpensive products, given that I don't know whether I'll end up really enjoying straight edge shaving. I do have a double edge so I'm fine with getting a good brush and soap - those will certainly be put to good use.

But I'm uncertain about getting something from the classifieds that is also cheap, as is suggested in some threads, given how little I know.

So I'm considering getting the full shaving kit from SRD (razor, strop, brush and soap), might upgrade to the 3 inch strop since it appears to be easier to learn with.

I'm curious as to why people seem to value the special tortoise dover over the best quality dover as a first razor, which is 20 bucks cheaper.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated

Originally Posted by MaxJ

My name is Max and I've recently developed an interest in traditional shaving and straight edges. Reading around the forums has been a great way to begin to learn about straight edges, this is a terrific site - thank you all.

It would be great if anyone could help me out a bit with choosing my first straight edge. I've read the various getting started threads, shopping list for beginners and so on - which has been tremendously valuable.

I agree 100% that at this point it's better to go for inexpensive products, given that I don't know whether I'll end up really enjoying straight edge shaving. I do have a double edge so I'm fine with getting a good brush and soap - those will certainly be put to good use.

But I'm uncertain about getting something from the classifieds that is also cheap, as is suggested in some threads, given how little I know.

So I'm considering getting the full shaving kit from SRD (razor, strop, brush and soap), might upgrade to the 3 inch strop since it appears to be easier to learn with.

I'm curious as to why people seem to value the special tortoise dover over the best quality dover as a first razor, which is 20 bucks cheaper.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated

You will find that identical razors with differing scales can vary drastically in price. For example, the price of a Livi razor with olive wood is going to cost a lot less than the identical razor with mastodon ivory. I haven't looked at any DOVOs lately, but I would assume the difference is simply in the scales, with the tortoise scales being more attractive in appearance and having nothing to do with shaving quality.

MaxJ,

I have both the Dovo Best & Dovo Special (Tortoise) and they are both super shaving razors The Special (Tortoise) is a lovely looking razor, but if you are on a budget, the Best is the way to go. My Best was the first razor I bought when I took up straight shaving again, and it remains in my rotation

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

If I had it to do all over again I would get the Dovo "any" from SRD that is shave ready and a filly strop from ruprazor. Amazon.com has a few nice inexpensive badger brushes and Peroso shave cream.

Too bad someone does not put together a "starter kit" like that....

Personally I think you cant go wrong with a kit from SRD. Those should practically be the de facto first set up for a new guy because the razors are great quality, they come well honed and the SRD soaps and strops are superb.

A DOVO Best will be an excellent starter razor and will serve you well for many years to come. Do upgrade to the 3" strop as you will appreciate the extra width when you start stropping. The red or black latigo with webbed fabric would be a good choice IMO. I have the 3" black latigo with webbed fabric and thats a great strop.

Any of the brushes and soaps would be great and grab a copy of Lynns DVD as well, as that'll provide you with a wealth of information.

Good luck and keep us posted!

I tend to agree with the previous posts. The difference in price has nothing to do with the shaveability of the razors, but is due to the difference in the scales of the razor.

IMHO you can't go wrong whatever starter set you choose--if its from one of the reputable vendors who advertsise here at SRP.

Thank you all so much, what a community this is.

I'm still leaning towards getting the basic kit from srd, just out of convenience and the overall consensus on its quality, but I'm also now looking at the ruprazor site suggested by jeffegg2 and whipped dog straights which I came across elsewhere. Both of these sites offer pretty inexpensive deals which might be a good idea right now - since I'm also finding out it's not uncommon to mess up one's first razor and/or strop

Any thoughts on how the Geroeso, Wadsworth or Eisemann at

http://www.whippeddog.com/view_list/-----Holding-Tank-Razors---$30s-%28Includes-Honing---Postage%29/

or the Gold Dollars at

RupRazor - Straight Razors

might do?

I ask because none of these brands appear in the 'brands to look out for' or 'brands to avoid' in the beginner's guides posted on this site.

(keep in mind, for a beginner, though I'm fine with nicking myself a bit as I learn - fortunately I've also never had much of a tendency to cut myself in my prior (conventional) shaving experience)

Thank you all in advance

Originally Posted by MaxJ

...Any thoughts on how the Geroeso, Wadsworth or Eisemann at

http://www.whippeddog.com/view_list/-----Holding-Tank-Razors---$30s-%28Includes-Honing---Postage%29/

might do?

The Wadsworth sold a few hours ago, and has now been removed from the WhippedDog.com site. Just saving you frustration...

I would probably get the kit from SRD or a nice vintage razor.

Originally Posted by MaxJ

Thank you all so much, what a community this is.

I'm still leaning towards getting the basic kit from srd, just out of convenience and the overall consensus on its quality, but I'm also now looking at the ruprazor site suggested by jeffegg2 and whipped dog straights which I came across elsewhere. Both of these sites offer pretty inexpensive deals which might be a good idea right now - since I'm also finding out it's not uncommon to mess up one's first razor and/or strop

Any thoughts on how the Geroeso, Wadsworth or Eisemann at

http://www.whippeddog.com/view_list/-----Holding-Tank-Razors---$30s-%28Includes-Honing---Postage%29/

or the Gold Dollars at

RupRazor - Straight Razors

might do?

I ask because none of these brands appear in the 'brands to look out for' or 'brands to avoid' in the beginner's guides posted on this site.

(keep in mind, for a beginner, though I'm fine with nicking myself a bit as I learn - fortunately I've also never had much of a tendency to cut myself in my prior (conventional) shaving experience)

Thank you all in advance

Thank you all very much for your tips and advice.

Finally I decided to go for the 6/8, best quality dovo razor set from SRD. It seems like one way or another the razor will be a keeper, and a good starting point to decide which way to go in the future, mainly with older razors in mind, if the experience works out - which I anticipate, it will.

I look forward to finally getting started. Truth of the matter is, using a straight had been lingering in my mind for several months, largely from being fed up with the whole mach 3-4 absolute bull, and not until I realized I could search the internet did this move forward.

So, thank you all again, and will be coming back as soon as I actually get started.