Thread: 1st razor......

My brother is interested in str8 shaving and I wanted to get him set up. What size and type of razor do you think would be good for a newbie? Looking forward to your comments.
Thanks Tony

This one would be perfect!

As BeBerlin points out, what is wrong with the razor you are listing in the classifieds for your brother?

Originally Posted by Joed

As BeBerlin points out, what is wrong with the razor you are listing in the classifieds for your brother?

Too expensive. Kidding aside Brando. A 5/8 or 6/8 round point. Vintage or maybe an entry level Dovo. You could also look at getting one that you would want for yourself in case he decides it isn't his thing.

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

This one would be perfect!

Nothing wrong with what I have posted in classifieds gentlemen. I was asking because I have a few other razors and I do not have the experience as some of the other members here and was looking for more experienced opinions. Not ball breaking.Thanks Jimmy for for the straight forward opinion I was looking for.

Originally Posted by Joed

As BeBerlin points out, what is wrong with the razor you are listing in the classifieds for your brother?

Whats up with that?? I was asking for an experienced oppinion from vetaran str8 shavers, not a ball breaking on what I had for sale. Huh?

Originally Posted by Brando

Whats up with that?? I was asking for an experienced oppinion from vetaran str8 shavers, not a ball breaking on what I had for sale. Huh?

Chill out, you're taking it all wrong way. I started out with square point razors. The one you have for sale would make a nice starter w/o looking for another. Sorry to see that you took a negative interpretation of my original post and am not sure what that means.

Any professionally sharpened round point for less than $70.00 would be good for a newbie. Think about a C-MON Cadillac. Less than $70.
I have one and it shaves like a champ.

Square points, Spike points and French points are naturally taboo for newbies. The best thing you can do for a newbie is educate him.

Originally Posted by mrsell63

Square points, Spike points and French points are naturally taboo for newbies.

I beg to differ. But anyhow, we have an FAQ entry for this specific question, and if something is in the FAQ, it is reasonably safe to assume that it has passed our quality assurance process.

Frequently Asked Questions - Straight Razor Place Wiki
What makes a good starter razor?


Dovo Best Quality 6/8

• Size = 6/8 A wider blade is easier to keep flat on the strop, which is very important for a beginner. 6/8 is also dead center on the size chart, so you can decide which direction to go on your second razor. Finally, it has some heft for those less than confident first strokes, and is still easy to handle.
• Grind = Half hollow Again dead center on the chart, so you can decide which direction to go after your first razor. A half hollow grind offers enough heft for beginner shaving, yet also has some flexibility for comfort.
• Point = Round point. A round point is a little safer, anyway, not a lot but every little bit helps at first.

The question remains whether a member who has no answer to this question should sell razors to other members (and I am speaking of beginners here, not senior members who can pass good judgement of a razor from good photographs).

I started with spikes and squares with no problems, it was actually weird to shave with a round point for a long time