Thread: Which razor?

Originally Posted by gugi

The fact that you started with a Parker shavette and found that helpful does not make the way they shave comparable to a straight razor.

I would submit that your disagreement about the difference is likely a result of very limited experience.

I have orders of magnitude more experience than you with different straight razors (over thousand compared with about 10 for you), and did have that when I experimented with different types of shavettes.
It is not about just how you hold your shaving tool and its weight - a thin factory sharpened and polymer coated blade held in a holder has a very different feeling when shaving from ANY straight razor.

After about 3 months of experience with a few regular straight may be it all seems the same to you, but it isn't. Notice the person who agreed with my statement - he also has years of experience with at lest dozens (I think though hundreds) of razors.


I often wish people would read the preceding posts and pay attention to what is being said instead of blindly pushing their latest 'revelation' onto everybody else regardless of whether it is applicable to the situation or not.

Actually, if you do read the OP, the question was what blade to begin with, not what blade would mimic the feel of a regular straight razor. I answered his question with the comment that a Feather SS is a good way to start, and I believe that it is. It is much easier to shave with than the Artist Club models, and certainly much easier to shave with and more forgiving than the Dovo Shavette, the razor I began with. Actually, for me, beginning with the Shavette was a valuable lesson learned.

Regarding the Feather SS "feeling" like the experience of shaving with a straight razor, it would be hard for me to tell. All my razors are 8/8 or larger and most of those are 9/8 and beyond. I didn't give the Feather SS a try to mimic the feel of my larger razors, just to refine my technique a bit, and that it does. Did someone inadvertently mention the HHT in this thread or something? If so, I missed it!

Originally Posted by gugi

The fact that you started with a Parker shavette and found that helpful does not make the way they shave comparable to a straight razor.

I would submit that your disagreement about the difference is likely a result of very limited experience.

I have orders of magnitude more experience than you with different straight razors (over thousand compared with about 10 for you), and did have that when I experimented with different types of shavettes.
It is not about just how you hold your shaving tool and its weight - a thin factory sharpened and polymer coated blade held in a holder has a very different feeling when shaving from ANY straight razor.

After about 3 months of experience with a few regular straight may be it all seems the same to you, but it isn't. Notice the person who agreed with my statement - he also has years of experience with at lest dozens (I think though hundreds) of razors.


I often wish people would read the preceding posts and pay attention to what is being said instead of blindly pushing their latest 'revelation' onto everybody else regardless of whether it is applicable to the situation or not.

I think I'll just stick to reading for the next couple years

Thanks for the responses guys! You guys are a big help!!

The razors I named off are just the ones that I have a little knowledge about. Reading on forums google searches, asking questions, etc..

If any of you have a razor you'd recommend more in the $150 range, that's new, and not a replaceable blade, let me know! I just want to get the biggest bang for buck, like anything else. Yeah, DOVO and TI make (what most people would consider) quite comparable razors, but I've heard the TI holds a better edge, and if this is true then that would make me want a TI more than a DOVO...because I feel I'd be getting a slightly better product for my money.

The reason I was highly considering the Palisander is because many people say that is the best razor in my price range, plus I like the look of the razor being plain. Also, SRD is out of stock on all their DOVO razors and the TI's I was interested in (1937 SC, and Le Dandy).

What other razor do you guys think is the biggest bang for the buck in the $150 range? If you had $150 (give or take) to spend on a razor, what would it be??

Thanks!!

Originally Posted by JZeb

Thanks for the responses guys! You guys are a big help!!

The razors I named off are just the ones that I have a little knowledge about. Reading on forums google searches, asking questions, etc..

If any of you have a razor you'd recommend more in the $150 range, that's new, and not a replaceable blade, let me know! I just want to get the biggest bang for buck, like anything else. Yeah, DOVO and TI make (what most people would consider) quite comparable razors, but I've heard the TI holds a better edge, and if this is true then that would make me want a TI more than a DOVO...because I feel I'd be getting a slightly better product for my money.

The reason I was highly considering the Palisander is because many people say that is the best razor in my price range, plus I like the look of the razor being plain. Also, SRD is out of stock on all their DOVO razors and the TI's I was interested in (1937 SC, and Le Dandy).

What other razor do you guys think is the biggest bang for the buck in the $150 range? If you had $150 (give or take) to spend on a razor, what would it be??

Thanks!!

If I were you, with the limited availability regarding TI and Dovo, and some of the QA issues surrounding this shortage, I'd narrow it down to RA or Revisor.

I've never had nor shaved with a Ralf A, but I have with a Revisor, and they are current production blades made in Germany and they are outstanding razor's in every way IMO...have a look at some of them, I think you'll be pleased.

Cheers and good luck!

Originally Posted by Phrank

If I were you, with the limited availability regarding TI and Dovo, and some of the QA issues surrounding this shortage, I'd narrow it down to RA or Revisor.

I've never had nor shaved with a Ralf A, but I have with a Revisor, and they are current production blades made in Germany and they are outstanding razor's in every way IMO...have a look at some of them, I think you'll be pleased.



Cheers and good luck!

I second this. If you're going to spend money then spend it on a revisor. They are nice blades and look good. All dovo's shave the same in my opinion. From the lowest to the most expensive. What your paying for in a dovo is looks or scales or something that doesn't really effect the shave. Can't be said for the TI's though. The higher end TI's shave better but the cheaper ones do a good job too. But really, edge longevity is completely dependent upon you. I have a razor that has pretty soft steel that I haven't honed in months yet still shaves like a dream.

Originally Posted by dexter90723

I dont know what it is, and I'm sure imma get some kind of backlash for this, but man Gugi sounds very condescending to me when he speaks to those with less experience and it really rubs me the wrong way.

I have been given so much great advice here but the way you go about it is border line rude. I sure your knowledgeable far beyond me but Im no fool when it comes to social interaction and communication and being an admin here I would think you would set a lil better example.

Well, sometimes I get fed up reading BS and end up making rude posts. I know that beginners are more enthusiastic than knowledgeable but I don't think that should be an excuse to push everybody else towards their latest preferences.
I just read two more completely false statements that all Dovos shave the same from the cheapest to the most expensive, and that the expensive TIs shave way better than the cheapest.

The Bergischer Lowe Dovo is their most expensive one (they no longer make the MOP and mammoth one) and shaves nothing like any other currently produced Dovo, Boker or TI. It is a lot more like a vintage Dovo than a current production razor. I haven't shaved with every Dovo model, but I have with about ten of them, and if you look at my earlier post I explained how they group.
I have also tried about ten of the current TIs and the most expensive ones do not shave significantly better than the cheapest ones. I still have one or two of their most expensive ones (from the limited editions) basically because I like the looks, but none of them shaves like the Bergischer Lowe Dovo so may be one day I'll get rid of them. I do have about 5-7 vintage ones though which I am not planning to part with.

If I get down to my top 10 best shaving razors, the've cost me between $20 and $500. But there is no $150 razor that you can just buy which would be comparable to any of them. You get lucky and happen on such razor for $10, or you can spend thousands chasing them.
The $20 razor was made around 1830 in Sheffield, it has ivory scales no hone wear and takes as sharp of an edge as those feather professional blades. I've parted with it only once to a custom razor maker who asked what is my magic formula for honing it (there is no magic, the razor simply supports that level of sharpness remaining buttery smooth while most razors do not).

Originally Posted by ace

Actually, if you do read the OP, the question was what blade to begin with, not what blade would mimic the feel of a regular straight razor. I answered his question with the comment that a Feather SS is a good way to start, and I believe that it is. It is much easier to shave with than the Artist Club models, and certainly much easier to shave with and more forgiving than the Dovo Shavette, the razor I began with. Actually, for me, beginning with the Shavette was a valuable lesson learned.

If somebody is to 'start' with a $150 razor, it seems like they'd be better off spending $300 on a razor they do not need to 'move on from'.

The OP explicitly stated that he does not want to buy a shavette, despite having been hard sold on them.

May be you are at the point that spending a $150 on feather razor in order to refine your technique is worth it, but pushing it on a brand new guy who has said he doesn't want to go that route seems more self-serving than helpful.

Few years ago I kept reading how unforgivable those feather razors are, that it's hard to master them. This wasn't at all the case for me. I've never cut myself with them - yes they are sharp, but I have a number of razors just as sharp.
I don't understand the need for big heavy razors either, but I can see how shaving with only such is detrimental to developing a good shaving technique - the inertia from the blade and the lack of flexibility prevents the shaver from developing fine dexterity to control the razor.

I've been pointing this out for years, as the reason for beginners to get a regular 5/8 or 6/8 size razor. I have a number of those big ones, but just one of them has the right ergonomics to be as easy to control and provide as good of a feedback as a regular sized razor.


At $150 the biggest bang for the buck if shaving is the concern is in a vintage razor in excellent and unrestored condition (look at the recommended brands). But if 'new' is a requirement ralf aust or revisor are probably the best options.

Originally Posted by JaimeCobos

I think I'll just stick to reading for the next couple years

Yep, same here.

Frank

This feels..... or this seems to be..... Last I checked my opinion is just as valid as someone with a million razors and 40 million hones. I wasn't trying to push anything on anyone but only expressed my opinion. I may not have agreed with you (and I still don't) but that's ok. I will continue to express my opinion in a respectful way whether you do or not.

"Be wary of those who speak with great certainty, for the only certainty in life is nothing is certain."

You are free to have any opinion you have, but it is much more useful when presented in proper context. You disagreed with my statement, so posted what I think is the most likely reason for your having such a different view.

This is not a site where everybody can post their opinion just because they happen to have it. The reason people seek advice here is the expertise and help that is available. Most of what you read on other shaving forums is there only because of the SRP members who have persisted in pointing out bad advise and challenged meritless 'opinions'.

For example these days when it comes to honing the first thing that you will hear is that it is almost all about the bevel work. It took me and several other members six months before it caught up here and then it was another year or so before other forums picked it up too. Before then threads were mostly about everybody's opinion on which finishing hone the guy should try to get his razor sharp.

I completely agree that it is best to be helpful and nice-mannered, but being helpful and cantankerous is better than being nice-mannered and not helpful.