Thread: Dont know what to get

Not to long ago i gt in to straight razors. i find them very beautiful and a good way of shaving.

I want to get a good blade and i want help from every one and telling me what metal is better

High Carbon Steel

Damascus Steel

I know both are a carbon steel but i just want to know what the differnce between them.

PLz any help would be nice

I know there will be people who will disagree but I always warn people anyway. Carbon steel "Damascus" razors make really fine collectors items but do not make the greatest of shavers. If you want a razor that is a good shaver AND looks like a "Damascus" razor - find a Damascene Damascus pattern razor. Damascene is a powdered metal stainless process that makes a razor that looks like a "Damascus" blade but will take and hold a really nice edge. Plus, they are easy to take care of.

Carbon steel is the easiest to work with as a shaver/honer. Aesthetics aside, it is your best choice out of the gate.

X

You will likely get a lot of help on this one.

For starters, you want to see if straight shaving is for you and the best way to do it without putting in a lot of money is to go with a disposable straight such as the Dovo shavette and blades. Each blade will last about 5-7 shaves, but the results will eventually be superior and more satisfying. This way, there will be no worries about stropping or if your straight razor is sharp enough. Be careful, the first shave with a new blade is very sharp and slightly less each additional shave.

You will want a pure badger brush and some shaving soap such as col conk., tabac, colleens, ...etc the list is endless. If straight shaving isn't for you, then you will do well with keeping these two items using them with your other razor.

If it catches on, then you can put in more money for other straight razors and sharpening tools. But your disposable straight will always come in handy. I like mine so much, I still use them in my rotation. Plus they always come in handy doing minor touch up work on dry skin.

I can tell you that the learning curve will take a little time, but SRP reading will greatly help you along the curve. Check out Wiki on SRP.

I get excellent shaves with Carbon Steel & Stainless Steel straights and the blades are fairly easy to maintain. Damascus looks cool, but it is sort of a luxury if you wish to dispose the income. You have a ton of good choices out there and the on-line guys advertising on SRP are all good people to talk to.

Welcome!

Pabster

Thanks Pabster

I got all that down wit the brushes and shaving soaps but all i need is a good blade. i grew up with my grand father and he used a straight all the time and he was the one that thought me.

i remember though he had a razor which was real sharp and he would slide across his face with no water and would cut hair and not pull the hairs at all. and i want to know what kind of metal that was because till this day i can not find a razor equallyas god as the one he had.

But back to the point i own a DOVO Micarta Straight Razor 5/8 exactly as the picture below. it feels real good when shaving and i have a couple more razors along with this one, but this one works the best.

i think its is time to get my own custom one and i want to know what cuts better then this a robert williams razor and if so what do u recommend. [IMG]file:///C:/Users/Gerardo/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg[/IMG][IMG]file:///C:/Users/Gerardo/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg[/IMG]

Originally Posted by xman

Carbon steel is the easiest to work with as a shaver/honer. Aesthetics aside, it is your best choice out of the gate.

X

+1. Couldn't have put it better. Damascus blades are seductively lovely but you really don't need them, especially when you're starting out.

well i don't feel like I'm starting i have about one year shaving with straight razors

i just recently started looking in to custom made razors and decided to get something that is better them what i have at the moment.

The Micarta is a nice blade and a tough one to beat. I have a Dovo Best Class No 95 on the way as well as my RW, but the RW is several months away. I expect the RW to out perform everything else in my roation and that says a lot since my other straights are top notch.

My Dovo 55 can get to be an almost "too sharp" blade when being sharpened and it shaves very well. Its almost as sharp as my disposable blades on its second shave. Since this is NOS and "old carbon steel" from the 70's and a 7/8, its a big boy compared to the curent 5/8's. I think Vintagebladesllc.com is still selling some.

When I am in the mood for a very sharp blade, I forget the stropping bit and pull out my feather straight - The sharpest straight blade I ever experienced. I also have a Feather knock off disposable straight that takes Super Stainless Steel blades mades in Japan and they perform identical to Feather - hint, hint, MKTG 101.

In the world of sharp, disposables straights are still king at my house. However sharpness isn't always the most preferred. My Dovo special shaves well and requires more effort, but doesn't give me weepers.

Lots to chose from. I started a thread under Razors titled..... your top 3 straights. Check out that thread as there is a lot to see...

Pabster



.

One word---PRICE!

Thx gunner

BUT......

Price for me dosent bother me as long as it is a good blade I have no problem paying