Hello from Vancouver - New guy here

[eistiroti]

Hello everyone at the Badger&Blade!


I just started shaving with a Straight Razor and I'm loving every minute of it!
The comments I get when I say I use a SR are amazing. I've got "Be careful with the jugular" "That's so cool" and even "That's pretty bad a**" Which I have to say that I do feel quite good about this :-D


I've been doing it for a week now and it completely changed the way I shave; I used to use the Gillette Fusion (3 blades) and I hated shaving, I used to shave about once a week and sometimes twice if I had a special occasion. Right now I can't wait to wake up in the morning and shave. It usually took me about 5 to 10 minutes to shave and now because I'm fairly new it's taking me about 30 minutes or so but I'm getting better every day. I even learned that my lather was completely wrong and too wet.


Right now I'm using a Shavette with Derby blades although I've read that there are better ones out there.
If everything goes right and I get used to the Straight Razor (and some faster shaving times) I will get myself a kit for my birthday in a couple of months.


Now, I know it's a big commitment as it is a big spend at first but I think it's worth it. So here's the list of things that I know I have to get and some that I want to.


First of all there's the straight razor itself (which I'll come back to this later)
I know I need a strop and some paste. ( Do I also need a sharpening stone?)
I want to replace my brush which I have a boar one right now and it's been great for a while but I think a Badger one would be a nice improvement.
I want to try the Tabac shaving soap as I've read that the lather is amazing (Currently using a Crabtree and Evelyn)


Last but not least, and this is where my question start, the razor itself.
I've been doing quite a lot of research but the main things that I've learned are:
1.- Thiers Issard have better blades
2.- Dovo is the best bang for the buck


So, for a new guy, which one would you recommend? I have my eye on one of each, they are both 5/8 in size, singing/hollow blades and they are both around the same price range (both under $200)
The main difference is that the Dovo is the INOX model having a stainless steel blade while TI is carbon steel, I believe.


So my question for you is that, which one of these two is going to be a better "introductory" blade?


I would really appreciate the feedback and any advice.


Thanking you in advance.


E.




Ps. Here's a picture of my current equipment.

 

[The Accountant]

Welcome to the forum. You are really letting the clutch out, starting out with a straight! I know next to nothing about straights, but there are scores of members here that do so answers to your inquiries will be coming in shortly. Enjoy your time here.

 

[duderdo]

Welcome fellow Vancouverite!

First of all there's the straight razor itself (which I'll come back to this later)
I know I need a strop and some paste. ( Do I also need a sharpening stone?)

You'll need a strop for sure. Whether or not you need paste depends on how you want to maintain your edge. If you're getting your razor honed from somewhere else after you buy it (which in my opinion is a necessity for a new user), you won't need paste or a hone right away. That is, as long you won't mess up the edge by stropping improperly (no offense, stropping is tricky and it's easy to "roll" the edge).

How often the edge needs to be touched up is something that varies considerably and takes into account: what was used to hone it originally, technique, how thick your hair beard is, and so on. For instance, if your razor is finished with a synthetic stone, you could use a pasted strop to maintain the edge indefinitely, assuming you don't ding or roll the edge.

You'll hear a lot of opinions, but personally I recommend getting it honed by a professional at first, get used to that edge as a benchmark, decide on what stones you want to look into, and practice on an older, cheaper razor.

I want to replace my brush which I have a boar one right now and it's been great for a while but I think a Badger one would be a nice improvement.
I want to try the Tabac shaving soap as I've read that the lather is amazing (Currently using a Crabtree and Evelyn)

Badger is nice for sure. Personally I'm a boar man all the way. Trying Tabac is a necessity, I love it.

Last but not least, and this is where my question start, the razor itself.
I've been doing quite a lot of research but the main things that I've learned are:
1.- Thiers Issard have better blades
2.- Dovo is the best bang for the buck

It's difficult to nail down either of these points, it pretty much boils down to opinion and preference. From what I can tell (I don't own one of either, but I've looked into to them and read quite a bit about them), it's true that Dovo has cheaper lower-end razors that a lot of guys seem to love, but you'd be hard pressed to get any of them to admit it's a "worse" blade. Thiers-issard seem to be getting harder to find, you may want to take that into account.

So, for a new guy, which one would you recommend? I have my eye on one of each, they are both 5/8 in size, singing/hollow blades and they are both around the same price range (both under $200)
The main difference is that the Dovo is the INOX model having a stainless steel blade while TI is carbon steel, I believe.

Honestly, whichever catches your eye the most. You have to want to pick it up and use it, in the end the steel will function the same. I don't have any stainless steel razors but when it's been honed properly it will shave just as well (from what I've read). Depending on what kind of carbon steel it is, it will probably become stained if you don't dry it off immediately. Even this isn't a big deal-- a bit of polish(maas, flitz) and it will look good as new.

 

[Catalin]

Welcome to the club! You will find a lot of helpful people on this forum.

I started my straight shaving with a new Dovo from Straight Razor Designs. I now have both a Dovo and a TI in my large herd. I like them both for different reasons. If I were to start all over again I would get some shave-ready inexpensive razors from the BST forum. I sould experiment with size, grind, etc. and not commit to buying a new one until I had a few hundred straight shaves under my belt.

But, as they say on this forum, YMMV.

 

[eistiroti]

Thank you for all your answers... I really apretiate them!

Both blades that I have in mind are within my budget, and it's going to be my birthday present to my self so I'm being a little spoiled he he he...

So from what I'm getting is that I should get a Pre-Sharpened or Pre-honed one, right? The ones I've seen come pre-sharpened but not honed, would this be a no-no?

And last but not least, what's the difference between Carbon and Stainless? I've read about maintenance and performance differences but on a day-to-day basis what would be the main differences?

Also; if anyone know a good place in Vancouver to buy these I would really appreciate it as I only know of Revolucion which has like two or three razors and I've hear of Momentum but sadly it's gone.

By the way, what does YMMV stands for? ( again, new here )
Thank you again everyone for your answers!

Cheers.

E.

 

[Chaloney]

Your Mileage May Vary.

 

[conroygc]

I had one of the Dovo INOX for a while, and I have a few of their carbon steel razors. I feel like the stainless steel was harder to keep an edge on and ended up getting rid of it. It's not too difficult to keep patina/rust off carbon steel. I haven't bought a stainless since then.

For the leather strop, it's nice (but not required) to have a 3" strop. Really any good strip of leather makes a good strop, anything above that is a luxury.

Dovo razors from the factory aren't ready to shave with. You can shave with them but it won't be very comfortable. I'm sure there are lots of B&B members who could hone one up for you, but best off buying a shave ready razor. No fuss.

A linen or wool or canvas strop with diamond spray or CrOx is a great way to touch up your razor when it starts to dull a bit. YMMV will vary how long you can shave with the razor until it needs to be honed.

 

[u2u]

You will get a wide range of response and many here would discourage you from starting with a new Dovo or TI. Dovo, in particular, gets little love here.

I am one to commit to a goal so I did start with new gear and I viewed the expense as one to last the rest of my life. In my experience a new Dovo, Boker, or Hart, will be shave ready from the maker. Thiers Issard might not be - even on their top line collectables.

A hanging strop for daily use and a linen or paddle strop with paste for a refresh every week, or as needed, can keep you going for a very long time. Thiers Issard has a nice white paste for linen, diamond is good on a paddle. Don't worry about hones. You won't need them in the short term as long as you don't damage your blade.

if your brush was working to your satisfaction before, it is good enough. Badger and better soaps/creams will add to your enjoyment.

Most Dovos are carbon steel but they have a range of stainless. Recent Thiers Issards are usually, but not always, very high carbon C135. Good steel but it needs more care than the Dovo carbon. Being in Vancouver you best oil any blade you have, given the potential for high humidity and corrosion.

My first straights were bought 15 years ago. Dovo. A carbon and a stainless. Both in continuous service although the herd has grown in the last 2 years.

If I were starting again, I would buy the Dovo, and shave off the factory edge.

Make sure the razor is factory sealed, or at least not mishandled in the store, if you are able to buy locally.

Good luck with your research and entry to straights.

Here are my originals...




As to assertions, of which you may receive several, that Dovo and others aren't shave ready, here is a response I posted in another thread. I would add, I have since added three new Bokers to the Below. All excellent shavers out of the box. interestingly, the last vendor, when I asked that he not hone it, replied Bokers are so sharp his corticule might make it less sharp!

I have to disagree with your assertion in respect to the need to hone a new razor "so he can experience what a shave ready razor feels like". I have twenty-eight straights on my bench, all purchased new, over several years. Twenty-seven, being Thiers Issard, Dovo, Hart, and Wacker were sold as shave ready from the manufacture. Only three were not shave ready. Twenty-five of twenty-seven were fully have ready and one I will never know the status of from the factory because the vendor honed it ruining the factory edge.


Two of my seven TIs were not shave ready. The third, a Wacker, was supposed to be sent to me with the factory edge but the vendor knew better and disregarded my direction. His honing job was poor, marred the art work on the blade, and necessitated me honing the razor to make it shave ready.


The final razor was not sold as factory shave ready. It is a Golddachs 5/8 and was not represented to be shave ready by the factory or vendor.


In sum my experience indicates you have over a ninety percent chance of getting a shave ready blade from the factory.


I thoroughly enjoy the experience of trying out a factory fresh blade, honed the way the man who made the blade intended it to be. Usually his effort, and pride, are evident with the first uses of the new razor. New and experienced shavers should not deny themselves the experience because of internet lore

 

[eistiroti]

I Can't thank you enough for all your replies, I have to say that I'm learning a new thing every minute!!

Chaloney & Connor, thank you for the explanation on YMMV.

Connor, thank you for your insights... specially about the strop, that explains a lot of questions that I had.

And u2u, thank you very much for the very detailed explanation... I am too a guy that goes all the way and if I start something I'll do it the right way. As I said before, I've read that Dovo is the best bang for the buck and I had two in mind... one Inox and one carbon, now I think my mind is a little bit clearer.
As for the brush and soap... yes, I do want to have a richer thicker lather as I'm sure it will enhance the whole experience. Not that I'm not enjoying my current one, but you can always find those little details that make things just a little bit better.

Thank you also for sharing the pictures, I really like the looks of the wood handle, I think that would be my personal choice. The white pearl one looks very elegant and delicate. Love it, but not exactly my style he he he.

Thank you guys, this forum is amazing!!

 

[Kentos]

I would suggest a modestly priced vintage blade off the BST or from one of our fine hobbyist/vendors. To be honest you will likely do some damage to your first razor, and it would less painful if it isn't something expensive.

See if you can find my first razor in this old photo...



Welcome to B&B BTW!!

 

[eistiroti]

Sweet!!

 

[u2u]

Eistiroti, a pleasure to throw the photos in. I did a little editing adding some further of my experience. The snake wood scales are on a stainless blade. It hones well and holds a good edge longer than the carbon steels I own. 4 of my 16 Dovos are stainless. Pleased with each and every one. My experience is they are consistently well made so the herd has grown. Big issue with Stainless is carbon is traditional stainless is not... Costs a little more and performs. Don't sweat the comments on damaging your straight. Not likely to happen... And if it does, unless you drop it, it will probably be easily repaired. Enjoy, don't worry.