Thread: Shavette vs. Straight Razor

So I bought a straight razor a couple months ago and did the while process is hoping my razor and shaving with it. But since I was a noob I had to go back to the Hine a few times to get it shave ready (it was a Gold Dollar). Recently I've had to Hine it but I couldn't seem to get a good edge on it so I bought a Shavette in order to keep shaving while I was working on my straight. My question is, which is better? I like the Shavette because it is a lot easier and doesn't require as much attention (stropping and honing), but I like the straight because the Shavette is almost too sharp and really easy to cut more than hair, I'm using Feather blades.

This brings about next question, is it possible to get a straight as sharp as a Shavette and does the thickness of the blade matter in relation to the possible sharpness you can achieve?

Shavettte is a fine option. Many people enjoy using one regularly and for travel. Straights are works of art, collectable, and take a skill set to use and maintain. It is really a personal preference.

As far as sharpness goes it is absolutely possible to get a straight edge as sharp as a DE blade. It is the thickness of the EDGE that can affect sharpness not the thickness of the blade. There was some research done that showed that the edge of a straight can be sharpened to the same thickness of a DE.

Verhoeven-"Measurements of the edge width averaged out at 0.4 microns, which was essentially the same as found for the Gillette blade"

I use a small rotation of razors regularly, of which a Dovo Shavette is one. I use it primarily as my travel razor, but use it once a month or so to keep my skill there...as it is a bit different to shave with the shavette than it is a straight. To me, this might be more of a philosophical question than just one of hardware.

Straight razor shaving is a commitment to a process more than it is to just shaving. If you enjoy the stropping skill and routine above just the result of the shave, straights are for you. If you can skip all of the associated activities and just really like the result, perhaps the Shavette is the best investment.

As for being able to get a straight as sharp as a shavette - absolutely. I use a shavette for travel and really enjoy it (mine cost $15 with ten free blades and still does a great job), but I also use it as reference shaver when honing straights. If the straight I'm honing doesn't slice whiskers ATG as well as the shavette its back to the hone

I started with a Durham Duplex shavette, still use it about once a month. It is also my reference for honing sharpness. The shavette led me to try a straight and at that point I was hooked on straights.

I own 3 or 4 shavettes. I really enjoy using them. I have heard the philosophy that, if you're into the ritual, use a straight; if it's just the result you're after, use a shavette.
Honestly I have never actually used a "real" straight. I was just into the shaving experience & thought I'd skip the prep.
However my wife has just decided to get me a straight, hone & strop for my 40th so I'm finally going to get the whole experience. I'm pretty excited.

When I first started wet shaving with a straight blade I started with a Dovo Shavette. I started off with the shavette to get my basic technicque down and also to find out for myself If straight shaving was for me, ( even though I knew it would be, lol ) so I didnt have the big expense of buying a good straight along with all the accessories you need to go with it, decent strop etc. When using the shavette It did help me greatly with my technique in prep for using a straight. As for the sharpness Like Ive mentioned in another post, Deckard hones my TI straight and when it comes back from him after being honed there is no question, it is equally as sharp as the WS de blades that are in my shavette. The difference i did find between the two is not that the shavette is sharper or too sharp but more that the shavette is much more unforgiving than a straight, they seem to dig in at any oppurtunity and nick and cut whenever they can ( not anything to do with the operator ofcourse, lols ) whereas you might get away with a bit more with a straight. I used to think like you that they are almost too sharp but if you get your razor properly honed up youl see the similarities in edge sharpness for yourself. As i travel quite a lot I still use my shavette regurlarly as its much easier to stick in your bag with a pack of blades as opposed to taking your straight and strop everywhere, mines been pretty much everywhere, aborad, offshore etc. Cracking wee piece of kit for the £ and hoarses of coarses really,down to personal preference.

If you have the skill set then you can get the straight that sharp , from your experience level and the cheap straight you have , you,lol need to get more experience at shaving then maybe learn how to hone Tc