Thread: looking for first straight.

Hi all im new to the idea of a straight razor and am still thinking about it(they kid of scare me) what do i need to watch out for looking in the wild because almost all i have seen are either cracked or a glod of rust... so far...

Originally Posted by jaro1069

Hi all im new to the idea of a straight razor and am still thinking about it(they kid of scare me) what do i need to watch out for looking in the wild because almost all i have seen are either cracked or a glod of rust... so far...

Again, Welcome.

While a straight is at the top of the list for learning to shave with a straight razor. There are several other items that you'll need and one is something you can't purchase. That is 'Patience' without it you can spend all the money you want and not enjoy this age old art.

'IF' you do have patience then you'll need a strop to maintain the edge of your razor. You'll need a brush and a soap or cream as that canned crap isn't worth a s**t for real wet shaving.

What say Ye, doest thou haveth patience?

Just wondering.

I had mentioned a list of what not to buy. Now if one of you fine gentlemen could post a link to that list we have in our library? Links are not my thing.

How about that Mastadon that says he don't know computers but manages to do more than i can ? Roy!

BTW, i recommend a 5/8 hollow ground round tip American razor. The library has a great section for beginners that explains this.

Here is a link to the Library https://shavelibrary.com/w/Shave_Library and I would suggest anyone considering using a straight razor read it thoroughly.

Straight razors only https://shavelibrary.com/w/The_straight_razor .

The good razor list https://shavelibrary.com/w/Good_Straight_Razor_Brands .

Brands to avoid https://shavelibrary.com/w/Brands_of...azors_to_Avoid .

That should keep you going for a bit.

Bob

Many folks here recommend starting off with a vintage razor. When you are new, purchasing one of eBay or at a local flea market, garage sale, or antique store, can be a gamble. If you do wish to purchase a vintage razor, purchase one that has been restored and properly honed. There are folks on the forum that purchase vintage razors, lightly restore them and then hone them shave ready. They may not be in pristine condition, but they should give a good shave for a decent price. There are vendors who sell fully restored blades, but the pricing will be higher.

The other option is purchasing a moderately priced new razor ($100-200). Ralf Aust, Boker and Dovo all have blades that would fit that category. I tend to favor 6/8" blades over 5/8" blades, but others might disagree. The larger blades tend to be more expensive.

If you want to buy a new razor, then I would recommend Revisor or Ralf Aust.

If you want to buy a vintage razor in the wild then you need to know how to hone or send it to someone who does. You could also buy a vintage shave-ready razor from a reputable vendor or from the classifieds here.

Here's an excellent primer on what too look for When buying an unrestored razor:

Straight Razor Magazine: The Straight Razor Magazine's eBay Purchasing Primer

Well I started with a brand new dovo. It makes for a bit of a pricey start. Shave ready is probably the most important part of the process. There are very inexpensive option that come up on the Buy-Sell-Trade often. It depends a bit on your budget. So either shave ready from a vendor that hand hones their razors or shave ready from a BST, 5/8 to 6/8 round tip half to full hollow is a good place to start.

Good razor info so far. Also as mentioned you'll need a strop to maintain your razor. I would recommend the 'Poor Boy Strop Kit' available at Whipped Dog which includes everything you'll need to maintain your razor for a long time and it is very reasonably priced. Here is the link;

https://www.whippeddog.com/product-page/poor-man-strop

best advice is to stop looking in the wild, to start you need a good edge and solid razor,, then you have a chance at learning to shave( number one thing to learn) and to strop,, (best thing to learn to continue learning to shave) buy from the BST here and if they have been aroud for a while and respected here, your razor will be ready to learn, and a year from now you,ll be happy

I suggest getting your first straight razor from either

Griffith Shaving for nice razor/strop

This guy just for cheap entry level set up
https://www.etsy.com/listing/2539085..._click=1&bes=1

Really want to make sure first straight is really shave ready. BST forums here are always a great option as well. Lots of nice members here that I am sure could give you a good deal