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I was looking for a straight razor to buy as a newbie to straight razor shaving. I was looking at this
http://cgi.ebay.com/Dovo-Carbon-Stee...QQcmdZViewItem
or
http://cgi.ebay.com/Straight-Razor-D...QQcmdZViewItem
Would you recommend buying from ebay? Thanks a lot.
Yes, those are good razors.
No, at those prices I would not recommend buying from Ebay. I would use Classicshaving.com. But, thats just me.
I prefer to pool everything I need from one dealer and pay one shipping charge. I also like to develop a relationship with my sellers.
I assume you know that the razor will be dull as a doorknob when you get it.
Actually if you are a newbee with nothing, I would recommend one of the starter kits from here:
http://www.thewellshavedgentleman.com
They include a Dovo razor, an incredible strop and all the other goodies you will need to get started as well as good directions and personal assistance if needed. If money is a little tight get the set with a pasted paddle strop, that will keep you shaving for a long long time. If you are planning on getting a honing set-up anyway I would get the hanging strop set you won't regret it.
Oh yea, the razor will actually be shaving sharp when you get it
I'll second Tim's recommendation to go to http://www.thewellshavedgentleman.com. When you buy from Tony Miller, you know you're receiving quality merchandise, at great service and backed up by the best CS on this side of the Atlantic and beyond :nj
I definately agree with that Tony Miller
is the route to go. The razor comes
shave ready and all you will need to
do is lather up and shave.
Terry
In all fairness to the original sources one of those, the Tortoise Dovo, is offered by a member here, and is priced right where it should be.
The other is a wood handled Dovo and looks fine as well but both will need honing which is normal for any (or most) new Dovos.
Tony
Yes, the prices are less than classicshaving.com infact. I'm not sure the original poster is a newbie though.
I'm sure as well that either of those razors will do fine, but have to second Tim's suggestion that you get a kit from Tony. The razors are the same and they come ready to shave, not to mention Tony is a stand up guy.
X
Wow I had no idea a shaving forum would be so active!
Anyways I am quite the newbee to straight razor shaving (19 years old) and asked for a straight razor for christmas (and of course ended up getting some new Ipod, money, games, computer case, everything I SHOULD want =P). I currently have a cheap strop, a fairly cheap straight razor, and a cheap badger hair brush. I ordered a honing stone from premiumknives.com (because I had no idea where to get one from).
as I write this I am browsing thewellshavedgentleman.com and I think I will purchase a razor from here, and if the owner posts on these forums I feel a lot more... secure?
Anyways thanks everyone, and which straight razor would you recommend? I want a very good quality razor, but no 500 dollar, fossilized mammoth ivory razor :p
EDIT: Woops I forgot to ask, I was reading the tests you can do to see how well your blade is sharpened / honed but I can't seem to dig it up again, does anyone have a link?
Were I in your situation I think I would get the paddle set from Tony. When I was Your age I was moving around a lot and had to share my place with a variety of roommates. I would have wanted to keep my razor and strop with my stuff not in the bathroom so they didn't get damaged by my idiot roommates, a hanging strop wouldn't have been as useful. I would call Tony see what he recommends as far as pasting your strop, and if there is any reason to upgrade from the basic black razor as far as the shave is concerned. Your first decent razor might as well be a plain jane model as you will probably do all your learning on it, and then you can look around and try the different fancier stuff out there.
Of course this is all contingent upon the quality of what you already have. What brands of stuff do you have?
I just purchased a leather strop and the wooden handled dovo from tony.
Right now I have proraso shaving cream and shaving soap. I ordered a tweezerman badger hair brush. A cheap 17 inch leather / linen strop to learn with, a http://premiumknives.com/ShopSite/Co...Stone_110.html which I have been waiting on, and have no idea how effective it is. I purchased these before I found this forum, but I figured if I order some basic items and learn the techniques and methods with them now, then when I begin to use the high quality items in the future I'll be prepared. I have a Pakistani razor.... lol just kidding, I noticed everyone loathes those things. I am using a dovo straight razor that I am borrowing from my grandpa. I told him I'd return it to him in a couple months when I get my next break from college, even though he says to keep it (he has a bunch of old straight razors that he doesn't use). I am eagerly waiting for that waterstone so I can learn to hone the razor. I thought the razor was really sharp, but it doesn't pass the HHT and has 2 small knicks on the blade that I discovered by running the blade across my thumbnail.
Not sure but is the hone you picked up the 1200 grit stone, if it is that may be a little rough for other than the most dull razorQuote:
Originally Posted by keykenny
Yes, this Dovo Special with tortoise scales is for sale in my ebay store.
I would send it out shave ready if the buyer requests it, but otherwise will send it out mint, as is, from the factory. Buyers choice.
Scott
I, like you keykenny am new to this place, and I started buying things before I found the forum. I too bought that Col Conk hone hoping it would be sufficient until I upgraded later. I'm sorry to say this but it's not too great. I believe it is about 1200 grit and it definately won't get your razor to pass the HHT. At least I haven't been able to on a couple different razors. I'm planning on just saving up for that Norton 4000/8000 hone, that seems to be what most recommend.
Michael.
The Norton combo or a reasonable equivalent really is worth its weight in gold to a straight shaver who needs to hone his own razors. Keep the Col. Conk for bigger jobs or perhaps for knives. You'll be glad you did.
X