I've been DE shaving for about 6 years and have decided to buy a straight and give it a try. My dilemma is I can't decide which one to buy. There are so many to choose from. What do you guys recommend as the best straight for a newbie just starting out. I don't want to spend too much $ in case I don't like it, but I don't want to spend too little and get a razor that gives an inferior shave. Also I'd like to know which ones seem to be easiest to keep an edge on. Thanks.
Ready to by a straight
- Thread starter Jon1944
- Start date
Well, the most important thing that you need to look for is "Shave-ready". If the straight is not shave ready, you will need to take it to a honemeister and have it sharpen. As you probably want to start right away, buying the straight sharp is probably on top of your list.
Second, have a look for either a Sheffield (English), German or American straight. I don't have any experience with an American straight but they have good reputation. There are other good straights but those up here are easier to find.
Now, size, the standard is usually 5/8". You could go with smaller (4/8) or bigger (6/8) that's not a problem. I would pick a bigger blade as they are easier to learn with, IMO.
Finally, something like a full hollow or half hollow is perfect. A wedge is very good, I love the wedges that I have but they don't give the same feedback/sound. The full/half hollow will give you a certain sound and feel a bit different. Again, preference, I find full/half hollow easier to use.
Second, have a look for either a Sheffield (English), German or American straight. I don't have any experience with an American straight but they have good reputation. There are other good straights but those up here are easier to find.
Now, size, the standard is usually 5/8". You could go with smaller (4/8) or bigger (6/8) that's not a problem. I would pick a bigger blade as they are easier to learn with, IMO.
Finally, something like a full hollow or half hollow is perfect. A wedge is very good, I love the wedges that I have but they don't give the same feedback/sound. The full/half hollow will give you a certain sound and feel a bit different. Again, preference, I find full/half hollow easier to use.
I put myself in the hands of one of the well revered "honemeisters" here and never looked back. This forum is remarkably supportive. Send a few PMs and keep the thread going. Don't fall into the trap of more expensive is better. What you need is a well prepared blade to start and someone who can guide you to maintain the edge. The forum is loaded with good "how to" advice. FWIIW I'm on shave #3 now and expect it will not be the death of me thanks to this place 
John1944,
If you want to buy new, then the Dovo best in 5/8 or 6/8, half or full hollow is a very nice starter razor. They shave very well, take a good edge and are very easy to maintain. These are also very keenly priced.
Definitely buy from a supplier who guarantees the razor has been properly honed i.e. truly 'shave ready'.
Straight Razor Designs in the USA (http://straightrazordesigns.com/index.php?main_page=index)
or The InvisibleEdge (http://www.theinvisibleedge.co.uk/) in the UK are examples.
Have fun !
Best regards
Russ
If you want to buy new, then the Dovo best in 5/8 or 6/8, half or full hollow is a very nice starter razor. They shave very well, take a good edge and are very easy to maintain. These are also very keenly priced.
Definitely buy from a supplier who guarantees the razor has been properly honed i.e. truly 'shave ready'.
Straight Razor Designs in the USA (http://straightrazordesigns.com/index.php?main_page=index)
or The InvisibleEdge (http://www.theinvisibleedge.co.uk/) in the UK are examples.
Have fun !
Best regards
Russ
I would just get a "cheap" vintage shave ready straight.
I am toying wit the idea of trying a straight razor as well.
Lots of guys speak highly of member LarryAndro at Whipped Dog Straights. Good prices on starter straights - they're not lookers, but supposedly shave well.
Ken at Rup Razors has a starter kit with a shave-ready Gold Dollar razor and starter strop for a good deal, including a limited lifetime hone warranty.
Lots of guys speak highly of member LarryAndro at Whipped Dog Straights. Good prices on starter straights - they're not lookers, but supposedly shave well.
Ken at Rup Razors has a starter kit with a shave-ready Gold Dollar razor and starter strop for a good deal, including a limited lifetime hone warranty.
1. Contact Larry Andro- www.whippeddog.com Larry specializes in less expensive vintage blades catering to new straight shavers. With Larry's razors and "poor mans" strop kit upgrade you can be in for under $60. I wish I knew about Larry before I sprung for almost $200 before I got started. Luckily, I have kept with it.
Here is Larry's philosophy:
PHILOSOPHY
This website is dedicated to newbies! The prices are very low, while the quality of the straight razor shaving edge is very high. As sold, the straight razors are cleaned, but not buffed and polished as is sometimes done. This keeps the price down, and maintains the vintage look and feel of the blade.
2. Post a WTB for an inexpensive shave ready straight and strop on the B/S/T
Unlike some others, I have had more trouble with the larger blades, 6/8 and bigger. I have had great results with 5/8 and 4/8 blades. I do agree with the half or full hollow and providing more feedback to you. Just go slow and light and you should be fine.
Good luck!
Here is Larry's philosophy:
PHILOSOPHY
This website is dedicated to newbies! The prices are very low, while the quality of the straight razor shaving edge is very high. As sold, the straight razors are cleaned, but not buffed and polished as is sometimes done. This keeps the price down, and maintains the vintage look and feel of the blade.
2. Post a WTB for an inexpensive shave ready straight and strop on the B/S/T
Unlike some others, I have had more trouble with the larger blades, 6/8 and bigger. I have had great results with 5/8 and 4/8 blades. I do agree with the half or full hollow and providing more feedback to you. Just go slow and light and you should be fine.
Good luck!
Please, there's no reason to mess around with a vintage razor for your first straight. A vintage razor can be in fantastic condition, or it can be in marginal condition. People with lots of experience can recognize the differences and even bring the marginal ones back to "life" with a proper honing or regrinding. But why would you want to start your straight shaving experience with all of these question marks?
Buy a NEW razor from a REPUTABLE seller who will make it SHAVE READY. Period. Many people here recommend Dovos, and they are nice razors, but personally I think the Thiers blades are just a cut above (sorry, bad pun) in quality and forgiveness. Round point is probably easier to start with than a square point, but you could learn with either. And either 5/8 or 6/8 is probably the right size. (A 4/8 is just too small to see what's going on at the edge of the blade while you are shaving; a 7/8 or larger is too unwieldy to handle.)
Now, if you follow the advice above and it turns out that you don't like straight razor shaving, well, you are in luck. Because if you knock $15 or $20 off the price of the blade that you bought new, you will be able to resell it in about ten minutes here on B/S/T. You will be able to offer a desireable razor that is in basically new condition, and at a price that beats what the regular vendors are offering.
Anyway, that's my opinion.
Buy a NEW razor from a REPUTABLE seller who will make it SHAVE READY. Period. Many people here recommend Dovos, and they are nice razors, but personally I think the Thiers blades are just a cut above (sorry, bad pun) in quality and forgiveness. Round point is probably easier to start with than a square point, but you could learn with either. And either 5/8 or 6/8 is probably the right size. (A 4/8 is just too small to see what's going on at the edge of the blade while you are shaving; a 7/8 or larger is too unwieldy to handle.)
Now, if you follow the advice above and it turns out that you don't like straight razor shaving, well, you are in luck. Because if you knock $15 or $20 off the price of the blade that you bought new, you will be able to resell it in about ten minutes here on B/S/T. You will be able to offer a desireable razor that is in basically new condition, and at a price that beats what the regular vendors are offering.
Anyway, that's my opinion.
I picked up an old straight from a antique shop for £8, had it honed for £12 and still use it, i have now 4 shave ready razors and about 14 to work on this way, buying a shave ready on the bst will give you a inatant shaver, or as said, a new straight, though get it from a vendor who sends them out shave ready, there are some deals on the bst which include vintage or used dovos, so you have a good chioce, and larry is also a very good source for newbies.
If you buy a vintage razor from a reputable seller, you do not have to worry about that.
a $40 vintage razor honed properly will shave just as well, maybe better, than a new $80+ Dovo.
With that said, nothing wrong with getting a new razor. But it is not neccessary.
a $40 vintage razor honed properly will shave just as well, maybe better, than a new $80+ Dovo.
With that said, nothing wrong with getting a new razor. But it is not neccessary.
Not "cheap"...inexpensive. I have a soft spot for vintage blades. There is nothing wrong with new production blades and I have nothing against the razors offered by DOVO, et al. But...for half the price you can get a razor with some history to it that you know will shave at least as well. AND, there is so much variety.
I'll second (third or 4th by now) the recommendation for LarryAndro's site. he is an honest seller and will take care of you.
Goog
- Thread starter
- #14
Thanks for all the info guys. I will check out Larry's site. Thanks again.
Just to add a few more comments to the pot. When I first started out I went and purchased a new Dovo Special off ebay which cost me close to $90 and then I needed a strop so another $35 (which I just sold two days ago for $18). If I could do it all over again I would have bought a nice vintage straight. What might cost you anywhere from $20-$50 might have costed the equivalent of $150-$200 back then. What I mean is you might get a premium straight for only a fraction of what it would cost to buy something new comparatively today. If you don't like the $40 or $50 razor you buy then you will probably be able to sell it for the same amount in the BST. The guy that sold it to you might even offer a refund if you ask nicely. If you buy one for under $30 off ebay and there is some rust, pitting or staining then it's easy enough to clean it off with the help of the B&B members. Just ask and I'm sure one of us will suggest what would be needed to clean it. Then again if you don't want to be bothered with all that then just get a shave ready vintage. Better to pay $40 than $80 for something that's going to do the same job. I still have my Dovo Special but I haven't used it for so long. I've shave test the ones that I restore so I'm usually using a new straight. Just make sure you go slowly on your first couple of shaves. Good luck.
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