I've been contemplating the idea of switching to a straight for some time now and my wife, God bless her tender soul, has graciously decided that she would buy me one for Christmas. I started my journey into wet shaving with an EJ DE89 I got about this time last year. I've used it steadily since then and I believe that my technique has gotten good enough that I can take on a straight (I have put the alum away, and I use aftershaves and balms because I like them...not because my face needs a rescue). My issue is that I don't know which straight I should get. Not knowing, I've come to like the look and specification of this guy. I chose it not because I know what I'm doing, but because it falls within my budget ($150 max), and because I like the way it looks. I like the larger ones from what I can tell. I've heard that there have been some quality control issues with that brand...so I've also considered a DOVO. I know a Lot of people recommend going to Whipped Dog for a used one...but for better or worse I'm stuck on getting a new one first time around. Please critique the razor I've pick as option #1, and please suggest others you think I would might like. I'm open to most anything so long as it doesn't go about $150-ish (I still have to buy a strop as well). Feel free to give strop advice as well as any general feedback\suggestions\advice you might have.
That's a nice razor, but personally I wouldn't recommend a razor that is shoulderless. Also that vendor only sells factory sharpened and you'll need to send it to a honer to get it shave ready. On that site I recommend the Dovo Best 5/8 half hollow as a good starter.
shoulderless doesn't have a thumb notch. I'm referring to the blade as it doesn't have the stablizer area at the back where your thumb will rest. One of the members that refurbish razors can explain it better than I can. For shave ready new razors I recommend Straight Razor Designs or The Superior Shave.
For my first, I wound up with a 5/8 blade (an easier size for beginner, I'm told), full-hollow with a dbl. shoulder. It's a comfortable size, easy to hold and get acclimated to the SR shaving process.
One more who agrees that the Dovo in your link would be a great starter. You'll be able to unwrap and shave. The price is right (you don't yet know for sure that you'll like it and commit, so make your initial outlay smaller even if you can afford more), and the company and site are reliable. If you like it, trust me, it won't be your last (says the man who has 9).
T. I. makes a good razor and I've had no issues with any of the Dovo's I've owned. Given your selections, (I see the T.I. is not in stock) I'd probably go with the Dovo Best Quality and a strop, you'll need a strop to keep it shaving. Either a 5/8 or 6/8 half hollow would be a good choice, IMO. I do think Superior shave offers the half hollow, not sure about SRD. A stiffer grind might be easier to learn with, maybe.
Finding a Dovo Best from anyone is like finding Hen's teeth, next to impossible. Royal Shave is the only vendor I've seen them at in stock, of course they're not honed. Jarred has them on a very limited basis and Lynn hasn't had any in stock for the longest time it seems. At least when I check in there.
Now I'm confused. Is this not a "Dovo Best"? http://www.straightrazordesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=44&products_id=859 Also, any thoughts of the strops they sell on that site? I like how you can get the Dovo and the strop together as a package. That being said, 2" or 3", and should I upgrade the other side to something other than the basic?
Yep, that's a best. I guess he's had some come in since the last time I was on the site. His strops always get good reviews, but I'd start out cheaper as most people wreck their first strop. Check out Star Shaving.com and look at their big daddy strop, or the one I have which is the lap strop in black latigo. I only paid $13.00 and it's done a fine job for me. 3 inch wide strops are easier to use and worth the slightly higher cost.
Go for a 3 inch wide strop. I'd get a better strop from SRD, even as a beginner and just be careful. I have many strops and all have a nick or two there. Straight Razor Designs customer service is better than StarShaving in my experience.
+1 on The Superior Shave. I recently ordered a "Str8 Base-1" kit which includes a razor of your choice, and everything you'll need to maintain it properly. I placed my order on a Wednesday evening, and the kit was half way across the US and on my doorstep Friday before noon. .....scary fast! Being a beginner, I just didn't feel that I had the knowledge necessary to choose wisely from all the available parts, so the kit made sense to me. Also, I've dealt with Jarrod before, and I trust his judgment. I chose the Dovo 6/8 best half hollow round point and I'm very much pleased. As advertised, mine was shave ready when received. I lathered an old Omega boar and washed the razor first, stropped it carefully, and went right to my shave. I've used almost everything included in the kit now, and it is all first rate quality. Personally, I like the looks of the old school razors and that did influence my choice. But, I know two guys who chose to start with the Dovo Bismarck, which like the TI you are looking at, is shoulderless. They've both had good luck with the Bismarck and never looked back. Best of luck with the straight razor!
I have a feeling that it's something I will really like. I'm just wary of spending too much because deep down I think it will be a weekend hobby--not something I have time to do during the work week (never know, though; we'll see). I think I'm set on that pre-honed Dovo. Now I just have to settle down on a strop. There's just too many choices I don't think I have a reliable place to keep a 'hanging' strop (small bathroom area), so the paddle\lap\whatever strops are of interest.....
If you have straight razor shaving as just a weekend thing, it might take you a long time to really get the hang of it and you might give up on it. Also, you need to keep it up with stropping and the occasional touchup with a barber's hone or 12K stone or chromium oxide paste. I do not keep my shaving items in the bathroom. I don't moisture to harm my razor or strop. If you wanted to have a strop in the bathroom, you can tie a piece of rope from the strop ring to the towel rack. I have my strops tied around the top knobs of my deskchair. There is always a way if you really want to do this. Maybe you shouldn't go into straight razor shaving, until you really want to shave that way most of the time and want to spend the time to keep the razor edge up and the several months of time daily to learn it.
Being a straight razor novice myself (less than a handful of complete shaves with an SR), I can appreciate the need to stick with it on as daily basis. After 3 consecutive days of use, I already felt more confident using the straight razor, and began to understand more clearly the angles and 'tricky spots' of my face. I am striving to SR shave on consecutive days in order to learn, develop muscle memory, and gain confidence. I anticipate a slow learning curve (weeks into months) before I begin to 'feel' that I'm truly competent in the use of an SR. This doesn't mean I won't take the occasional DE holiday shave, but if I really want to get the hang of the straight, I need to be persistent about it.
I think understand where you guys are coming from with the 'do it every day or you won't learn' mindset, and I don't disagree. Maybe I'll just switch my shaving routine to after work until I get better with it? That would allow me the time to do it daily for sure.
