Thread: a little torn

I will adjust the angle, will be trying them again tomorrow

I started with a Parker Shavette and I was getting great shaves before I got my first vintage blade. I loved it, but people on here said a real straight was smoother…..

Funny thing I kept picking up my DE as I learned the Parker then all of a sudden the Parker was perfect, and when I got my first vintage straight 5/8 I kept picking up my Parker Shavette to finish off the tough bits on my neck. The vintage never became perfect for me, not sure why, but I guess didn't like the small pointed blade for sure. I still thought my Parker gave as good a shave or better.

For Christmas My wife bought me a new Dovo 6/8 Bismarch, I can't put it down and I haven't picked up any thing else since, its like buttery smooth compared to all my previous razors and boy does it shave closer than my shavette or vintage without any irritation.

Now when I read posts on here with people saying similar especially talk of buttery smooth, I thought this couldn't be true, but it sure is in my experience, the new Bismarck shaves super smooth, in fact so much so I have no irritation on my neck at all at the moment.

I wonder if its because the Dovo has a bigger blade than all my other razors, or maybe because its a brand new blade that glides effortlessly across my face, who knows? All I know Im a creature of habit and I love comfortable things and the lack of change generally, but my Dovo is new and it simply gives he best shave yet, no break in period, just it shaves great...

Am I gong to pass the Parker Shavette over my face again, yep I sure am, probably when I travel. Will I use the DE every now and then to remind me of how that feels, no probably not, will I end up with a rotation of straights? who knows, maybe with straights but my DE's are history thats for sure.

At the moment it would make perfect sense to buy another new Bismarck and rotate them, but will I….. probably not….lol

Yeah, dont give up. If you are not getting a good shave stop and think about what is going on. What is the edge telling you. If it is not shaving your cheeks easily than something is wrong. should be the easiest thing you have ever done in your life.

dropped the angle down, not very comfy for the first pass, lots of pulling, but after that it went a lot better. thanks for all the help

Originally Posted by Phrank

Just goes to show you, different strokes for different folks, I found the opposite, shavettes will bite you bad for the smallest slip, while a str8 is a little more forgiving.....

Im with phrank, been bitten worse and more often by shavettes

Originally Posted by kevinred

I started with a Parker Shavette and I was getting great shaves before I got my first vintage blade. I loved it, but people on here said a real straight was smoother…..

Funny thing I kept picking up my DE as I learned the Parker then all of a sudden the Parker was perfect, and when I got my first vintage straight 5/8 I kept picking up my Parker Shavette to finish off the tough bits on my neck. The vintage never became perfect for me, not sure why, but I guess didn't like the small pointed blade for sure. I still thought my Parker gave as good a shave or better.

For Christmas My wife bought me a new Dovo 6/8 Bismarch, I can't put it down and I haven't picked up any thing else since, its like buttery smooth compared to all my previous razors and boy does it shave closer than my shavette or vintage without any irritation.

Now when I read posts on here with people saying similar especially talk of buttery smooth, I thought this couldn't be true, but it sure is in my experience, the new Bismarck shaves super smooth, in fact so much so I have no irritation on my neck at all at the moment.

I wonder if its because the Dovo has a bigger blade than all my other razors, or maybe because its a brand new blade that glides effortlessly across my face, who knows? All I know Im a creature of habit and I love comfortable things and the lack of change generally, but my Dovo is new and it simply gives he best shave yet, no break in period, just it shaves great...

Am I gong to pass the Parker Shavette over my face again, yep I sure am, probably when I travel. Will I use the DE every now and then to remind me of how that feels, no probably not, will I end up with a rotation of straights? who knows, maybe with straights but my DE's are history thats for sure.

At the moment it would make perfect sense to buy another new Bismarck and rotate them, but will I….. probably not….lol

Hahahaha...no, now what you do is get a 7/8, then an 8/8, and progress up the ladder to 9/8 and above!!!

Originally Posted by Otsm

dropped the angle down, not very comfy for the first pass, lots of pulling, but after that it went a lot better. thanks for all the help

Keep the angle fairly high for the first downward pass than reduce the angle for the further passes…

I know this is written for a straight but its similar for a shavette, look at the finer points for cutting angles section. It helped me.

Shaving passes - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Originally Posted by Phrank

Hahahaha...no, now what you do is get a 7/8, then an 8/8, and progress up the ladder to 9/8 and above!!!

I was thinking of going a bit bigger Phrank….

I have the Parker Shavette as well. It seems to do well at times and then not so well at other times. I am still wanting to get a straight.
There seems to be so many variables as to the feel, which ones are easier to hold correct angle etc...
BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE, I CAN NOT AFFORD TO BUY SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF STRAIGHTS TO FIND THE "RIGHT" ONE.
At least with blades, I can try a variety pack with different brands.
What to do????????

Originally Posted by dkshave

I have the Parker Shavette as well. It seems to do well at times and then not so well at other times. I am still wanting to get a straight.
There seems to be so many variables as to the feel, which ones are easier to hold correct angle etc...
BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE, I CAN NOT AFFORD TO BUY SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF STRAIGHTS TO FIND THE "RIGHT" ONE.
At least with blades, I can try a variety pack with different brands.
What to do????????

I'm not loaded for sure either, so I started here Whipped Dog Straight Razor Shaving Equipment

Buy a cheap sight unseen razor and a poor mans strop kit and you'll soon know if straights are for you with out spending much. Larry is great and the info he sends is fantastic…straight shaving on a budget. Sure worked for me.