Newbie asking for advice

[Denko]

after a couple years of using electrical shavers i desided to switch to a straight razor.


Now i was thinking of getting a new dovo straight razor (the no-nonsense one, plastic handle, no gold ingraving on the blade, 5/8). Anyone that can agree or has a better idea?


I already have a brush and lathering soap. What else is adviseable for a starter? I was thinking of getting that strop (leather/cloth) and deffo a stick of that anti bleeding stuff .

Now this is where i get confused, the strop is just for maintenence and the last bit of sharpening of the blade as far as i understood. What set of sharpning stones can you advise for a not too harsh price? (been looking around on ebay a bit myself and seen some 4K+8K+stoneholder combo's) but again, would love some advice on the matter.

 

[mdunn]

i would go vintage, because IMHO its better value - but I do understand that some guys dont like the idea of a used razor.

you use a strop for before each shave, it doesnt remove metal - it just prepares it for the shave.

Unless you plan on sharpening your own razors from blunt you dont need any hones. A pasted strop or perhaps a barbers hone is all you need. If you want to put a shaving edge on razors without one then you only need a couple of hones, but thats a different story all together

 

[mparker762]

I already have a brush and lathering soap. What else is adviseable for a starter? I was thinking of getting that strop (leather/cloth) and deffo a stick of that anti bleeding stuff .

Now this is where i get confused, the strop is just for maintenence and the last bit of sharpening of the blade as far as i understood. What set of sharpning stones can you advise for a not too harsh price? (been looking around on ebay a bit myself and seen some 4K+8K+stoneholder combo's) but again, would love some advice on the matter.

You must have a strop - that's what keeps the blade going long after a DE blade would be in the trash.

Hones are not cheap, unfortunately. Except for the Chinese 12k but it's only suitable as a finishing hone, and kind of marginal at that - you'll still need a set of coarser hones if the edge gets even moderately dull. Fortunately pasted paddle strops are pretty cheap (~$50 IIRC), and as a bonus they're easy to learn how to use.

If you really prefer hones, then probably the cheapest suite of hones that will do the job well are the big spyderco hones. You'll need the medium, fine and ultrafine 2x8 hones. I think the full set is around $200.

 

[crankymoose]

Denko, Welcome to B&B

I suggest you read through this link it will answer your questions and is a great reference especially for a new straight shaver

 

[Denko]

Denko, Welcome to B&B

I suggest you read through this link it will answer your questions and is a great reference especially for a new straight shaver

yeah i have read that a few days ago already, thanks for the tip none the less.

So from what i understand a strop and maybe a barbers hone is enough to get a dovo straight from the factory "shave ready" ?

 

[Bertilak]

You can get by without a hone for long enough to decide if they are worth the investment to you. Maybe you will not like straight razor shaving. Maybe you would rather spend $20-$25 bucks two or three times a year to have someone else hone for you. You could do that for a LONG time before matching the price of a set of hones.

If you shave with a straight razor you definitely require a strop otherwise your blade will be no good after a few shaves. You will likely make a mess of your first strop so don't start with some high-end expensive strop. I recommend the Filly from RupRazor. It comes with a paste on the reverse side for occasional touch up and is only $20 shipped. I still use the pasted side of mine after 6-7 months.

Vintage razors you get "shave ready" from one of the respected members of B&B or of Straight Razor Place (similar to B&B but focused on straight razor shaving) will be a better "deal" than a new razor but I understand the logic behind getting a new razor -- that's what I did when starting. I felt more assured that I would be getting something that was in good shape and shave ready. Turns out my "anxiety" was misplaced but there is no way anyone would have convinced me otherwise at the time.

 

[Denko]

Vintage razors you get "shave ready" from one of the respected members of B&B or of Straight Razor Place (similar to B&B but focused on straight razor shaving) will be a better "deal" than a new razor but I understand the logic behind getting a new razor -- that's what I did when starting. I felt more assured that I would be getting something that was in good shape and shave ready. Turns out my "anxiety" was misplaced but there is no way anyone would have convinced me otherwise at the time.

Hm, it does seem like a good deal to get one off the bb forums, will have a bit of a lookout for a nice one. I will however be looking at a dovo, as that is the brand my grandfather used for a very long time. Will also order the filly as it can't be a bad deal at that price.

 

[Macion grey]

You can get by without a hone for long enough to decide if they are worth the investment to you. Maybe you will not like straight razor shaving. Maybe you would rather spend $20-$25 bucks two or three times a year to have someone else hone for you. You could do that for a LONG time before matching the price of a set of hones.

If you shave with a straight razor you definitely require a strop otherwise your blade will be no good after a few shaves. You will likely make a mess of your first strop so don't start with some high-end expensive strop. I recommend the Filly from RupRazor. It comes with a paste on the reverse side for occasional touch up and is only $20 shipped. I still use the pasted side of mine after 6-7 months.

Vintage razors you get "shave ready" from one of the respected members of B&B or of Straight Razor Place (similar to B&B but focused on straight razor shaving) will be a better "deal" than a new razor but I understand the logic behind getting a new razor -- that's what I did when starting. I felt more assured that I would be getting something that was in good shape and shave ready. Turns out my "anxiety" was misplaced but there is no way anyone would have convinced me otherwise at the time.

How often do you need to re-apply the CrOx on that Filly?

 

[Lucius]

You will likely make a mess of your first strop so don't start with some high-end expensive strop.

Yes, definitely this.

I got a Tony Miller artisan with practice strop. After using the practice strop with no problems all of 3 times, and thinking to myself, "this isn't so hard" I started using the nice one. As I become more comfortable I started stropping faster...and hacking up the strop as well. It's still functional but since I have a ton of nicks and cuts on the last two or three inches of the strop I can't use as much of it.

I finally just ordered a new one and when it comes in will relegate the original to pasted strop duty. I kind of flushed $90 down the drain by being too anxious to jump to the nice strop when I should have stayed with the practice one for several months in all honesty.

 

[alexo]

You don't need to invest a lot in honing. I had fine results with lapping films that were used to restore 6 used razors and one new into fine shaving tools. Check this link out for example.
There are a few threads about these films it in the hones/honing forum. It's a waste to invest in stones that would sit idle most of the time when you could get by with such a cheap alternative that would give just as fine results as stones.

I didn't even need to replace the films as they handled the 7 razors with ease so 5 films would give a lifetime of service for someone who just needs to maintain several razors.

 

[Bertilak]

How often do you need to re-apply the CrOx on that Filly?

Haven't needed to yet so can't say.

I actually DID put some on but only because I bought a "crayon" of green CrO2 and just felt like trying it out.

I suspect it lasts a long time.

 

[leighton]

Hm, it does seem like a good deal to get one off the bb forums, will have a bit of a lookout for a nice one. I will however be looking at a dovo, as that is the brand my grandfather used for a very long time. Will also order the filly as it can't be a bad deal at that price.

Unfortunately, modern Dovos are not equal to Dovos of yester-era. Anyway, my opinions about everything else you've had questions about are found in the link in my sig.

 

[Denko]

small update; i have found a shaver of my liking off a member of the B&B (don't know if mentioning the username is desirable), and it will be delivered ready to shave.

now just a strop, i will probably just pick one up of ebay, the filly although nice is unfortunately being doubled in price due to the shipping costs, wich sort of makes it a not so cheap strop all of a sudden.

p.s. Excuse any errors that i make spelling wise, English is far from my mother language.

 

[Hanzo]

Denko

I started about 7 mths ago with a Dovo 5/8 and it is a nice starter blade. I then bought a Dovo 6/8 and its even better, I like larger blades. Straight Razor Designs had the 6/8 for 114, one member here has a sale pending on one for $80. I think the 6/8 is worth its price, especially if its prehoned.

The advantage with Dovos is they are easy to hone . I'm pretty lame at honing but I have been able to touch up my Dovos with my Norton 4k/8k satisfactorily enough.

Good Luck with straights , there a lot of fun to play with.

 

[Hanzo]

The only strop to get is the Toni Miller 3'' Latigo with practice strop. Don't even argue , just get it.

 

[Denko]

The only strop to get is the Toni Miller 3'' Latigo with practice strop. Don't even argue , just get it.

hehe, i understand that, but due to me not living in the states, it's quite expensive (and takes ages) to get it here to my house. Let me put it this way, i can get a strop from europe to my door for the same price of shipping alone from the states. So unfortunatly for a starting strop it's too much money at the time.

 

[Hanzo]

I understand the overseas shipping problem with the Toni Miller but honestly its worth it. Glad you got that 6/8 on offer , I think you will like it and you got a great deal. As a relative newb myself having tried 5/8, 6/8 and 7/8 size blades I think the 6/8 is perfect as a first razor. Enjoy.

 

[huracan]

The invisible edge has a decent selection of starter strops from which to choose, the different scent is another one close to home that has a nice starter strop. We are a selective bunch here, so you will see a lot of recommendations for very, very good stuff. In reality, no-nonsense stuff gives just as good shaves. But make no mistake, you hang out here long enough, you'll be wondering what all the fuss is about and end up wanting more than you "need".