For my first straight.

[A_Jameson]

Using the informaiton I've learned, for my first straight I think I'm going to order a 5 or 6/8 half-hollow Dovo straight with a round tip, probably from Vintage Blades because they've served me well in the past. The question I have is.

Carbon Steel or Stainless Steel?

Thoughts? Thanks!

 

[Soopercat]

I have a stainless razor ATS 34 steel and it keeps an excellent edge for a very long time requiring minimal touch ups. But honing it is another story all together. Carbon is easier to maintain (hone) in my case.

Kind regards,

 

[Luc]

I would pick 6/8 over 5/8 but that's me.

My understanding (I can be wrong) of those two.

Carbon steel -> Stay sharp longer but rust more quickly
Stainless steel -> Doesn't rust but doesn't stay sharp long...

Which strop are you getting with it?

 

[Kees]

Stainless steel can be a bit harsh on the face. You can diminish the harshness using Cr2O3 after the polishing hone.

 

[SliceOfLife]

I seem to prefer deeper hollower blades. But that's just me. So a 6/8" FH is what I'd recommend starting on.

I have no experience with stainless razors, sorry.

 

[A_Jameson]

I haven't decided on a strop and such yet. I honestly haven't started researching them yet. I'm trying to learn what I can about one, make a decision, then move onto the next item. I'll order them all at once though.

 

[Doc4]

... for my first straight ... Carbon Steel or Stainless Steel?

Hands up everyone who has bought just one straight.


















Thought so. Flip a coin. You'll have bought both soon enough.

 

[Fnord5]

I don't have any stainless ones.







Yet.

 

[professorchaos]

Hands up everyone who has bought just one straight.


















Thought so. Flip a coin. You'll have bought both soon enough.

Just one straight?!? Inconceivable.

 

[Soopercat]

One, just one that would be like having just one tooth. you would want more.

Kind regards,

 

[A_Jameson]

I said my FIRST straight, not my only.

I've been here long enough to know I can't have just one. When I joined this site, I had NO desire to collect razors and now I have 24 vintage D.E.'s and have my eye on about 5 more. But that's beside the point.

I don't yet know how to shave with a straight and from experience with learning to DE shave, find it's better to get one universally good razor and work on technique until I have it right, THEN RAD sets in.

So, for that first razor, if I get it in Carbon Steel am I on track?

How about the Vintage Blade Red Latigo 2" strop? Is that a good strop?

 

[SliceOfLife]

Most people recommend the Filly as #1 strop, because you will nick it and a $20 strop getting nicked isn't as bad as (whatever that latigo costs) getting nicked.

 

[Doc4]

So, for that first razor, if I get it in Carbon Steel am I on track?

How about the Vintage Blade Red Latigo 2" strop? Is that a good strop?

I think you are on track with either steel, so go for it.

I'd say the Tony Miller 3" latigo is the strop to get, and he'll throw in a "practice strop" for like $5 or something so you can nick that one up in your rookie efforts and then graduate to the real deal. (3" is better than 2" IMHO as you can do a straight-down stroke if you want, and are not required to do an 'x-pattern'.)

 

[JPM]

Hands up everyone who has bought just one straight.


















Thought so. Flip a coin. You'll have bought both soon enough.

Excellent point! They just seem to multiply in my den.

 

[kwigibocity]

Staunchly in the camp that believes carbon steel razors are surely worth their extra bit of trouble. They shave better. Only have 1 ss, a Dovo 6/8", and about 25 regular shavers in carbon steel.

 

[Seraphim]

In my opinion, stainless takes a fine edge, keeps a fine edge (it would seem to me they keep it even longer than a carbon), but certain brands of stainless can tend towards feeling harsh (newer Friodurs in my opinion).

I have had both the Dovo 5/8 stainless, and the Dovo Renaissance, and both of those razors were as sharp and smooth as any carbon razors I have tried.

When I first started, my first three razors were all stainless (2 Friodurs, and the Renaissance), I liked the "wash and wear" easy care of stainless, as carbon definitely will get you neurotic about making sure that thing is DRY before putting it away, as they can stain and corrode extremely quickly.

Carbon razors do seem to have the edge in ultimate sharpness and smoothness.

Either way you won't be sorry.