I need straight blade help!! (for shaving)

N

newguy

Joined
Aug 15, 2001
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i'm looking to become a straight blade shaver and it seems as though it's not so straight forward (no pun intended). i'm currently looking at a dovo blade (the "gstar"), but i was told that dovo isn't quite as good as, say, thiers-issard. so, i suppose i'm comparing it to the thiers-issard "eagle" brand blade. what is the difference? the dovo is more affordable and also a little nicer looking (it has a nice pakkawood handle). what do i do?

i'm also curious about strops... for instance, do i need a strop with a canvas side? is that neccesary. or could i settle for just leather? also, do i need a honing stone? or is the strop sufficient?

help me, please!!

thanx in advance,
steven
 
I had this same idea a while back. Found a couple old, but mint and super sharp straight razors on EBay. I figured "what the funck, I'm a knife guy... lemme try this straight razor thing... maybe it'll be interesting enough to want to practice at and do daily".

Well, sure enough... shaved 3 times. Consider myself lucky to have only cut myself 2 of the 3 times, and then very minor nicks, but had that lovely "TP on the face" thing goin' on. It did remind me of my childhood when my Dad would emerge from his morning prep and have TP on his face during breakfast. Good memory.

You really have to be careful around your chin and on your throat.

Worst part: Sumbitch did that hurt shaving my damned lip! Really yanks your hairs compared to an electric or a single or double plastic Schick/Gillete, etc. (and yes, my straight razor was hair-jumpin sharp on my arm).

Yeah, the cheapie plastic double edged razors aren't elegant, nor do they have any historically redeeming qualities, but those things work great. They were and are true innovations over the straight edged razor when it comes to straight shaving performance. Same for my Braun electric.

I ran my experiment.... you should too. Buy a new razor, but cheap, and try it before you buy anything nice and invest in a true razor strop. Make sure you wish to endure this painful and time consuming ceremony before you invest further.

I broadened my horizon a bit, but then reverted to a better way.
 
tried it, shaved about 3 times, gave it up. i like thier-issard though. if you do it, use shaving cream or gel, the soap crap just doesn't work as well. Oh yeah, strop, you dont need the canvas, running the razor under hot water will heat it up just as well. don't forget the jewler's rouge or whatever they call it.

- Pete
 
I have been using a DOVO Bismark for about 6 months and love it! Now that I'm back to work (long story), I only do it on weekends, too time consuming when trying to rush out the door.

I don't know about any blade other than DOVO, they might be better. Mine is incredibly sharp, but stropping is a must. Don't use jeweler's rouge, it is far too rough for a straight razor, use only the J55 (or is it J56) paste. The best hone I have found is the Spyderco ceramic ultra fine.

It takes time and practice, but for me it's worth it, as I like to do things the "old" way. Something to be said for not using disposable things... It definitely shaves closer than any safety razor, including the new Mach 3, but it also lusts for your blood!

:eek:

Check out:

http://members.tripod.com/razorcentral/index.html

There is another good source, but I have lost the URL, try a google search. The knifecenter has an faq also, I think. Good luck!
 
its all about skill - an old guy who has since passed used to give me shaves, closest ever, w/a razor - and no cuts - but he new what he was doing.....


sifu
 
Have been seriously contemplating removing much of my beard -- which have had all but a total of about 22 months since 1969. But no way am I going to go at it with a straight edge.

However, I have to confess many blissful moments in the R&R center in Tapei, Taiwan during my 30-day basket leave when I extended my stay in Vietnam. This incredibly lovely girl was the barber I always went to. Every other day for a shave, 2 times per week for trim on haircut. Anyhow, this lovely young thing was an expert with the straight razor. Had an incredibly endearing manner of anchoring one of her pulchritudes in the ear opposite the side she was shaving. Absolutely the best shaves of my life! Ah to be young again . . .
 
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