Want to try using a straight razor

[akadave2]

I would like to try using a straight razor. So is it better to start with an old straight razor or buy a new one? Also, where is a good source for these?

Thanks

Dave

 

[Nathan Dewey]

Vintage ones tend to be expensive. Amazon is a good place. Dovo brand

 

[Morgoth2008]

Buy one of the cheap modern ones with the insertable blades before going vintage. Good ones
are expensive. Mine was 300 on Fleabay. Ivory handle and incredibly sharp. Took a good bit
of hide off the first couple of times but there is something satisfying about using it.

 

[gunstockjack]

You can get a good one on feebay for $20, but it won't be sharp enough to use. There are people who will hone them for you, but the trouble is, only half the $20 razors will take a shaving edge. You need to be very careful or just get lucky. I've done both and hone them myself. A set of stones can be pricey!

 

[dtownknifekid]

I started with a new one, a colonel conk starter set with the razor made by Dovo without the Dovo name. I would suggest buying from a source that does professional honing such as straight razor place, but I got mine from knife-center because I failed to do enough research before I put it on my christmas list. The reason I suggest that is shave readiness is subjective, I considered my razor shave ready when I got it, but many enthusiasts would not and there is a rather large variation in beard characteristics. Do not buy from vintagestraightrazor.com, it is pretty agreed upon on r/wickededge that they ship improperly honed poor quality razors. Also avoid http://straightrazorplace.com/srpwiki/index.php/Brands_of_Straight_Razors_to_avoid

If you decide to go with a secondhand razor thewhippeddog comes highly recommended, from what I can tell. Be advised though with the sight unseen deal you will not know exactly what you are getting, but it will be professionally honed.

 

[akadave2]

Thanks for all the info! I will check into Dovo

 

[stoffi]

I bought a bunch of old vintage razors, mostly swedish, british and german ones that are considered top notch brands of their time; but since they were between 50-80 years old they weren't completely straight (dropped on floor?), so getting a good clean angle on them was hard. I have been able to shave with them quite well, but even though I take pride in my sharpening abilities I feel that I need to buy a brand new one to know that I'm not doing something wrong or if it is the razor itself — cuz they are bent and mistreated.

I second getting a mechanical straight razor which takes DE blades (you snap them in half in the paper). It is a very cheap solution, you don't risk cutting yourself as deeply and you know that the razor is in order (sharp as hell). By knowing this, you can single out your problems more easily (lather, beard prep etc). Do it.

 

[IMightBeWrong]

I'm using a safety razor for a while, Edwin Jagger DE89 that was recommended to me here a couple months ago, and using it to get by until I have the disposable income to buy a Dovo as well. I want to get good with both. I'm really enjoying this new hobby!

If I remember correctly, some websites on this forum can't be named, but do a bit of Google searching and you can find some places that can professionally hone your razor before it ships to you. That's how I plan to get mine when the time comes as "Shave Ready" razors, or so I've heard, aren't really ready to shave with.

 

[crazyengineer]

If I were you, I would go to whipped dog (google it) and see what they have to offer. Vintage razors that are honed up and ready, as well as good budget strops available. I am actually going to order a strop from there tonight or tomorrow.

I would get a sight unseen razor (it is how he keeps his prices down), and a poor man's strop kit.

some people score on the razors from him and others just get a good usable razor. From what I have seen, it is usually somewhere between and usually some nice razors.

It might also be a good Idea to start with a DE to learn how to lather. I did that and it worked well for me.

 

[gadgetgeek]

straightrazorplace has a list of brands to avoid. You will need to get any razor you buy honed, unless you get it from a very reputable dealer (not the bay). In the mean time, get yourself a DE a blade sampler and a decent soap and brush. even if you don't stick with the straight, you'll get better shaves with the real soap.

 

[ridnovir]

Good decision my friend.
I have been shaving with a straight razor for a year now.
The only 3 companies that still produce razors are Dovo (Germany) Thiers Issard (France) and Boker (Germany). Also you can get some vintage razor but it is hard to get a good one (Henkels, Dorko, Double Duck Filarmonica etc) there are a host of custom makers as well
some retailers in US are Vintage Blades, Straight Razor Designs, Classic Shaving, The Royal Shave, West Coast Shaving.
For the first razor I suggest something simple like Dovo
also be sure to check out whippeddog site
lastly wet shaving is an interesting hobby and the best place to develop i is at badger&blade.com or thestraighrazorplace.com

 

[crazyengineer]

lastly wet shaving is an interesting hobby and the best place to develop i is at badger&blade.com or thestraighrazorplace.com

definitely this, I found straightrazorplace.com to be invaluable when I first started learning. I am stubborn though, and didn't listen to some of the things they put on there. I used it first as a way to make a list of what I needed. After I got everything on the list, I went at it. I ended up going straight back and trying to figure out what I did wrong by asking questions. Ended up, most all of the stuff I did wrong had been covered already and i could have avoided some difficulty by paying attention to what I read.


also, if you need to get a razor honed, I have had my razors honed by Mainaman on Straight razor place, and he did an awesome job, he also does some great restorations and rescaling, here is a couple pics of his work

gave him both of these,they both needed new scales, the dark scales are horn and the lighter scales are acrylic

 

[okbow68]

I think whipped dog is your best inexpensive (not cheap) way to get into a honed shave ready straight from the get go. Larry does a great job I got an awesome vintage made in Sheffield from him.

That's an awesome looking brush crazyengineer what is it?

 

[crazyengineer]

That is an art of shaving silver tip badger with a stainless handle, I got it for Christmas one year and don't know the exact model. I have had it for a while and I'm starting to get the itch to add a new one to my collection as I only have that one and a tweezerman

Oh, and I'm gonna be ordering a strop from whipped dog soon too.