Thread: Where to get a good STR8 on a Budget?

Hi gents, I was wondering where I can purchase a good str8 razor on a budget. Previously I bought a solingen Dovo 5/8 hollow carbon steel razor which went dull fast and rusts even when i dryed it and used oil, its way too fragile, too delicate, and sensitive I cant even shave with it now, and i dont know how to hone it. I'd like to purchase something better this time for a better price if possible. Oh also a good deal on a quality strop. Any ideas guys? Thanks in advance, please something with quality thats more durable.

Check the member classifieds.

Also Larry at whipped dog razors is a super helpful guy I have his poor man's strop kit.his sight unseen razors are a good deal from what I gather from others who have used them.

I love my star shaving bench strop. Easy to use and inexpensive.

The edge on any straight razor is a very fragile, delicate and sensitive thing. I think your Dovo is quality and doubt any other non-stainless razor will outperform it (by much) for edge-keeping or rust resistance. Even stainless, by definition, isn't "stainproof" and they get dull without proper care and stropping just like carbon blades. The problem of your unmet expectations may have less to do with razors and more to do with your maintenance and stropping procedures, Spasoje. There's nothing wrong with buying another razor but I'd hate you have the same problem twice.

Can you post a picture of that Dovo blade, by the way?

Thank you, here's a photo

another look

There is nothing on the razor that I can see from the pic that a good honing won't fix...

As stated above the edge must be cared for meticulously, they are honed to a very fine and fragile state, so they must be treated that way...

Originally Posted by Spasoje

Thank you, here's a photo...

Thank you!

Here's my take. Straight razors need care as precise as the edge - careful wiping dry after use, immediate stropping to further dry the edge, dry storage, etc. They do not suffer the slightest abuse without quickly dulling and/or oxidation. The worst I've had happen with eight or nine vintage razors used daily over as many months was dulling from beginner-stropping. I did make a mess out of one or two nicely honed edges before I figured out what careful "light" stropping meant. An edge will crap right out without some stropping after use and another 30-40 licks before shaving. The dfference between good stropping technique, poor technique and no strop at all is the difference between day, night and eternal darkness in the pits of Gorthune on the planet Blaznar in the Plebium system. Or so I have been told.

I didn't notice you said you had a strop. This is perhaps the razor's immediate problem? If you have suitable strop already it's time to study technique (is my novice guess).

That gssixgun guy with 21,000-something posts knows a bit more about this than I. I defer to him.

Superior Shave appears to have some less than expensive stuff on their page. They also have a good reputation, as well as the points above. Just keep hitting the vendors as well, everyone has sales periodically.

It seems you have a few different issues happening here
Blade rusting can be as simple as it not being properly dried after use, this is one area that really needs close attention to stop rust - you could try using a hair dryer to really dry out tricky places like the pivot area, don't get the area too hot though. A light coat of oil applied carefully with a Qtip (save cutting your fingers on the edge) after this will help a lot to prevent further rusting.

Dulling of the edge seems to indicate a stropping problem - I would suggest looking at a number of stropping videos here on SRP. One that helped a lot when i was learning a lot is done by member AF Davis, he explains what he is doing very well IMO. Video here http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...ing-video.html There are many other good videos to look at to help with your technique so check as many as you like to get a better idea of what is best for your razor.

For honing my best suggestion is to send it to a pro to get that shave ready edge feeling again.

In regard to a good quality strop you could certainly pay a lot of money for one, but the risk of cutting it by accident in the early learning stages is quite high. As said by member showmeshiner - Larry from whipped dog razors (google search this) has a decent poor mans strop that I still use today and it does a good job keeping my razor edges in good shape. He can also supply a full set of basic shaving equipment for a very reasonable price range.

The choice as they say, is up to you - whatever you decide there are plenty of people happy to assist with any questions you have.