So I'm interested in buying a straight, but don't know where to start. You don't see many on B/S/T (or at least I haven't) and most I find online are well over my budget. Are the inexpensive Gold Dollars worth it? Also, what else would I need for maintenance of the blade? I've read up on strops, but are those honing stones I see necessary? You guys really helped me get in the right direction with DE shaving, so I'm hoping for a little direction from some of you more experienced gentlemen.
I want to buy a straight razor now!
- Thread starter jedimojeaux
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LARRY AT WHIPPED DOG STRAIGHTS!!! He is a pleasure to work with and sells starter kits... Great guy great product... Buy his sight unseen you can't go wrong
The gold dollars that you buy on the bay aren't shave ready, if thats the route you wanna go, buy one from buca or one off of the vendor/hobbyist. Whippeddog is great too, I have bought a couple of them myself. As far as honing stones go, it depends on how far down the rabbit's hole you wanna go. If you wanna take blades from butter knife dull to shave ready, then you're gonna need a stone or two, also if you wanna maintain your edges, you're gonna need at least a barber's hone or some other type of touch up stone.
To buy a new one don't expect to spend less than $80 plus honing. For vintage I would go with Maggard razors (http://www.maggardrazors.com/) and pay around $50 with honing included. I have been there in person, good people that do quality work. I am still using the edge that Brad set for me many months later. I wouldn't cut corners because it will make the learning process more confusing if you might suspect the tools you are using are inadequate.
I have done the whipped dog sight unseen and I was underwhelmed with the visual appeal of the razor, I suppose that is the idea though. I however did find the edge suitable to learn and move onto something nicer so it was money well spent, not to mention I did resell it and recoup most of my money.
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I may do this, and then once I see how I enjoy it, I can use the other info I've gotten from you guys to put together my starter kit. I'm thinking of getting one of the Dovo razors he has on whippeddog, as well as a strop and the honing kit. Sound like a decent start?
The Dovo 6/8 Best at SRD for $85 is hard to beat, it's really a great razor.
If you went with a shave ready vintage $85 could buy you the razor, strop, and something to maintain the edge. And if you decide it is not for you you will probably be able to sell it for what you paid.
when i bought a SR, i jumped and bought a dovo prima klang and was not disappointed. since then i have restored a few and equally enjoy them. you could always buy one and restore it and just send it out to get honed. possibly a cheaper way but more labor intensive. and of course the whipped dog route.
Gold Dollars are decent steel and can be made into good shavers, but out of the box, they are not ready to go. I would not recommend one as a first straight unless you get one from one of the several B&B members who hone them up.
I would go the Whipped Dog route as well. Starting with a Feather doesn't tell you anything (IMO). The blade is nothing like a straight. With Whipped Dog get the sight unseen razor, strop and one of his cut down finishing stones and you are good to go.
Since you probably have some DE blades kicking around, why not pick up a Parker stainless steel razor for around $20 and give it a try with the DE blades snapped in half? Once you have the Parker down, you'll know that straights are for you.
I think this is exactly the best route. True the sight unseen deals have cosmetic issues. And Larry clearly says that. After all, if they were pristine and beautiful he would sell them at a higher price.
But they're 100% functional, and inexpensive enough that if you really hate it or wreck it somehow you aren't out much.
I bought a beautiful razor I was kind of afraid to screw up. Then I bought a sight unseen to learn with.
But if you're trying to learn to shave then a razor from Whipped Dog is ready out of the box. Whereas a new Gold Dollar is miles away from shave ready.
If you're trying to learn to hone a Gold Dollar is not a bad starting place.
You'll need to get one from someone in the B/S/T section. The ones from the Chinese vendors on eBay are factory sharp, but nowhere near shave ready.
