Welcome to SRP, Nathan, and you are correct - Lyn (from SRD) does frequent this site a bit - he started it....hehe
Any razor (or set) that you buy from him will be exceptional, from what I have read.
As you will notice as you read and study this site, most everything is about personal preference when it comes to this journey.
Therefore, pick the one you like the best and go for it - you can get the others later. (Just try and stop at one)
Hang on and enjoy the ride
Thank you,
Havachat45,
Yes, I agree with you, entirely. I am fully expect to hear similar things from other users (personal preference)! It makes the most sense, after all. They are just all very beautiful straight razors and I can't find one quality / characteristic that does it for me more than another. Of course with the Diamant, the blued blade is very unique and catching. I love the bone scales of the Edelweiss. And the stainless, well, I hear that stainless makes for a very solid (and retaining) shave. Also the description that it's 'less maintenance' kind of does it for me. Though I am aware that I should, and I will, take care of any blade I decide upon.
Thanks for the reply. And I'll apologize right now for my freakish reply speeds. I'm attached to my computer and am quick to write a block of text.
Edit: I should add the Dovo Ebony Spike Point is one of my favorites on SRD. But it's currently out of stock. I wonder if Lyn might be able to give an idea of when SRD restocks? Or is it a special order kind of deal? I should probably contact them directly...
Give them each a number. Put the three numbers on seperate pieces of paper, stick them in a hat, shake it up for good measure!
I'm going to start out saying I can't offer any experience with the blades you've asked about. All three are good picks IMO. I would go with the one that speaks to you the most. I prefer darker scales, so the bone one doesn't speak to me that much. Honestly, for the price range you're mentioning, I really like the look of the Bismarck in Ebony. Just my opinion...and they have it in stock. ;)
PS 5/8 - 6/8 isn't that bad when you're learning. I know the Bismarck is 6/8, but it won't make a huge difference IMO.
Welcome Nathan! always good to have a new member :beer1:
I have to say that even though I haven't used the Dovo All Stainless, I did get a chance to handle one. And i wanted to purchase one, right up until i held it. It's waaaay to handle-heavy. again, it's just my opinion. BUT dovo does have some damn good razors! I'd have to say go for the diamant, just because I wanna see an in depth review on it. Let us know what happens. :o
I'll second the post above--the all-stainless Dovo has very poor balance, something yoe don't need to mess with as you're learning to shave. I have a Dovo stainless in ebony scales that I've been happy with. Like you, I was drawn to stainless for ease of care--but have found that to be a non-issue, at least for me. Part of the ritual is putting the blade away properly, and I take the same care with the stainless as with my high-carbon blades.
I like bone scales, for what that's worth.
The only thing that spooks me about blued blades is that sometimes I hone on a coticule with slurry, and notice a little feathering of scratch marks the loose grit causes w/in ~1/8" of the edge. That would probably show up as scratches in the bluing on the diamante.
Best wishes and good luck with your luxurious struggle! So many choices...
I'd go for the Boker or the Dovo Stainless, thats just me, all three are great no doubt. Do you have a strop? A brush? Shaving cream?
Thank you for your replies and welcomes, everyone.
Yochatman- Don't think I haven't debated that, haha. I'm one of those peoples that flips a coin, though, and always changes my mind mid flip. Or after I see the results.
Cove- I enjoy the bone / ivory look a lot with steel. But I've always also enjoyed the dark/ebony scale look. The Bismark is a beauty to be sure, but it's a bit -too- much of gold (is there such a thing?) for my taste. A bit gaudy... but maybe I'm more of a minimalist. Then again, I just took another look at it and it's looking mighty-fine today.
Straight Razor Robot- Thank you for the input. I'd like nothing better than to contribute to the forum (an in-depth review of the diamant) but as this is my first razor, I'm not sure how well crafted my review would be. It's kinda like they say: you start to notice differences / specifics when you get a second to compare it to.
Roughtkype: Thank you, as well, for your input. Haha, yes it is a luxurious struggle. Perfectly put. I'm thinking of leaning away from the stainless at the moment. Just because I'm trying to make an informed decision on an other wise equal playing field. If people have told me it's got an off-balance or the scales are flexible (as I read on a previous review), then that gives me a little bit of direction. So thank you.
Animal within- I'm leaning with Boker at the moment. As for a strop, brush, etc. I am thinking of order the 'starter kit' from Straight Razor Design. That includes a brush, soap, strop (upgrading to 3'), and other little goodies.
Mav- Thank you for the welcome. Good to be here. Thanks for the suggestion. That one is a beauty. Do you have a preference over carbon and stainless? I know you said it's one of your favorites, I'm wondering if it's because you can tell a big difference between how they shave or edge retention or just personal preference.
Decisions, Decisions! Thank you all.
Should clarify the Bismark is mighty fine looking, but I imagine the gold would rub off. Same with the bluing on the Diamant might as roughkype suggested. I like the uniqueness of the diamant, but maybe it's more of a collectors piece after I get started. The Edelweiss is top of the list, currently. I'll keep you all updated.
Hey Nathan
I love the Inox cos it seems to give me consistent good shaves. I am not at the expertise level of some of these guys here but (and correct if wrong here) one thing about stainless supposedly is that they hold their edge really well. Thats a pretty good thing I would say. Apparently they are a little harder to hone but you should not worry doing that yourself for a little while.
In the end having said all that pick one you like the look of, its an emotional decision as much as it is a practical one.
Cheers
All right, updates.
First, Mav13, thank you for the follow up. I can definitely imagine the benefits of a consistent stainless shave. But seeing as though this is my first razor, I suppose I won't know the difference between carbon / stainless. I have a strange suspicion that I won't be happy with just one razor...
I just purchased the Edelweiss from SRD with complete 'wet shaving' kit. I bought a scented soap (West Indies scent?) to bump me up to free express shipping. Heh.
I'll keep you guys updated on when I get it, what I think, pictures, etc. I imagine you're going to see a nicked, bloody face. I"ll start doing research right now.
Thanks for all your input. I'll look forward to hearing from you.
The boker was the best choice. i love all my bokers even the ones that are not pretty.
Dovo makes nice razors but, to me, they rate below Boker and TI... they make up for it in volume, sort of like the middling wade and butchers, not always the best blades but they made a a huge amount of them.
enjoy,
jim
That's better than a nicked, bloody strop. And who has room in their shave den for a live stropping surface anyway? Especially one that becomes ill-tempered.Quote:
Originally Posted by nathangra
At least your face will heal!
Practice stropping with a butter knife--seriously--to lay in some muscle memory before you put the real blade (and the strop) at risk. It's an odd new motion, and you really want to program your flip timing. Flip too soon--->nicked strop. It's easy to do, and also easy to practice out of your system.
Congrats on a decision and enjoy your new goodies!
Best wishes
I must admit I like Bokers better than Dovos and the price differential seems to somewhat confirm my belief that Bokers are better. But Dovo wouldn't be in business if it wasn't the favorite of many shavers.
If you're beginner I really encourage you to enjoy the journey, because it isn't easy to learn but it is very rewarding once you do.
Assuming you are beginning, here are some resources I found especially helpful:
Is Straight Razor Shaving for You? - Yahoo! Voices - voices.yahoo.com. This article inspired me to try and told me what I needed to start.
I'll admit patronizing the founder of this forum a little, but this was the only resource I know about that touches on all aspects of straight razor shaving. It was very helpful in getting me started and now that I know how to do it I still watch it once or twice a year for a "refresher course." World Of Straight Razor DVD - Straight Razor Place Classifieds
Here's Shaving Made Easy from 1905, a free read (downloadable for free too) that also helped a lot. http://archive.org/details/shavingmadeeasyw0020th
Finally, I watched this video probably several hundred times during my development as a straight razor shaver and as I learned I was increasingly able to reach areas of my face that I previously was unable to reach.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIM0Coix6Gg
My routine has deviated from these mentors over time but I don't think I could have learned without something to follow. The above mentioned tools were my roadmap and each one reinforced the other in my development.
Of course forum participation also helps. And having fun!
Nathan, welcome! I'm new here as well and went thru virtually the same decision making process as you just have and ended making the very same decision. I got my Edelweise on the 12th so I've had it less than 3 weeks. In a word (or 3) "I love it!!" - period!! shaving w/ a straight is cooler than cool and by that I mean that shaving w/ one is so much fun. Yes, there is a wee bit of "edginess to it", but that just adds a touch of icing to the overall learning curve; and that is one of the things that I love about this shaving method. If you are going to be successful at it you MUST, and will, learn. Just remember to stay relaxed and focused on what you are doing at ALL times.
CalifoniaCajun's above advice and links are spot on, as is Lynn's written tutorial on "your first shave" in the beginners section of this forum. There are a couple other good forums out there, but in my opinion none match the wealth of knowledge (read collective member hands-on experience and insight), the scope, the look and feel of the actual website, and last, but certainly not lest, the camaraderie of this group of fellow wet shavers.
And as I am sure you are chomping at the bit to see more detail of your new purchase (which will arrive very quickly thanks to the SRD folks), here's a couple pics of mine. And if those are scratches in the first 2 pics, I can't see them w/ my naked eye. More likely they were just very fine oily streaks left behind when I wiped the shipping oil off w/ a soft linen cloth before taking the pics.
Attachment 98298Attachment 98300Attachment 98301
Syslight- Interesting take. I've read up on opinions in the Boker vs Dovo field, and both have their following for sure. I don't think one is leaps and bound better than the other (from what I read) but I'm glad you like the Bokers. The Edelweiss just seemed like the right fit to me.
roughtkype- Thank you for the advice. Butterknife makes a lot more sense than the 'pen and cap' method I've been hearing about. Serrations won't 'scratch' the strop? Anyway, I'll be sure to practice. I've sharpened knives before, but never stropped. Honestly, one of the reasons I started looking into straight razing was due to this fact. I was curious about stropping, then I found a Zwilling straight razor / strop combo... then it snowballed out of control and I'm here. (Happily)
CaliforniaCajun- Thank you for this wealth of knowledge and all of the references. I really appreciate it! Very thoughtful for you to take out some time and link me to those sites/videos and I'll be sure to check them out as my razor makes its way through the mail.
dArtagnan- That razor's a beauty. And I find your (our) story pretty fascinating. It's funny we went through the same mindset and decision process. But man, seeing those pictures, I'm glad I did. Thanks for giving me some detailed photos and for directing me to 'your first shave'. I remember seeing it before but had forgotten that it existed. Would love to read up on Lynn's advice.
And I have to agree. I think SRP is the best forum in this field, hands down. All things considered. Thanks a lot for the replies, guys.
I've been following this thread and finally have a moment or two to post. As a noob to straight shaving any of the blades you are considering will do a fine job for a shave. Your first razor should be one that appeals to you out of the bunch. If there is a difference in quality of shave between them you will not notice it for several months at the earliest. In straight shaving the quality of the shave is directly related to the sum of all the components. I am referring to your stropping, your shaving technique, your face prep, the honing your razor received, the shave soap/cream you will be using and the quality of lather. I may have missed one or two and the order of importance may be off a little as will different people have a different perceived value on their importance but all directly relate to the quality of your shave. Different people honing your razor and even the same person on different days can affect the edge quality. That is part of what makes this hobby so great! I would venture a guess that by the time you get proficient in your techniques you will be looking to add to your razor collection if you are persistent in your quest to use straight razors. Come a year from now you will look at your first razor with a different light. It may be your favorite razor or you will have a new favorite. Which ever it is you will have greatly improved your skills enough to make an accurate assessment of the razor. Good luck. I look forward to reading about your adventures and progress.
What he said!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Joed
Joed- So very well said. Thanks for replying and keeping an eye out on the thread. I think you said it best. I have similar thoughts, myself. That's why I was so compelled to buy via SRD. There has been a lot of praise for Lynn and his honing abilities, so that's something I think I can kind of put out of the equation (honing). I'm practicing my stropping already and am excited for the next steps. I'll be sure to keep you all posted as I go through them.
Today I purchased some sandalwood after shave balm from a little place called The Art of the Shave in Tysons (VA). Smells good enough.
You made a choice, and I wish you the best first shave! One thing to remember, turn the scales all the way around:
I have a friend who decided, after coming over for Easter, and after me talking his ear off about how great wet-shaving is, to pick up the lost art. I supplied him with a sample of soap, a DE and some blades, a Shave ready straight, and showed him how it was done. I actually took him to the shave den, lathered up and shaved. It looked like he took it all in... But...
After a couple weeks he called me up and said that he needed some help. I told him to come on a Saturday morning so we could actually go through the whole process together, and it turns out that his biggest problem was that he had the scales pointed down 90 degrees instead of 270 and they were getting in his way. Luckily he only did his cheek like I told him, otherwise I am sure he would have been all kinds of torn up! Good luck, and don't forget, Lynn also has some great stuff out on YouTube, and a great DVD for purchase. I gave my friend the DVD and told him to watch all 3 hours plus of it over the next couple weeks.
Again good luck, and enjoy the process!
Hi Nathan,
Just one quick reply--yes serrations on a table knife will probably scratch a strop.
Also, don't strop your ne blade before its first use. It will have been stropped.
Best wishes and good luck!
+1 on both of the above, Nathan. "butter" knives aren't table knives. and remember, super super gentle downward pressure when stropping.Quote:
Originally Posted by roughkype
Hey, all.
Man, this reply is late. So, not but two (maybe one and a half) days later, I got my package from SRD. Dannng, fast!
As for RoughKype and dArtagnan: Sorry! You guys are spot on. That's the result of being raised and told that a table knife is a butter knife. I know exactly what butter knives are (officially), but yes, I was thinking of a table knife. I wasn't going to strop until I felt the blade get a little 'tuggy', as I know Lynn thoroughly honed and stropped it for me. I'm going to give my first shave session a go tonight and record the results. I feel as though I've watched enough youtube vids that it'll go somewhat smoothly. I only worry about my lower jaw/neck area. But we'll see, won't we?
Thanks for all the advice, info, comments, etc., everyone. Fantastic input from everyone.
-Nathan
OK, it's the next day. If we don't hear from you in... three more hours we're calling the authorities.
Hope it went well. Waiting to hear.
Hey, Roughkype.
Sorry about that. I just got finished shaving not too long ago. It was a great experience. Almost therapeutic. I love the process of making the shaving soap. The badger hair brush and 'soap' felt amazing in and of itself.
Few things. I probably should have trimmed my face down before I shaved. I usually sport a semi-beard. Maybe inch long give or take a 1/2. So I went at it straight with the, well, straight-razor. It felt like it was kind of tugging / sticking to my face a bit. But I am almost certain that it was because I didn't dilute the soap down with enough water in my mug. It was thick and kind of 'sticky'. Not aerated enough. So I diluted it down and the shave went smoother.
No cuts, no nicks, no irritation of any kind. Caveat: I hope this doesn't upset any 'purists', but I didn't give myself a full shave. I will be doing that tomorrow. However, I'm meeting with someone soon and I've worn a beard ever since I've known them. Waiting one more day can't hurt. But, what I did do is 'trim'. And honestly, I did the parts I felt would be most difficult:
I shaved everything up to and below my jawline. So I shaved my neck, behind my sideburns, my throat. These were the parts that were scaring me, but I managed to pull it off with no 'authorities' having to be called. My technique needs serious work, this I know. I often caught myself with a very peculiar grip. And what are your opinions on shaving 'against the grain'? I felt myself naturally doing it for my neck and lower throat. As I'm typing now, I feel a little bit of a burn / warmth at the throat area and cheeks. But I just applied aftershave.
Anyway, I've never had such a clean / clear / close shave on my neck and throat area. One or five hairs always escape me. And when I do get them, there is always stubble (uneven stubble for that matter) the multi-layered head safety razors just don't have the flexibility and mobility to contour to my jawline appropriately. So that was a definite plus.
So to sum up: It was a great experience. Can't wait to finish the job tomorrow. I have the right idea for making my soap next time. I will try to keep a better angle on the blade as well as a more consistent grip. I also used my right hand the entire shave. I know that's not ideal, but I wasn't comfortable going 'lefty' just yet.
I'll attach a pretty crap quality photo. But you'll get a better idea of what I shaved vs what I didn't.
Attachment 98752Quote:
Originally Posted by nathangra
There were some small dots / streaks on my blade when I was done. I only noticed it when I washed it with hot water and wiped it down with a very soft toilet paper (cottonelle or what have you). But when I used my fingers to run down the sides of the razor (not the blade!) I was able to wipe them off. Hm. Soap residue?
Good job, Nathan! Technique takes time f/ us all. I'm still learning and certainly will be f/ some time I'm sure. I, too, seem to come up w/ some awkward grips quite a bit as some spots are just so hard to address in all three passes. Much of my neck beard grows in a more east/west direction, so a lot of my ATG action is horizontal which is a pain due to the concave vertical profile of the neck. I just shaved my goatee off today so not having to detail that every shave should speed up my shave time in a big way. I just have to deal w/ detailing the perimeter of my 'stache f/ now.Quote:
Originally Posted by nathangra
What kind of soap are you trying? I've been playing around w/ Proraso soap, C.O. Bigelow/Proraso cream, & even bought a can of the C.O. B/P lather just in case I really need to rush sometime. I also have a very nice Cella almond soap which smells great, a very inexpensive Van der Hagen from Walgreen's, and a very old (like 25+ yrs) vintage cake of Yardley that still smells great and gives a super smooth shave.
I've also just started experimenting w/ making my own pre-shave oil. My first small 3 shave batch was roughly 1 part castor oil, 1 part quality extra virgin olive oil, 1 part grape seed oil, a couple drops of glycerin, and f/ smell a couple drops of sandalwood essence oil (2 bucks in the beauty department at WalMart). This seems to be working as well as my sample from AOS and is not as thick due, I think, to the use of the grape seed oil.
And try to get an alum block and some witch hazel if you don't already have them f/ your post-shave. F/ now I've been using Clubman's and Old Spice aftershave as both are easy to find locally, are inexpensive, and smell pretty damn good. My wife prefers the OS, but I may like the Clubman's by just a hair.
Best, and keep us posted.
