so I want a straight razor...

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Nov 7, 2004
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I'm tired of fighting the same old uphill battles with modern shaving implements. I'm 23 years old and I'm ready to try my hand at the almost forgotten art of shaving for real instead of all these safe shavers that seem to succede only in keeping the blades edge from really giving you a clean shave.

As I said, I'm too young to have learned to shave the old fasioned way so I'll be taking this upon myself to learn as I go. Classicshaving has been a great help in this, but before I go dropping all that money I'm having some difficulties deciding what razor to get. I like some of the Dovos and some of the Thiers-Issards, and the ones I like are all around the $200 range which is probably about what I'll be spending. Anyone know of any knifemakers out there making custom razors?
 
Did you ever try "straight razor shaving"?
I have try it some times, then went back to my safe ones !
Take so much time in the morning to shave you, if you don't want to bleed till death...
So try to find a straight razor around (father/uncle, etc) and after some use, if you still want brand new one, go for it....:rolleyes:
 
Not sure about customs, but check eBay. There are gobs of old and new quality razors sold there every day. You can certainly find some pretty unique, well-made examples.
 
I strait shave I dont remember what the name of it is I will get back to you, I do it cuz it gets a damned close shave, I dont post here often but I look alot. Oh I got mine from Knifecenter.
 
At www.straightrazorplace.com you have several places to look for vintage razors and new razors. Look in the Gallery>Gear for Sale, also look t Andrews and Lynns folder in the Gallery and some others.
Also look in the Buy/Sell/Trade forum and also in the classifieds section of the site.

Also try
www.billysblades.com for clean vintage razors
www.straight-razors-and-stuff.com for some beautiful NOS razors
www.thewellshavedgentleman.com for complete starter kits, strop's and paddle strop's.
www.straightedgerazors.com in the classifieds section
and www.badgerandblade.com and www.shavemyface.com both use a buy/sell/trade forum to check out

The high end of the market is www.straightrazordesigns.com
This is Italian made custom straight razors from ATS-34 and Damasteel.

Hope this helps,
 
It's a fast way to shave, I think it is faster than any other bladed system, it is just a mater of whether you regard it as a ritual, or a practical means to an end. I have only known one old school gentleman who still shaved this way after learning when it was the only way. He is dead now, but it was a no time wasted mater of seconds where he was concerned.

Just for instance, you can shave the whole of one side of your face without cleaning the razor, there is zero clogging, I call that fast. I'm not saying that is the way to go, just pointing out that people shaved this way for decades/centuries without making it into a yuppie/consumption/time-wasting/ hobby thing, they had no choice, and maybe a dozen other family member all wanting to use the one bathroom.

I have rarely cut myself, and alway less seriously than with safety razors.

My only advice would be to get a disposable blade straight razor first, if you are new to sharpening. If you were doing this for real in the old days you would probably have had family members to show you how, and get you started with sharp tools. If you are doing all that yourself, give yourself a break. I mean buy everything at once if you like, but get yourself the disposable, they are great for travelling or camping anyway, and you will have a performance benchmark from the first mooment you try it out.

I can't really see a reason for spending anything like 200 for a razor, but that is a personal choice, have fun with it.
 
For 20 years, I've shaved with straight razors I bought in antique shops, and off E-bay. Since I was looking for something to use rather than a "collectible," I've never had to pay more than $15 for a razor. Bought an old ceramic razor hone with a small chip off a corner for $8, and a strop for another $12.

Try to find a razor where the ends of the cutting edge have rounded rather than sharply square corners ... you're less likely to scratch yourself that way. I also prefer a wider rather than a narrower blade, just for better control.

The real keys are:

(1) sharpening ... Eventually, I swiped my strop a few times with the green chromium oxide "crayon" that woodworkers use to polish their carving tools. Iit was a REVELATION. No "pulling," never have to go over the spot twice, no irritation on my neck. I got my chromium oxide from Lee Valley Tools for about $8, and my grandson will still be using the crayon when I'm long gone.

Don't press down hard on the strop, as it can "roll" the edge, and prevent it from getting as sharp as possible. Same when you're using the ceramic hone ... just lay the razor on the hone, and give it 6-8 strokes/side with perhaps one ounce of pressure ... no more weight than that.

(2) get your beard soft enough before you use the razor. Either shave just after a shower, or leave the shaving soap on your face for about 3-4 minutes before shaving.

(3) hold the razor at a shallow enough angle to your face. About 20-30 degrees works best for me. If you hold the blade at a steeper angle, you're risking cuts. I also use a VERY SLIGHT "slicing" action, perhaps moving the blade 1/4" forwards for every 1" of cut down the cheek. This is an "advanced" technique; I find it makes shaving smoother, but practice with straight "pushes" first, 'till you can keep the blade angle at that 20-30 degrees consistently.

Lots of good advice elsewhere on the web too ... but those were the things that have made the difference for me, and that I'd not heard elsewhere when I first started using a straight razor.

Tom.
 
im 31. i started shaving w/ a straight razor about a year ago and must say i love it.. learned through trial and error. not to many around who know the art anymore. stick with it. i think its a great skill to pass down to a son or an interested individual. also, i think the devo is the best priced new razor. my wife bought mine (not a devo) off ebay from a widow. it kind of feels like im keeping a heritage alive.. just me kind of odd?
 
Good advice here. I'll add one thing learned the hard way. Don't use anything on the strop except your razor. I started using it for all my knives, and ended up with too many nicks and surface imperfections. Had to buy another...
 
Hello Tom,

Glad to see another straight razor user on this forum.
The green honing compound from Lee Valley has chrome oxide as the abrasive.
Its average particle size is 0.5 micron's. I use a similar sized compund on an abrasive pasted paddle strop. After I use that then I clean the razor and perform 30-40- roundtrip laps on a traditional plain leather strop. Then my razor is even sharper. I just finished shaving off a 7 day growth with some razors that I have honed for another guy. One pass and they were all gone with no stubble. I love straight razors!:)

May I ask what kind of ceramic hone you have?





TomFetter said:
For 20 years, I've shaved with straight razors I bought in antique shops, and off E-bay. Since I was looking for something to use rather than a "collectible," I've never had to pay more than $15 for a razor. Bought an old ceramic razor hone with a small chip off a corner for $8, and a strop for another $12.

Try to find a razor where the ends of the cutting edge have rounded rather than sharply square corners ... you're less likely to scratch yourself that way. I also prefer a wider rather than a narrower blade, just for better control.

The real keys are:

(1) sharpening ... Eventually, I swiped my strop a few times with the green chromium oxide "crayon" that woodworkers use to polish their carving tools. Iit was a REVELATION. No "pulling," never have to go over the spot twice, no irritation on my neck. I got my chromium oxide from Lee Valley Tools for about $8, and my grandson will still be using the crayon when I'm long gone.

Don't press down hard on the strop, as it can "roll" the edge, and prevent it from getting as sharp as possible. Same when you're using the ceramic hone ... just lay the razor on the hone, and give it 6-8 strokes/side with perhaps one ounce of pressure ... no more weight than that.

(2) get your beard soft enough before you use the razor. Either shave just after a shower, or leave the shaving soap on your face for about 3-4 minutes before shaving.

(3) hold the razor at a shallow enough angle to your face. About 20-30 degrees works best for me. If you hold the blade at a steeper angle, you're risking cuts. I also use a VERY SLIGHT "slicing" action, perhaps moving the blade 1/4" forwards for every 1" of cut down the cheek. This is an "advanced" technique; I find it makes shaving smoother, but practice with straight "pushes" first, 'till you can keep the blade angle at that 20-30 degrees consistently.

Lots of good advice elsewhere on the web too ... but those were the things that have made the difference for me, and that I'd not heard elsewhere when I first started using a straight razor.

Tom.
Click to expand...
 
Regarding what kind of ceramic hone to use, here is a traditional barber's razor stone. The light color is very hard, tight-grained, and smooth. The dark side is soft, like a soapstone, and silky smooth. The old barbers used water or shaving soap on these.

My dad was a barber back in the 1930s, and when I started shaving (45) years ago, it was natural to start with a straight razor. I've been doing it ever since.

My favorite razor over the years is a Puma that my son bought new in 1990. It takes an edge easily and holds it well. Rarely sees the stone. The Dovos are not bad either, and very pretty. The old razors (I have some dated from the 1880s.) did not have modern metallurgy. If they took an edge easily, you might have to strop again during the shave. If they held an edge well, they usually were hard to get sharp.

ONE WORD OF ADVICE for new straight-razor users: NEVER try to catch a straight razor if you drop it while shaving.....especially if you are "undressed", if you catch my drift. Just jump out of the way, let it hit the floor, and suffer the consequences.

Mikey
 

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Your barbers hone reminds me of a couple that I have. They are Belgian natural waterstones, not a manmade ceramic hone. Belgians have the same color as yours. The Belgians are regarded as one of the finest razor hones ever quarried. Currently, www.theperfectedge.com , is the sole U.S. distributor
of Belgian hones. The guys name is Howard Schechter(sp?) and he is a hone junkie.:)

Stop on over to www.straightrazorplace.com and introduce yourself.


Randy Tuttle


Mikey said:
Regarding what kind of ceramic hone to use, here is a traditional barber's razor stone. The light color is very hard, tight-grained, and smooth. The dark side is soft, like a soapstone, and silky smooth. The old barbers used water or shaving soap on these.

My dad was a barber back in the 1930s, and when I started shaving (45) years ago, it was natural to start with a straight razor. I've been doing it ever since.

My favorite razor over the years is a Puma that my son bought new in 1990. It takes an edge easily and holds it well. Rarely sees the stone. The Dovos are not bad either, and very pretty. The old razors (I have some dated from the 1880s.) did not have modern metallurgy. If they took an edge easily, you might have to strop again during the shave. If they held an edge well, they usually were hard to get sharp.

ONE WORD OF ADVICE for new straight-razor users: NEVER try to catch a straight razor if you drop it while shaving.....especially if you are "undressed", if you catch my drift. Just jump out of the way, let it hit the floor, and suffer the consequences.

Mikey
Click to expand...
 
Mikey said:
ONE WORD OF ADVICE for new straight-razor users: NEVER try to catch a straight razor if you drop it while shaving.....especially if you are "undressed", if you catch my drift. Just jump out of the way, let it hit the floor, and suffer the consequences.

Mikey
Click to expand...

I can't believe I posted this and then forgot about it. Let me start out by saying I'm a balisong fanatic. I'm absolutely the LAST person you have to explain the don't catch a dropped blade rule too :D I've learned that one myself through botched manipulations and ariels.

For everyone posting the links much thanks are in order. Shortly after this thread I joined the SRP and have become relatively active there. I'm using an $8 boar brush from wal-greens with a 7 dollar ceramic soap bowl from wal-greens (soap came with it yay!) and a rather expensive ebay find that cost me right over $30. Still very affordable in comparison but higher than plenty of others. I liked this one a LOT when I saw it and had to have it hence the high sale price.

I'm still ghetto stropping on old linen I have around the house, but eventually I'll move up and buy a nice paddle strop so I can use the pastes as well as keep a clean strop. A badger brush is in my future as well as a Norton hone to replace my Spyderco Sharpmaker, and I'm sure there will be several more razors purchased before things are said and done. I turned 24 last Sunday and I've now been Mach3 free for almost 6 months. I'm no longer wasting money on $10 a pack garbage cartridges or using $4 a can shave gel that irritates my skin. I'm actually saving money in the long run but I have a feeling I'm going to dump a lot more money into this in the form of more razors and better equipment.
 
I will start raiding flea markets as soon as they open. There are plenty a blade to be had, and there is nothing wrong on collecting items that have an actual use.

We need a well done instructional video to see the "pros" on a close up on their blading technique, angles, and to see actual footage of "hair test".
 
Go to ebay and buy your razor!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can get a good razor CHEAP!! Like $10 - $40
I've seen Dubl Ducs go for $10 and I've seen junk go for $50.
Fact is most razors on there are just fine.

Take into account that most of these razors are something like fifty years or older so most of the junk has been weeded out already.
I just picked up a nice bakelite handled " Best Silver Steel " for $23.52 and a strop for $3.
Both at my door for less than $35
I'm lookin at a henckel that is grossly mislabeled for like $6 right now.
Buy used and put it on a shelf if you don't like it, or impress guests by showing them how thin you can slice a tomato!!!!!!!
Happy shaving!!
 
start simple with like a dovo kit or something but whatever you do my best piece of advice is badger bristle brushes only. others suck.
 
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