I am wondering what the best razor to start off would be?
Best straight for a noob?
- Thread starter tarheel1
- Start date
if i knew you as well i know myself i'd have an idea, but sadly i don't 
take a look at various threads at this section, you'll get some ideas.
or wait for the suggestions of others.
take a look at various threads at this section, you'll get some ideas.
or wait for the suggestions of others.
every time I asked the same queston I was told a wapi so that's what I got, hopefully it will arrive this week.
I was also told to pm ambrose for advise and what he has 4 a noob he was very
Helpfull I would recomend contacting him.
- Thread starter
- #4
Guess i should say price is no object. Not lookign for a cheap razor. I am looking for somethign that I can learn with and use for quite some time. Budget is 50.00 to 1k. There are a few damascus blades I was lookign at but not sure I want to start off with one.
that's easier then 5/8-6/8 hollow ground razor
if the price is no issue it's worth getting a really good one in nice condition
doesn't need to be crazy expensive, save your damascus purchase for later when you know better what you like in a razor.
so, boker, friodur, dubl duck, vintage dovo... all are very reliable and consistent quality and you. there are of course more brands that are just as good, but these are some of the more popular ones and i don't have any of them listed, so there's no conflict of interest in my recommendations.
you won't be able to tell the difference when you start, as long as the razor is sharp after certain point the smoothness would be lost on you, but may as well have a razor that you won't consider inferior down the road.
of course, it should be honed by somebody who knows what they're doing or you should plan to send it for that. no matter how the razor looks, how it shaves depends on the edge it has.
if the price is no issue it's worth getting a really good one in nice condition
doesn't need to be crazy expensive, save your damascus purchase for later when you know better what you like in a razor.
so, boker, friodur, dubl duck, vintage dovo... all are very reliable and consistent quality and you. there are of course more brands that are just as good, but these are some of the more popular ones and i don't have any of them listed, so there's no conflict of interest in my recommendations.
you won't be able to tell the difference when you start, as long as the razor is sharp after certain point the smoothness would be lost on you, but may as well have a razor that you won't consider inferior down the road.
of course, it should be honed by somebody who knows what they're doing or you should plan to send it for that. no matter how the razor looks, how it shaves depends on the edge it has.
all of them
but seriously, any vintage blade will do so long as its been honed up properly
- Thread starter
- #7
Should I look at a curved point, sqaure point, or are there others?
Not that MY opinion counts much(lol!), but when I started and still do I went for the rounded or curved if you will, tip just in case I was dumb enough to dig in a little too much on that end of the razor. That was and still is my thinking on that style. YMMV as always,.......
it really depends on you, your taste, your dextresity and coordination.
i prefer sharp tips because i know exactly where the edge ends. i have good depth perception and have never misjudged the location of the razor's tip, so I don't need a cushioning in form of rounding.
a sharp point allows me to cut individual hairs precisely and reliably, which I think is a plus.
there are some ultra sharp vintage razors that i've scratched myself when shaving concave areas (no nicks but scratches, which are still a bit annoying). still love them and hone them that way without muting the tip, it only takes a bit more care when shaving.
my first few razors were square and spike points, and many others do the same. also many people go with a rounded tip so it's really up to you as both have advantages and disadvantages.
the truth is that you will probably end up with another razor or few others in slightly different tip and grind, so you'll end up deciding for yourself it you like some particular feature a lot more than the rest.
Eventually you may decide to go for a custom made razor too, but it's a bit premature to start with one and pay quite a bit of money for things that you are not certain you like. mass production razors are the way to test and figure out your preferences.
- Thread starter
- #10
ok here are some of the ones I am looking at.
http://straightrazordesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=73&products_id=781
http://straightrazordesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=73&products_id=807
http://straightrazordesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=73&products_id=893
http://straightrazordesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=73&products_id=781
http://straightrazordesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=73&products_id=807
http://straightrazordesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=73&products_id=893
Antique Hoosier
“Aircooled”
I think the Thiers Issard Super "Gnome" is a GREAT starter razor!
i'd go with the bismarck, then the micarta, then the bergischer lowe
i haven't used the super gnome ti, but mike has plenty of experience with them, so if he recommends it it's good.
i haven't used the super gnome ti, but mike has plenty of experience with them, so if he recommends it it's good.
You seem to be going for the fancy ones from the off! They do look great, but I would normally expect a plainer, more workmanlike piece as a first-off, to make your mistakes on.
