a little torn

Hello all,

I started this wonderful obsession about 18 months ago and haven't looked back, my first and only shavette is a Personna hair shaper, looking to upgrade soon. I also have some DE's. in the beginning I also picked up a couple straight razors that were in good shape for a good price at the local antique store.

A lot of time went buy and I finally sent them out to get honed by a professional. i got them back and was ecstatic, though I don't get the comfort of my shavette. it is a lot more comfortable and easier to use, I even switched back to it on one of my straights mid shave.

is it me? or the razors?

one was a little better then the other. I might just stay with shavettes though. I do like not having to strop every time.

I would have to hazard a guess that it might be you. I say this because every razor is different and switching from a shavette to a straight is kind of like eating Granny Smith apple compared to a Golden Delicious. While similar they have two very different flavors. I would give the straights some more time and see it it doesn't get better. If stropping is an issue perhaps try a paddle strop or a loom strop and see if this helps.

The great thing here is there are a lot of different approaches and choices so you should be able to find something that works for you. If you are happy with what you have then that is all that matters. Good luck!

Stropping is a necessity, but you'll never have to buy replacement blades :D

both are true, I was wondering if anyone had similar experiences. I will keep at it. check to see if it is me. I know they are honed up good, so I will adjust technique. and look for new shavettes as well. good for travel if nothing else.

don't give up. with me some razors were easier to keep the correct angle than others. once I found this out and watched my angle closer I started getting more comfortable shaves and the razor stays sharper longer. good luck.

I have also found that I do much better with shavettes, despite having 2 quality straights honed by 2 different expert honemeisters. There is no question in my mind that razor blades are sharper and smoother, maybe because of the coating on the edges. With a very light touch and improved technique over this past year, I get a very nice shave with no irritation. I'm using a Dovo, Feather SS, turkish sedef and a russian type I bought from my barber. Still playing around with blades, but it looks like the russian PermaSharp half blades are my favorite so far.

It's still fun trying different creams, soaps, AS, balms, etc. My default, when pressed for time, are DE's, which I've been using for some time.

What to do with my straights and strops?!?

Best,
Alan

I am having a great time, and am not going to stop at any point that I can see. I was just curious if I was the only one that noticed this or was having a problem.

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Originally Posted by Otsm

I am having a great time, and am not going to stop at any point that I can see. I was just curious if I was the only one that noticed this or was having a problem.

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I bought a Parker shavette, was at the store and figured why not, it was an excuse to send my blades out while I tried the shavette.

While I was blown away at the shave of these things, the beard just fell off my face, the end result, after about using it 10 times, was that it was essentially a very harsh shave. By the 4th shave, the blade noticeably deteriorated, so replaced it and was right back at ultra harsh.

Just didn't seem to have the same character as my straight. Having said that, I can totally see how a shavette would be an option of choice, given purchasing a nicer shavette and much better blades, finding a blade that was mellow for me would have changed up the equation.

In the end, it's whatever you like and suits you best. I'd give enough time to acquire the proper skills in using a SR and maintaining it, and once you're comfortable with both, then you can make an informed decision.

Either way, it's about what works for you, and there are lots of members here who use DE's, SE's and SR's...and there's no wrong way.

Cheers!

Just take it slow and keep the angles on the st8 very low, almost flat with short strokes and it will get better. I have found shavettes to be pretty forgiving compared to their cousins.
Keep calm, and Shave on!:D

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Originally Posted by Crusader

Just take it slow and keep the angles on the st8 very low, almost flat with short strokes and it will get better. I have found shavettes to be pretty forgiving compared to their cousins.
Keep calm, and Shave on!:D

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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.....:o

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

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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.....:o

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

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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

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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!!!

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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

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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

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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!!!

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I was thinking of going a bit bigger Phrank….:rofl2:

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????????

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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????????

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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.

Thanks kevinred.
I will check out the site. Always interested in resources.

Quote:

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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????????

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I bought all vintage. Shave ready. A wedge. A hollow ground spike and round tip and a full hollow spike. All about 5/8 and will try all of them. So far I liked the hollow spike. And full hollow spike was OK but need more practice. Will be shaving with wedge next week then round. Most expensive one was $30 I think. The ones I don't like I can display or sell... I currently use a shavette with long personna blades. Its getting good shaves now. Again I'm a noob so I have no idea still. But I figured it'd be fun and not too expensive. Its a journey and I'm having a blast so far.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kevinred

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.

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Kevinred is as close to bang-on as you can get with this post.

Place sells shave ready, functional razors for an awesome price. Try one, don't like it? Send it back and get another...order two, try em out, send back for a different pair until you find the type you like...really can't go wrong...and when you find the blade you like, it will be your first keeper razor that started it all for you!!

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Originally Posted by Phrank

Kevinred is as close to bang-on as you can get with this post.

Place sells shave ready, functional razors for an awesome price. Try one, don't like it? Send it back and get another...order two, try em out, send back for a different pair until you find the type you like...really can't go wrong...and when you find the blade you like, it will be your first keeper razor that started it all for you!!

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Thanks guys,
I have taken your advice and ordered from Whipped Dog. Should arrive in a few days. Looking forward to it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dkshave

Thanks guys,
I have taken your advice and ordered from Whipped Dog. Should arrive in a few days. Looking forward to it.

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Let us know how you get on, and post some pics of your new (old) razor too… Enjoy :)