Thread: What type of razor did you start with?

I've noticed one of the most common questions on this forum is "What is a good starting razor". I know this question has been answered many times but always in individual posts. I have not seen someone post a poll (if there is a poll could someone link to it). I think a poll would be useful for many beginners because it would show what the majority of people first started with (provided enough people answer the poll). Feel free to attach a picture of your first razor and answer a few questions about it and your experience. I know there are links to the wiki with good information posted in the beginners section but personally I think there should be a thread where more experienced users talk about their first razor, their impressions of it and their experience with SR shaving in general (like how they progressed). All of this to help beginners.

Some questions:
What was your first straight razor?
Why was it your first straight razor?
How well did it work for you?
Did you hone it yourself or did you send it to a pro?
Did you transition from DE shaving or jump right to straights?
Did you ever cut yourself or do you worry about cutting yourself?
If you had it to do over again what would be different?
Anything else you think beginners should or would want to know?



Admins, If you feel that this topic has been thoroughly covered or should be in another section on the forum please move it, trash it or otherwise do as you will with it! I put the poll in this section because I believe it will get more traffic from experienced users than it would in the beginners section.



I guess I'll go first.

My first razor was a vintage George Wostenholm & Son pipe trademark Peerless square tip that I got in a box of junk from an auction sale. At the time I had been using a double edge razor for about five years. I decided that I wanted to try and use a straight razor (after stumbling onto this forum while trying to find information about the straight razor I'd found). I had sharpened knives before but razors were something new to me, the honing guide in this forum helped me out immensely. I cleaned it up and honed it myself on 3k and 8k synthetic stones, finished on a vintage barber hone and stropped it on a cheap kitchen knife strop. It took me a few tries to get the edge honed up right but it was pretty good after that. It's been two and a half years now since I started straight razor shaving and I've never cut myself (I just jinxed it didn't I....). I only worried about cutting myself for the first three or four shaves when my hands were still shaking with nervousness, I've never worried about it since (don't get me wrong, I was and still am very careful with straight razors). I had a bit of razor burn in the beginning (probably because my sharpening job wasn't that great) and I still occasionally get a bit of irritation with very aggressive edges. Luckily my five years of experience with DE razors taught me about face prep, lathering and light pressure.


Two and a half years later I'm getting great shaves and my honing skills are quite good. My collection of razors, hones, strops, brushes and soaps has grown but my Peerless razor has a special place in my heart. If I had it to do over again I wouldn't change a thing. I would start with a vintage blade cleaned up and honed by myself because (for me) that's what it's about, it's not just about shaving, it's about learning.

Cheers,

Dan



p.s. my photography skills still suck... maybe I should start learning.

I feel that if new guys would take the time to read all the advise it would most certainly help , but most of us won't, I wish I had . As to what razor a piece of crap ebay purchase, because I thought I knew, then I purchased from a member here shave ready 5/8 round point nothing fancy but still my favorite shaver. Tc

Mine was a 5/8 Dovo BlackStar still have it but don't use it very much, Moved on to a Tim Zowada custom and will use nothing else !!!!!!

I shaved with a Schick Injector for many many years. Used a cartridge razor for a couple; didn't like that. Bought and used a DE for a couple of months then bought a modern Boker 5/8. It was not shave ready. I bought a vintage Swedish SSA, 11/16, spike point. Had the ugliest red scales imaginable. A very nice shaver though. Have had my share of cuts and nicks; nothing life threatening... Honed it on my own for a year or so, then had it rescaled and professionally honed, what an eye opener (and cheek opener). I have bought a few others, and a few brushes, and now have two strops. Couldn't be happier with the journey so far.
I suppose I am fortunate in that, even though I so much wanted to buy more razors, brushes, and soaps, I resisted. I've spent a lot of time reading, searching, lusting after more gear, but have managed to keep most of the money in my pocket... I am happy enough with what I have right now. Some advice: the longer you resist the urge to acquire more gear, the easier it is to remain satisfied with your existing kit. Kind of like infidelity...

Started with a Gillette DE, most likely an adjustable, at a time when they were not vintage but when everyone used them.

A few years ago I bought a straight razor and a 1912 Gem SE at a Salvation Army auction. That got me into learning to use a straight razor. It was a 4/8 round nose blade in excellent condition and was sent out to be honed to shave ready. After that it was the usual trials, tribulations and frustrations every beginner goes through.

Bob

Back in the 80's I started with a vintage razor and strop. Didn't even have the right stones for honeing but stuck with it. Too long ago to remember the razor maker. Probably only paid about $3.00 for it at a garage sale.

My first was a Ralf Aust 5/8th round point.

I didnt use it long, as the RAS kicked in.

My first was a Dovo 5/8 round point that I bought shave ready here off the classified section. I hadn't really done my homework, but got lucky

Spent a long time lurking on SRP and reading the wiki. I usually tend to do a lot of research before I get into anything and I was lucky enough to see enough threads about getting a shave ready razor. I ended up at SRD with a Ralf Aust 5/8 round point and the budget kit.

What I would have done differently would have been to get a square point as I don't use the round point at all and gone with a 6/8 as I find them easier to shave with and strop, and a 2.5" or 3" strop oh and upgraded my brush because it sheds worse than my lab.

Originally Posted by Danm

What was your first straight razor?
Why was it your first straight razor?
How well did it work for you?
Did you hone it yourself or did you send it to a pro?
Did you transition from DE shaving or jump right to straights?
Did you ever cut yourself or do you worry about cutting yourself?
If you had it to do over again what would be different?
Anything else you think beginners should or would want to know?

I started with cartridges and dove straight in to straight razors. My was a new production Dovo Best 5/8. It was my first purchase because I heard nothing but good things of Dovo razors, and the whole idea was to take better care of my face. I didn't want to jinx that by picking up a poor quality blade, I wasn't familiar enough with which vintage blades were quality and which were junk, and I had germophobic concerns about purchasing a previously used item that someone else has probably used and cut themselves with. The razor worked really well for me until the day I left it in the bathroom after a steamy shower and learned first hand just how little rust it takes to kill a honed edge. So far all my honing has been done by myself, though there's been a time or 2 I very nearly broke and sent one of my razors out for a professional touch. Guess I'm just stubborn like that. I've still got that razor, though it's been displaced as my favorite by an old pre WWII era Germania Cutlery Works razor.

I have cut myself, mostly just tiny nicks here or there. Nothing that would be considered serious, or even worth taking a picture of and making a "Cut of the day" post over. If I had to do it over again...I probably wouldn't change my selection of razors, or the purchase order. You really can't go wrong with a quality new manufacture blade that will last a lifetime.

Best advice for beginners - Keep a cartridge or DE around. Just do 1 pass shaves, and clean up with something else if needed. 2 or 3 passes at a time will just burn the stuffing out of your face and make you want to skip a few shaves or outright quit. Take it slow and enjoy the ride.