He has said he wanted a straight razor for Father's Day. I have been all over the internet for days and days and I am still clueless. I know all the parts he needs (or at least I am pretty sure I do) but as far as WHAT straight razor to get and from where by head is about to explode. I am pretty sure i have done a TON more research then he has on the matter so asking him what he wants is no help. I just know he thinks it would be neat to use one. HELP please!
Looking to buy for my husband
- Thread starter goobergrl6
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Hi Goobergrl6: 1st of all welcome to B&B. 2nd of all... you are definitely the better half for getting your hubby a straight razor. I promise you that this incredible forum will answer your questions.
I'm more of a DE and SE guy so I can't answer your question. However to get things rolling what is the price range for the straight razor you are looking for? If you give us a price range that will certainly help.
WARHAWK
If you are not looking to "break the bank". . . Larry from WhippedDog Shaving is an excellent site and he provides excellent service. You can also email him and he will gladly give you some suggestions. His prices are just right.
http://whippeddog.com/products/find/straight-razors-1
WARHAWK
http://whippeddog.com/products/find/straight-razors-1
WARHAWK
So as far as straights go the most important thing is that it be "shave ready" Dovo razors have a few QC issues and for the cost of a new razor I think I would get a Thiers Issard with a 5/8 blade. As far as vendor I'm not sure who to go through. An antique razor made shave ready could be another less expensive option. Hop on over to the B/S/T (Buy Sell Trade) forum and look for straight razors, again make sure its shave ready, I'm sure the members here will help you out. Or go to Whippeddog.com and get a sight unseen razor, they will be shave ready as we;;
- Thread starter
- #5
Yeah I do not want to spend to much on it since I have to get him all the things that go with it and I am not yet sure if he will get into it of not. I figure we can alway upgrade down the road if he really loves it. I will head over there now and take a look. Thanks!
I also just started with straight razors in the last couple of weeks, and Larry @ WhippedDog has been very helpful. His razor and strop prices are great, from the bottom (Sight Unseen and Slightly Flawed razors are vintage razors which are perfectly capable, but aren't pretty and new) on up to beautifully, fully restored razors. If your husband is curiously exploring, let me recommend a razor, the Poor Man's Strop Kit, which offers all the functionality, but half the price of the Rich Man's (to which he can upgrade, later, once he's sure he's into it) http://whippeddog.com/products/view/poor-man-strop-kit, plus the brush and soap (if he hasn't yet got them) http://whippeddog.com/products/view/brush-and-soap-set, a styptic pencil (if he doesn't yet have it) http://whippeddog.com/products/view/styptic-pencil, a lathering mug or bowl, and some aftershave (or, better yet, aftershave balm).
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- Thread starter
- #7
Ok so call me silly but are there health risks to using a used razor? Also if I get the razor, strop kitm and the brush and soap from Larry what else does he have to have?
WhippedDog, and any reputable restorer, will have sterilized it. If you're curious, more info about straight razor sterilization is available:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/245172-Cleaning-sterilizing-used-razor
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/61814-Sterilizing-Vintage-razors
He should be set for a while with that, eventually he will need to hone, or have the razor honed, but the pasted balsa should keep him going for a while. I think used razors are perfectly sanitary, just dip it an alcohol and bam! germs gone. I'm sure Larry sanitizes them too, but if you buy from private seller then I would use alcohol just to be sure.
Whatever you end up getting for him, I think it would be a smart idea to send him here before he has his first shave. Learning to use a straight razor can be tricky. It is very easy to accidentally or unknowingly dull the edge, and a sharp edge is the most important part of a straight razor. Also, for the first few shaves, the learning curve is steep. Send him here and we'll straighten him out (bad pun).
Either a nice Dovo or a Ralf Aust is another good choice if not above your budget. Any of the Thiers Issard entry level razors are also a great place to start. Either 5/8 or 6/8 if he has a rather thick beard.
