Thread: Please help me pick a new razor.

Who hone your razors? I do have a heavy beard and all the hollows available from extra hollow to wedge and all of them shave me the same. I make sure I hone the razor to my beard. Juan

Originally Posted by holeHeartless

Call me crazy...I know a P.D. Baus is nothing to scream about...but both it and my Fili will pop a dropped hair...and i prefer the P.D. Baus /shrug

This just means two things: Razor is honed well and the steel is good enough to hold the edge.

As long as you stay away from the "Razors to avoid" and have it honed by a pro, pretty much any of the old French, English, German, or US razors will give you satisfaction. I've honed/used a few Russian razors and they gave me great results as well.

I've got around a hundred razors around, only about half are shave ready, and if I take my time with each and every one that isn't shave ready...the result will be the same: a good shaving razor. Each and every one is more than likely a different mfg too. I have a few that I have more than one of as I really like the steel, but it may be because I picked it up at a good price.

In summary, this is why we usually recommend for most to find a razor on the classified's. Most all will be shave ready and to be truely shave ready it has good steel in it. Most of the junk razors can't make it past pocket knife sharp before the edge starts to crumble...this happens at the lower grit stones & typically can't make it past 4K.

Wackers are very similar to Filli's IMO. DD's are killer shavers and I would highly recommend them, and I also rate Sheffield blades very highly.

Of the production blades the DOVO Bismarck is a great shaver and again is a blade I have no hesitation in recommending to anyone and I also rate TI's very highly as well.

I would love to try the razor on one of those Escher stones. But I'm a DYIer. I soaked the dough into two DMTs and two Shaptons, the 16k and 30k. They put a perfect edge on my other razors; but I haven't gotten an edge to last more than one shave on my Iwasaki since the original edge wore off. I don't believe it likes my Shaptons, and would prefer a naturally quarried stone. The Iwas. just pulls my hair after honing. But like I said, any of my other regular shavers are sharp enough to cut you by looking at them. I'm not sure why I can't tame the Iwasaki.

But I've had the Iwasaki for a few years now—haven't used it much, and I think it's just time to give it up for something I will use. The razor is as good as new now. Like I said, I've barely used it once the 1st edge wore off.

If anyone wants an Iwasaki for that matter, I would trade it for something of equal quality.

But as nice as those Eschers sound, I'm now out of work, and I see that the quarry isn't going to produce any more. So my chances of getting one are low. And I like honing my own over sending it out all the time. But when things change, and if it presents itself, you can be sure I'll be picking up an Escher anyway.

Last I heard Mizu san was finishing the Iwasakis on the Shap 30k so its not so likely the stones fault . Sorry

FWIW -

The Dovo "Prima Klang" is advertised as a "singing blade". If I understand right, that means it's a super-full-hollow grind. That satisfies one of your requirements. They're stock items for several online sellers (including SRD, I think).

Charles

I am looking to get into this art/collecting of straight razors. I am right now looking to get my first razor and want one that is all black blade and all but not sure if that's even an option but am ok with a regular blade of coarse. I also would like one that is old but I don't have any particular year or make yet though. But my other concern is I am not wanting to spend tons of money off the bat just until I get my feet wet.

So with that said is anyone selling something like that know someone that is or where I could find something.
O and I would really like to carry one with me as well like a pocket knife as or to keep in my car.

Originally Posted by DerkSamsonite

I am looking to get into this art/collecting of straight razors. I am right now looking to get my first razor and want one that is all black blade and all but not sure if that's even an option but am ok with a regular blade of coarse. I also would like one that is old but I don't have any particular year or make yet though. But my other concern is I am not wanting to spend tons of money off the bat just until I get my feet wet.

So with that said is anyone selling something like that know someone that is or where I could find something.
O and I would really like to carry one with me as well like a pocket knife as or to keep in my car.

You are looking to find a straight razor with a black blade?

I don't want your Blade but will hone it free and finish the blade on Ecsher.
you should cover postage.
if this works let me know.
gl