The best way to try a straight

[gmgaj]

I'm wanting to try a straight to see if it is for me, but am not sure I want to sink a bunch of money into it until I try it first.
Would there be a problem with buying a shave ready gold dollar, and trying it out that way? I think I read somewhere that I can use newspaper to strop with for a while.
Is there a problem with easing into it this way?

 

[Obiwan]

You could certainly buy a shave ready GD as a way to see if straights are for you. Newspaper stropping does work, but I'm not sure how well or for how long. You may want to research other cheap/free temporary options (like denim jeans, seatbelts, palm, etc.). In my opinion, you'd be better off trying to get an inexpensive strop. You can find nice cheap strops in a reasonable range. You can usually resell a starter kit for close to what you'd pay for it if you decide it's not for you.

Another option to consider would be to go to whippeddog.com

 

[PapaFish]

I have heard of places that sell shave ready straights recommending that new shavers do not strop for the first few shaves (presumably so they don't screw things up stropping). That should hold true across the board, meaning you could buy a shave ready straight, get a few shaves out of it, and see if you like it before buying a strop.

Another option would be to get a disposable blade straight razor. No stropping and no honing. If the edge gets to feeling bad, just replace the blade. If it turns out you like it, then you can invest some money to buy a straight, a strop, and whatever else you feel you want .

 

[ACorazza]

If your going with a gold dollar, I highly reccommend Buca's offer in the hobbyist section. Great edge and and a great shave.

 

[BillC]

A shave ready Gold Dollar from Buca and newspaper stropping is as cheap as it's going to get unless you luck into a PIF. That Gold Dollar will shave great, FWIW.

 

[sarimento1]

Shavette is great way to experiment. Salable after if you don't get hooked. But you will.

 

[Slash McCoy]

The GD will be much nicer to your face than a shavette. Newspaper stropping works if you do it right. A nice leather strop is better but go with newspaper the first week at least so you dont take a chace on destroying something you had to pay for.

 

[gruntedshaves]

shavette is not the same. period. I dont like how people say its the same beast. i had a shavette. and theyre not the same. the best way to try a straight is to definitely just go out and get one. Lets be real here, grand scheme of things, you spend 100 bucks in gas or close to it; you can definitely try a straight out. lol.

Take the plunge, youll be happier that you did it more than anything; Embrace your fear also, focusing on angle and precision and touch is something that needs fear and focus in the beginning; dont be afraid to try it, be more so courageous that youre willing to do it.

If you work with your hands like me, then find a used one for 7 bucks somewhere; and hone it and learn it then do it. youll appreciate it more, and learn the sharpness faster. if you just want to try a straight, spend the 30 bucks or so at whipped dog.

 

[gmgaj]

Thanks for the feedback. I was considering getting the gold dollar, and if I like it, then getting a flawed shave ready from WD with the poor mans strop kit. The shavette is tempting, but I hear that it just isn't the same, but may end up there. I'm not sure it is where I want to start, though.

 

[PapaFish]

shavette is not the same. period. I dont like how people say its the same beast. i had a shavette. and theyre not the same.

How many have you had? Which one(s)? How many types of blades did you try for it?

I have had a few, mostly Sextoblades, but a couple others. The Sextoblades are very stiff and give a shave I consider to be directly comparable to a straight razor. Remember, not all straights shave the same. A 4/8 hollow ground is not the same as a 7/8 near wedge.

The other shavettes I had were not stiff enough, in my opinion, and made shaving more difficult.

 

[Snikkeren]

I've never tried a real straight. I bought a Parker shavette, and it worked fine for me. Now I've just upgraded to a Feather Artist Club SS, and I'm really happy about it. It's so smooth, and shaves great.

At first I bought a shavette because I didn't want all the maintenance that comes with a straight, but lately I've been wanting to try a real straight.

I'm glad I started with the Parker shavette. It's cheap, low maintenance, and you get to see if straight shaving is for you.
But be warned. You will get hooked on it, and wanting to aquire more shaving gear. So much for the cheap "entrance fee".

 

[nymtber]

I REALLY like my Feather Artist Club SS with ProGuard blades. Is it just like a straight? I don't know. I almost went the gold dollar route, but then would have needed at least a poor mans strop kit, and then, no guarantee I'd pick up on stropping/ honing properly. I will someday get a strop and get my vintage ($5) full hollow straight honed by someone on here, but the Feather is letting me learn

 

[blackhhawk]

If you get into straights, by no means do you need a hone or need to learn to hone. You might want to eventually, but the only thing you truly need is a strop. Whipped dog has a good answer for that; the poor man's strop kit.

I wish I bought a GD from buca in the beginning, rather than wasting money on an expensive Dovo. They're great shavers, you can't go wrong. I can't say that enough.

 

[Slash McCoy]

If you start with a sharp razor you may never need to re hone. All you need is apieceof balsa 3x12 and some diamond paste, .5u and .1u from www.tedpella.com. Balsa you can get online or from your local hobby shop. Flatten the balsa on a whole sheet of 320 grit sandpaper then apply .5u to one side and .1u to the other. After each shave strop on the fine side 40 or 50 light laps. Normally you wont need the coarse side but if the razor ever does start to get dull, bring it back with the coarse side, however many laps it takes. I never have to rehone my razors.

 

[buca3152]

Theres a great tip for people who never want to hone or send out for honing! You guys listening as this is a great idea.

 

[Revan]

A barbers hone is another possible solution, they're pretty cheap and a lot of people never have to hone if they use them.

 

[Slash McCoy]

A barbers hone is another possible solution, they're pretty cheap and a lot of people never have to hone if they use them.

How do you use a barber hone without honing? Should one lightly beat on the razor's edge with the hone?

 

[gruntedshaves]

How many have you had? Which one(s)? How many types of blades did you try for it?

I have had a few, mostly Sextoblades, but a couple others. The Sextoblades are very stiff and give a shave I consider to be directly comparable to a straight razor. Remember, not all straights shave the same. A 4/8 hollow ground is not the same as a 7/8 near wedge.

The other shavettes I had were not stiff enough, in my opinion, and made shaving more difficult.

ive had a few different shavettes, from dovo, persona, feather, etc etc, ive tried from stiff back single blades on the cheaper shavettes, i forget the name.

youre right, each blade has different characteristics, but to compare edges to a real straight is a tough thing to swallow. from weight to balancing, to even how the blade shaves. wedges hollows and rounds all shave differently, but not comparable to a shavette

 

[egarmo]

I have shaved with a shavette, a modest one, not the Feather Artist Club style, for more than three years. I cut myself obviously many times at the beginning. The worst cut in my life was when I had been shaving daily for more than two years. One day, with a regular soap, I got an updown cut in the middle of my right cheek. It bleed for more than 30 minutes. A mess. I arrived late at work and with an uncomfortable. I even feared to share Al Capones nickname (scarface...), ThankGod (and wet shaving) it healed without any scar. What happened that day..... I do not know, but one possibility is unstable fit of the blade with the shavette.
I am shaving with real straight razors (vintage) that I have been able to restore and hone on my own. its quite a chore....!!!. They shave superb as long as you get them to pass the HHT.....
And... the cuts that occurred from time to time with my shavette have not yet happened... Final mastery of technique??? Superiority of the tool???? Coincidence????????
I should promise to report if I ever cut again with a straight razor......