Lots of questions. Having never used a straight, what would be recommended for a complete beginner who doesn't want to pay very much? I'm not really interested in second hand with all the cleaning work involved. Are stainless steel any good? What does 7/8 etc mean? What other essential bits of kit are required? Would I be better using a much cheaper Dovo Shavette just in case its not for me? Regards Kristian
www.gentlemans-shop.com/acatalog/cyril-salter-open-razor.html#a64 What about something like the above. Can't find any reviews though. Its fairly low priced as these things go.
Stailess is good indeed. A stainless razor holds the edge longer, but the major drawback is that it's a bit harder to hone stainless, which is important if you intend to hone your own razors. It's by no means impossible, just not as easy as with carbon steel razors. 7/8 means the width of the razorblade is 7 eights of an inch. 8/8 would mean it's a full inch (roughly 25mm) wide. Absolutely essential is a strop of some kind. If you intend to hone your own razor, you will obviously need hones. You can start with buying a shaveready razor and a strop, and then see if you want to go into honing yourself. A good maintained (stropped and stored properly) razor can hold an edge up to a year without having to be honed, so you will have plenty of time to get the feel for what you need. And you can have a "pasted" strop that has been treated with an abrasive paste, that would maintain the edge even longer of used once a week. A barbers hone is also good for maintaing a good edge. Hmm... A shavette is a different thing from a straight razor. I'm obviously biased towards the straight. The only [slight] advantage I can see with the shavette for a "newbie" is the disposable blades, but stropping and honing is something I like with using a straight. Hope this helps a little! Good luck, and feel free to come back with more questions... There will probably be loads of answers, so you have to find what feels right for you! Oh.. You can buy a vintage, restored, razor in shave ready condition that wouldn't need to be cleaned!
That Cyril Salter may not be too bad. Solingen blades are fine stuff. The only thing I would add to what Johan posted here is to: Check the classifieds here and on some of the other boards. You can find restored and shave-ready razors sometimes in very good shape. I picked up a good one that was cleaned and ready to go for less than $40 USD. If you don't mind Ebay, there are a couple of sellers on your "side of the pond" that have good straights at reasonable prices.
Johan explained everything very well and I agree with what's been said. You can get decent, restored and shave-ready razors for much less in the classifieds. Personally, I prefer an old blade (or a new one made from old blades) to every new razor.
You cant beat ( or couldnt) a Wapi for the price but both vendors I knew of seem to be out of stock. Here is a place I saw selling them for 45 bucks shave ready http://www.thewellhonedrazor.com/ Here is a link to a TSD thread about what folks here think about them http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6165 Issy
+1 Steve is an excellent guy to deal with and will keep you straight I have bought a few razors off him admittedly the ones I have bought have been vintage one’s, but I know of a few who have bought Wapie’s off him and are well pleased, and of course there is the UK get together this month see this thread http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7361 if you want to meet a few people and chat and see a few razors and some demo's
Thanks for the info. A Wapi appears to be an old and unused Soviet straight from Poland which tends to have individual markings due to quality control issues. Otherwise it is slightly heavy due to the scales but the blade is generally considered excellent and ideal for beginners. Does that sound about right? I shall try to convince my wife to buy me one for Christmas although she will probably not approve. She will probably say "I told you so" should I sustain any sort of injury with it. Anyone else had that problem? Kristian
Yes, I think everyone has. Spouses, relatives and friends will all think you're crazy. By the way, I have two Wapi's and love them. I bought a Belgian hone from Steve and his service is excellent. I highly recommend that you come to the UK get together. There will be live demonstrations of honing, shaving and razor restoration. Plus there will be a great many valuable door prizes and merchandise for sale at special discounts. There is information on this site at the link above but the actual sign-up thread is on SRP here. I'm going to be there and I look forward to meeting you.
Run the idea past the Mrs last night. "Your not having one of them". "If you get anyone else to buy it for you I'll take it away". etc. etc. Honestly, women.... I think she's worried my son might get hold of it. There is a few months until Christmas yet. I'll keep trying.
It is a valid concern, but not any bigger than any other knife or pair of scissors you might have in the household. You need to store it in a safe place... Good luck!
Point her towards this forum or SRP so she can see that faces and straights do indeed mix. You may also want to get a shave from a barber to show her what the results are like. Aside from that I am out of suggestions- I am single and do not need to justify purchases- even the ex-military vehicle in my driveway. (perhaps part of the reason that I am still single...)
