My First Order of "Real" Shaving Supplies

[eneyman]

Hey guys, I am trying to get a Dovo 5/8 Special tortoise straight razor hopefully soon (I have a spyderco sharpmaker with med/fine stones and double sided stop with black/green compound for maintaining it) and am now trying to figure out some quality but affordable shaving supplies to give me some enjoyable shaves and just experience what sort of creams/aftershaves/scents I might like. Can you experts out there comment on the quality/enjoyability of these as a "startup kit":

Omega #13522 Pure Boar Brush (should I go with something else? Escali Pure badger?)

Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream Bowl, 5.3 oz

Col. Conk Bay Rum Shaving Soap

Proraso Dioibarba Aftershave Lotion (kinda pricy at 17 bucks, but good reviews)

Clubman Pinaud Aftershave Lotion, Vanilla

Clubman Pinaud Aftershave Lotion, original? any good?

Virgin Island Bay Rum by Clubman, any good?

what else should this newbie be looking at?

Thanks for your suggestions/feedback

 

[smalltank]

all sounds well..YMMV based on what your face can tolerate or agrees with..thats the easiest way..experimenting ;-)

 

[Parallax]

I recommend the #6 horse hair brush from www.bestshave.net. One of my favorite toys. For $2.45 (plus shipping, which is more than the cost of the brush itself), it's a steal.

 

[seanmckay]

I myself like the Virgin Island Bay Rum by Clubman. That is one of my favorite aftershave lotions. It warms the face when you put it on do to the clove/cinnamon that is in it

Seanmckay

 

[Oblique Human]

Nice kit.

 

[eneyman]

Hey guys will a new Dovo 5/8 Special tortoise be shave ready out of the box/brand new? I have a strop and have no problem using that, but am just worried about the bevel/edge being properly set/honed out of box. Any previous Dovo buyers with info on a new/sealed razors shaving ability?

 

[dpmtherrien]

That'll get you started, and then you can adjust from there.

 

[eneyman]

Ok fellas, just made my purchases for my very first straight razor kit:

Dovo Special 5/8 tortoise
Escali 100% badger brush
Taylor Sandalwood cream
Proraso Pre/Post shave cream
Clubman Pinaud Vanilla aftershave lotion

Thanks for all your input, and I can't wait to continue learning and trying new products.

 

[blademen]

Hey guys will a new Dovo 5/8 Special tortoise be shave ready out of the box/brand new? I have a strop and have no problem using that, but am just worried about the bevel/edge being properly set/honed out of box. Any previous Dovo buyers with info on a new/sealed razors shaving ability?

All the Dovo's I bought had to be touched up some to be shave ready.

 

[RobAtSGH]

If you're talking about this Spyderco Sharpmaker:

The medium (brown) stones are too aggressive for a razor, and the white fine stones don't get fine enough to maintain a razor edge. Also, those sticks aren't wide enough to keep the blade flat through the full stroke. That kit's made for kitchen knives and utility blades, not razors. I know this because I have the same set, and experimented with it on an old, dull razor just for kicks, and it will not do the trick.

You'll really want a set of wide, flat stones in 2000/4000/8000 grit equivalent (or just 4000/8000 if you're not trying to repair a damaged edge).

 

[Mspec]

Nice, and plenty of enjoyment to be had

 

[Dusty1]

Looks good, I personally enjoy the TOBS Sandalwood a lot. I'm sure your kit will get a lot of milage.

 

[Predict]

Nice choices. I like TOBS sandalwood a lot. And you can never go wrong with any proraso product.

 

[excel]

Nice stuff. try a tallow soap when you get that soap ad.