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Welcome to SRP. Glad to see you're finally upgrading to a real straight razor. If you're set on buying a new razor, then you can not go wrong with any razor purchase from Straight Razor Designs as all the razors come "Shave Ready" honed by Lynn himself. The combo set from SRD would be a great start, however if you opt to go that route, then hold off on using the strop for awhile until you get the proper technique needed for stropping. So I would suggest checking out whippeddog.com, Larry, the owner and member here, sells a beginner strop that is very affordable, I think around $20. Ruprazor also sells a get beginner strop, "The Filly." Either of these would be good way to go. If you want to be frugal, then you can also check the classifieds here for razors, strops, whatever. There is also a section "Member Services" so when the time comes to have your razor honed, you have a few options. Most of the members who offer honing services all charge about the same amount. But if you buy your razor from SRD, I believe it comes with a certificate for a future free honing. Just be sure to do some proper research (WIKI, FAQ, etc) before rushing into a purchase. Hope this helps and keep us posted on what you decide.
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Welcome to SRP. If I were you, I would go for the Combo from Straightrazordesigns.
Good quality products, and this also solves your question number 3. All razors from SRD are honed by Lynn Abrams. That name may not mean much to you yet, but spend some time here and you will know that with him, you would be in the very very best of hands. I do believe they offer a free second honing as well. Good deal in my book:)
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Welcome to SRP
Q1: That entirely depends on what do you value since these things change a lot from person to person.
Q2: A quality strop is as important as the razor. Yes, you'll nick it, but that's a terrible reason to go with a subpar product. Getting one where the leather can be replaced is a very good middle option - from the prices I've seen it seems like a much better option than going the 'throwaway strop' route.
Q3: Plenty of good guys and the prices seem to be pretty much the same. If you're getting honing and razor in separate transactions make sure you verify the honing quote for that particular razor before you (commit to) buy it.
Yes, that's not specific answers 'buy this', but it's your money and your choice, so I don't think it's fair that I make it for you.
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I was in the same position that you are in, 4 months ago. I was apprehensive about buying used because I didn't know what razors were worth the investment and just because they were shave ready didn't mean much when I see everyone on this site throwing around names, manufacturers, carbon, stainless, etc. If an unknown name is shave ready, what's different from a Double Duck that is shave ready?! So, I went with the combo from Straight Razors Design. Sure, it's a little more than a vintage razor but I recognize the name and the store. That isn't a bust on anyone that is selling on this site, I'm sure they are all respectable sellers, but after weeks of research, I was tired of reading/weighing/documenting to determine if the seller I was buying from was a smart decision.
As for the brush and soap, I stuck with a Nivea shave cream for a few months and eventually gave in to buying a brush (Franks, Ebay) and shaving cream from Sephora (Jack Black). Yes, not the normal shaving cream, but I like B&M stores that I can walk in to and I didn't want to drop $30 at Art of Shaving. In the end, I am really glad I did - that was the difference between a good shave and a great shave! Plus, the process of making the lather "completed" the overall process.
Other than that, I recommend the 3" strop.
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Welcome to SRP! The most bang for the buck would be a vintage razor in listed in the WIKI as a brand to get. There are lots of god vintage razors in great shape that you may find in local antique shops or flea markets. Look for no rust, stains, cracks or chips in the scales or blade especially on the blade's bevel and edge. If the razor is from England (Sheffield), Germany (Solingen), the US or Sweden odds are in your favor that it will shave good. Get the razor professionally honed. Next best option would be from Straight Razor Designs if you don't have the patients to hunt one down. Their razors come professionally honed and I believe you get a free second honing. The classifieds are a good option but not as perfect as SRD. For a strop some of the members here say Illinois strops are good to start with and are not too expensive. Do a Google search. Don't worry about honing your own razor for at least 6 months of straight shaving and in that time you can use some chromium oxide on balsa or diamond spray/paste on felt, leather or even newspaper or old jeans to get you by. Good luck and be sure to have fun! :)
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If you give Straight Razor Designs a call they will give you more honest information about the razors you are interested in than most of us can.
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+1 Calling SRD, ask and you will be greatly pleased. As to strop, whatever one you get PRACTICE with a butter knife. It takes months to learn the simple art of correctly using a strop. No sense in cutting it while you learn. And have fun. Welcome!!!
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The whipped dog suggestion for the strop is a great idea. You'll get a great "starter" strop as well as a piece of pasted balsa. The pasted balsa should be able to keep your edge in good condition to prolong the need for honing.
I got my first setup from the invisible edge. I bought a kit ($200ish). It came with a dovo razor shave ready, a stainless steel soap bowl (still use), a nice badger hair brush (still use), a strop (the strop is only 1.5 wide, but it will pass as a starter strop), soap, and stypic, and an alum bloc. Great deal in my mind.
As others have mentioned, you can't go wrong with either razor you are looking at...the strop/balsa from whipped dog is a great deal. I'd definitely consider it. Check out the kits from the invisible edge. Steve, the owner, has a great reputation. I got the basic, dovo best quality. I'm sure you can upgrade to one of the Dovo razors that you are considering now in the package.
If I could go back and do it again...I'd get the same kit from invisible edge, but I'd get the strop/balsa from whippeddog.com. $19. The strop is the only thing from the kit I don't like. I'd get a wider strop (3 inches). The 1.5 was difficult to use as a novice because the X pattern was needed to strop.
http://www.dovorazors.com/page32.html
Good luck and happy shaving.
