Getting started with a Straight Razor

I sent three emails to an online shop, who is still yet you respond to me. Needless to say they have lost my business. I would like to get a dovo and a quality strop. The thing that is holding me back is being able to properly care for the blade. I have a very thick beard and having the sharpest possible blade is very important to me. Does anyone know of a place that would be able to hone the blade and would it be better getting a cheap razor off of amazon and learn how to hone and strop that. I would hate to destroy a quality razor with my total lack of experience.

IMHO a razor is a tool and I was raised to buy the best tool for the job my finances would allow. Ever notice you always break a cheap wrench and buy another? With that said, I recommend Straight Razor Designs. Lynn personally hones all the razors he sells, his wares are top notch and priced as affordably as he can make them for the quality they are. I think he offers a free honing with each razor. I have purchased from SRD and recommend the site. Service is the best. Now if you have the iron beard you claim, One razor is not going to be enough and keeping it shave ready could get frustrating without prior knowledge. Before you make the leap I would read everything in the library on this site from honing to shaving. The wealth of info is incredible and you will better be able to decide what your needs are. For the time being stay away from honing until you have gotten a good foundation in shaving and stropping. Good habits are learned over time and stay with you forever unfortunately so are bad ones. Hope some of this helps and good luck. Patience is important . There is a sort of steep learning curve for a bit just take your time and use the resources on this site.

+1 for Lynn at Straight Razor Designs. It is a great place to start. Very friendly and knowledgeable. You can get everything you need in a kit of your own design.

Take your time. Read what you can and watch videos. This site is great and can answer any question you may have. Use the search function as lots of questions have answers already in the library.

Welcome to SRP

Hwyman, thanks for the reply, I have been reading and watching all I can the last few weeks. In August of this year I started using a double edge razor and shaving for me like so many others is something I really look forward to. My father had a cheap Spanish razor when I was a teenager, he had a strop showed me how to use it. Back then I wanted to shave with it he told me it wasn't a good razor for that... So while he was out of town I did as all good youngters do and not listen to their parents. The save was not great, lots of pulling tugging, razor burn, but I did manage not to cut myself. I used it three or four times before I dropped it and broke the blade... Yeah that didn't go well with the old man. I was amazed at the balance and control I had with the blade.

I will contact Mr Abrams and get this ball rolling, thanks for the info!!!

Welcome to the site. There are alot of folks here with more knowledge than me. Just passing on what I've read here and what I figured out over a few years. Use the resources in the library and ask questions about what you can't find an answer for. Someone here will have a friendly answer. PPretty soon it will be close shaves and beer.:beer1:

You will not go wrong with SRD if the other shop didn't answer then they might not hone the razor either, yes you will get one free honing from SRD , a second razor while yours is out is a good idea or just use your DE while it's being done,, in the beginning you will dull your razor stropping , so get ready, but once you get your stropping down you will get many shaves from the edge. I too have a very tough beard and I shave everyday,, or I did, today's the retirement day,, but I get several weeks off an edge , with just a little maintenance, and you can do that with CRoX, maybe if there is someone close to you they can help with that. Good luck. Tc

Lockwood124: Welcome to SRP: A Ralph Aust from SRD would make a very nice Christmas gift in your stocking.

As others have said, SRD is a great place to start. When you get your first razor, the most important thing will be knowing it's REALLY shave ready so that you can practice your stropping/shave technique. I'm also now a fan of the roo strop that SRD sells. It's very supple so it's great for when you're first learning. Get a decent Aust or Dovo from SRD, plus a strop and oil and you'll be well on your way.

There is a school here who would tell you if a razor is quality it doesn't matter whether it a 4/8s hollow grind or an 8/8s English meat chopper Wedge, it will shave your beard no matter how tough it is.

I truly believe that and my evidence is back in the day when barbers really knew how to shave and shaved folks all day long they pretty much used 5/8s and 6/8s hollow grind razors and used them to shave whoever came into the shop and were able to give those demanding customers a perfect shave.