Thread: Need some assistance with my new obsession.

I have owned Boker, Dovo and Austs and for the money you can't beat Austs. I am attaching a picture of my 6/8 Austs with different tips. I really like the Spanish tip. I didn't like the square, kept nicking myself. I have one 5/8 round tip Aust as well. You don't need to spend the type of money you listed to get a top razor. I went from a 5/8 to 6/8 and like it much better. The weight and feel is a little heavier. The Spanish tip is the one with the bone scale. Austs hold a fantastic edge and seem to need less maintenance. Just some stropping each time. I suggest looking into SRD modular strop. Very easy to use.

Just ordered the Ralf Aust 5/8 round in rosewood from SRD.

Looking forward to getting a Lynn hone for sharpness reference.

Thanks again everyone

Originally Posted by MADSTEEZE

Just ordered the Ralf Aust 5/8 round in rosewood from SRD.

Looking forward to getting a Lynn hone for sharpness reference.

Thanks again everyone

My EXACT choice from Lynn a month ago!! A GREAT hone on a GREAT razor!!!
Follow the advice......and DON'T STROP IT BEFORE THE FIRST USE!! Just rinse it off.....and SHAVE!!
Careful stropping thereafter should keep the edge well-maintained for a good while.....THEN....send it back to Lynn for a FREE refresh!!
Enjoy!

Close shaves should SOOTHE ya....NOT SCARE ya!!

I'd go for a nice vintage, all my razors are vintage and I'd never buy a new razor; I just don't like them. As far as style, get whatever you like the look of. Seriously, you'll learn to use any razor you get and it's interesting to get different styles for ALL the razors you'll buy (let's face it, you're not going to stop at two :-)).

My first razor was a Burrell Top Flight; full hollow 5/8 with a spike toe. I never found it a problem; never wished I'd got a round point and never considered dulling the toe; I just learned how to use it. I find when I shave I use mainly the belly and the heel of the razor. I have some facial hair so like cutting in around that with the heel; so i do like a nice square heel.

I like a thinner razor over a wedge; I find wedges a little 'clunky' yet I have some and use them. I find I get more 'feedback' from a thinner grind.

Variety, say say, is the spice of life; so as I say, get a bunch of different styles, a nice leather case capable of holding seven razors, and rotate them using a different one each day; that's what I do interspersed with a dabble with DE and, lately SE razors from time to time.

Check out the classifieds, I've bought all but a couple of razors from there. Also, Revisor sell 'new' vintage razors and I've got a couple of nice ones from there...

Originally Posted by Utopian

I completely agree with this, but also agree that you are unlikely to listen.

One can always try. Getting another razor at this point in time is a waste of time. Not necessarily money, but time. An additional razor, especially one that is markedly different, will make the learning curve longer and harder.

But I also agree that...

As usual, I'm too late, but just for your next purchase, I'd suggest trying a different grind (heavier) which are most easily found in vintage. You say you know what you prefer, but that's hard to swear to if you've only used one type. The Aust you have on the way is a fine razor (I have one) but is very similar to the Dovo. Keep that in mind as you continue to browse and buy your next (which you & I both know you will).

Originally Posted by dasstraightguy

My EXACT choice from Lynn a month ago!! A GREAT hone on a GREAT razor!!!
Follow the advice......and DON'T STROP IT BEFORE THE FIRST USE!! Just rinse it off.....and SHAVE!!
Careful stropping thereafter should keep the edge well-maintained for a good while.....THEN....send it back to Lynn for a FREE refresh!!
Enjoy!

Close shaves should SOOTHE ya....NOT SCARE ya!!

Well that's very reassuring!

I will absolutely NOT strop before shaving so I can bear no risk of lessening the sharpness of the blade.

Thanks for chiming in!

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

I'd go for a nice vintage, all my razors are vintage and I'd never buy a new razor; I just don't like them. As far as style, get whatever you like the look of. Seriously, you'll learn to use any razor you get and it's interesting to get different styles for ALL the razors you'll buy (let's face it, you're not going to stop at two :-)).

My first razor was a Burrell Top Flight; full hollow 5/8 with a spike toe. I never found it a problem; never wished I'd got a round point and never considered dulling the toe; I just learned how to use it. I find when I shave I use mainly the belly and the heel of the razor. I have some facial hair so like cutting in around that with the heel; so i do like a nice square heel.

I like a thinner razor over a wedge; I find wedges a little 'clunky' yet I have some and use them. I find I get more 'feedback' from a thinner grind.

Variety, say say, is the spice of life; so as I say, get a bunch of different styles, a nice leather case capable of holding seven razors, and rotate them using a different one each day; that's what I do interspersed with a dabble with DE and, lately SE razors from time to time.

Check out the classifieds, I've bought all but a couple of razors from there. Also, Revisor sell 'new' vintage razors and I've got a couple of nice ones from there...

Thank you for the response.

I definitely like the appearance of square and french point razors, so no doubt they will at some point become a part of my rotation.

I guess I've been hesitant with vintage because I don't know what's good. I appreciate the perspective that any quality razor will work well. I'll definitely open myself up to the vintage world here soon enough.

Thanks

Originally Posted by RobinK

One can always try. Getting another razor at this point in time is a waste of time. Not necessarily money, but time. An additional razor, especially one that is markedly different, will make the learning curve longer and harder.

But I also agree that...

This is a very fair point and definitely noted.

I plan to stay in the same style of razor size and point for now. I do like variety and often obsess with hobbies of mine, so additional acquisitions will probably be inevitable.

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

As usual, I'm too late, but just for your next purchase, I'd suggest trying a different grind (heavier) which are most easily found in vintage. You say you know what you prefer, but that's hard to swear to if you've only used one type. The Aust you have on the way is a fine razor (I have one) but is very similar to the Dovo. Keep that in mind as you continue to browse and buy your next (which you & I both know you will).

Thanks for the suggestion.

With knowing what is preferred I meant that I acknowledge that the general trend seems to be providing an answer stating that everyone has their own preference so suggesting one razor being better than another is too inaccurate and that I will find my own preference with time and experience. So I was basically disclaiming that I understood telling me what razor would be best for me wouldn't be easy, but that I supposed I preferred to hear others favorites and look for commonalities.

Either way, thank you. I definitely would like to try all options over time. Even the crazy war sword looking customs.