Advice on a good first SR and Strop

[icemanjs4]

Hi All,

Been DE shaving for a while and decided to start experimenting with SR shaving. I started with a Feather Artist Club Shavette thinking it would be a good starting point, but everything I've read here suggests otherwise, so I'm thinking about returning and taking the plunge on a real SR. BTW, I've gotten a little over-zealous with my first two shaves with the Feather and have the bloody scars to show for it

Looking to spend $120-$200 on a good first straight razor, and am looking for advice. Thinking 6/8 or 5/8 round, and honed by a professional, which leads me to Maggards and TSS as starting points.

I'd also like a strop that has canvas and leather, as that seems to be the best starting point as well.

Any and all advice is welcomed!

 

[23HN117]

Hi, I've also taken the plunge two months ago. My first razor was the Dovo Inox 5/8 stainless steel blade. It has a beginner friendly round point and price point as well. Suprisingly haven't cut my face learning yet but did manage to cut my finger cleaning it.

For a strop I got the Ezra Arthur English Bridle, has both leather and canvas and is wide enough to just requiring a straight up and down stropping motion.

 

[rbscebu]

5/8 or 6/8, the choice is yours. 6/8 will be a little easier to judge the blade angle while the 5/8 will be a little more maneuverable. A round point is probably best to start with. Your budget should give you a good choice from either Muggards or TSS.

My preference for a strop would be one from Heirloom Razor Strops but @Tony Miller is not the only manufacturer available. Best you get a strop that is at least 2½" wide (my preference). Others prefer 3" wide. I would suggest that your secondary strop be of linen, not canvas.

Just remember that there is a very good chance that you will cut up at least your first strop while learning. I started with mid-range Chinese strops, going through 3 before purchasing a higher-end strop.

My further advice is:

• Forget that 30° stuff you heard on YouTube. The correct blade angle is about ½ to 1 spine thickness from the skin.
• SR shave daily so as to reinforce your subconscious with what you learn.
• Forget about shaving your whiskers. Use just enough pressure to remove the lather. Don't worry, the whiskers will just come off with the lather.
• Don't try for a smooth-finished shave. That will come automatically as your technique develops.
• Use a lather that is noticeably wetter than what you would use for DE shaving.
• CONCRETE! Some people shouldn't be allowed to handle sharp object, even me sometimes.

 

[Dominic]

Hi All,

Been DE shaving for a while and decided to start experimenting with SR shaving. I started with a Feather Artist Club Shavette thinking it would be a good starting point, but everything I've read here suggests otherwise, so I'm thinking about returning and taking the plunge on a real SR. BTW, I've gotten a little over-zealous with my first two shaves with the Feather and have the bloody scars to show for it

Looking to spend $120-$200 on a good first straight razor, and am looking for advice. Thinking 6/8 or 5/8 round, and honed by a professional, which leads me to Maggards and TSS as starting points.

I'd also like a strop that has canvas and leather, as that seems to be the best starting point as well.

Any and all advice is welcomed!

When I started a few months back, the advice I was given was to buy two SRs, and I did. I bought two different grinds, a vintage restored near wedge Mappin & Webb (from Razor Emporium) and a hollow ground Ralf Aust Spanish tip. Both are 5/8. I bought my strop from Shave Nation. It's a 3" with a leather and a linen strop. Price was a big consideration for me. The two razors were a little over $200 for both, and the strop was $60.