Newbie requesting recommendations

[Jester]

Hello guys,

I'm not so much a wet-shaving novice as I am a wet-shaving product novice. I got into shaving with a straight razor while I was in the military when I friend loaned me his straight razor to take with me overseas. I don't even know what brand it was, but I never had to hone it ( I used it for about 5 months ) and only needed to strop it on my BDU pants leg to keep it so sharp it was scary.

Anyway, I recently tried out a nice little safety razor for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, so I decided that I want to continue using a combo a safety razor and/or straight razor for shaving.

I've already found the safety razor I want....The Merkur Vision 2000. Thats the one I used and I loved it......unless you feel like its a poor choice and there are better choices out there. Also, what type of safety razor blades are the best?

The big problem comes with the straight razor. On a whim a few months ago, and without much research, I bought two straight razors made by Kriegar at a local knife shop. One has a nice jigged bone handle and the other is just micarta, but they were only about $30 each so I said "what the hell". The problem is that they didn't come shaving sharp and I can't seem to get them or keep them that way. I've honed them and I strop them both before and after shaving. My honing and stropping technique are good. I think the razors are just crap. I've heard that cheaper razors, especially stainless steel, won't take as good of an edge as carbon steel, but I've been following directions from online and still can't seem to get them sharp enough to shave half my face. I guess it goes to show, just like most other things, you get what you pay for.

So, I've decided I want to start from the beginning......I've already got a nice Silvertip badger brush, some great pre-shave oils, fancy creams, etc etc.........but I want new hardware.

If you were starting over with your shaving gear today with all that you know now, what would you buy?

I need a new straight razor, new strop, and a new hone........plus anything else that you have found to be essential to adding to the experience, sharpeness of your blades, and enjoyment of your shave........I'd love to keep the package of straight razor, hone, and strop under about $200. Is that possible?

Thanks for any help you can offer!

Jester

[kestrel]

Jester

You might try contacting fellow B&Ber Kenrup at RupRazor.com. He markets starter kits consisting of a shave ready razor (Wapienica or Double Arrow) and a strop for around $60. You might also take a look at the Buy Sell Trade forum here, for a vintage shave ready razor.

Welcome to B&B

Graham

[Seraphim]

If you liek the Vision, you may also like the Merkur Futur. Similar razor, but not as expensive. Very nice DE.

Personally I love the Feather blades for a DE razor.

As far as a staright goes. Since you are a guy who enjoys stropping on his pants, sounds like you are a fan of low maintenance items with high reliability. I would recommend a Dovo Renaissance Stainless steel 6/8 razor (they are in stock at vintage blades, I believe). Also buy a starter/apprentice strop from www.thewellshavedgentleman.com awesome strop for <$40 delivered.

[Thebigspendur]

Many like the vision butI thought its too big and bulky. When I use a DE I use a Gillette Fatboy Vintage razor. As far as blades go you need to experiment to find the best for you. Buy a sample pack from Westcoast Shaving.

As far as straights go I'd get a strop from Tony Miller and I'd get a Norton 4k/8K hone. For a razor there are many choices. kriegar is garbage it will never shave properly. Any vintage razor made in Germany, England, France, the U.S or Sweden will be a quality razor. There are hundreds of choices. Check out the bst forum here and at SRP for the best deals.

[crankymoose]

Welcome to B&B

don't waste anymore time on the Kriegar's they are good letter openers and that's about it, you can get an apprentice strop from Tony Miller for about $35.00 it is same material as the more expensive models just no hardware it works great and with care will outlast you, eventually you will need something for touch ups as well as honing, I would get a 4 sided pasted paddle strop also from Tony Miller for maintaining an edge and a Norton 4/8k as well, though if you get your razor(s) pre-sharpened you could delay buying that for a few months and just use the 4 sided paddle.

This guide (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=33718) may help

good luck and enjoy

[OldSaw]

Hi Jester, welcome to B&B.

It looks like you are getting good straight advice. I am a vintage DE user and prefer 40's style Gillette Super Speed razors. I have never bought a new DE razor, so I can't help you with the Merkur line-up.

Have fun.

[biminyrd]

I bought a $60 Dovo and had it honed by a honemeister. Best razor I have. Also have a wapiencia and it is a wonderful shaver, they can be had shave ready here, mike is a member over at SRP http://www.thewellhonedrazor.com/58-shave-ready-wapienica-raz.html

good luck.
aaron

[chickpea]

That vision is a big fat piece of metal, but a top notch one at that. If that's your thing (and I love big heavy razors too) then the vision is great, but very expensive. If you want the heft, but also don't want to pay all that money, you could try a Merkur 38C, it's my only DE and I love it.

Blades, get a sample pack (from WestCoast Shaving or from Giovanni), there is just no accounting for which blades you will like best, it's as varied as taste in women.

[Jester]

Thanks for all the help, gentlemen. Now comes the part where I simply need to find the money in my budget and buy the products that I need/want...........just one more hobby to burn an even bigger hole in my wallet. Honestly, though, I don't care.

I tried to explain it to my girlfriend the other night. I used to shave because I had to. For nearly half the time I was in the military, I didn't even use water, much less shaving cream ( that started in boot camp through necessity, and no it didn't irritate my skin, my face somehow managed to survive ). Now, though, I actually look forward to shaving. There's this whole metrosexual movement going on and I am by no means even close to being considered metrosexual, but at the same time, a good hot towel, a nice pre shave oil, my silvertip brush with a slick lanolin, sea salt, eucalyptus, and mint shave cream, shaving with a DE and/or straight, and then some expensive lotion and aftershave........its 20 minutes every couple of days where I can pamper myself........something I don't get to do often, or ever, for that matter. She didn't understand, but thats ok.

[Jester]

I have another question for you. Let assume that I'm going to buy two straight razors.

I want one that will hold a great edge for a long time, not necessarily stainless, but made of good steel, that's tough and I can beat up and it'll still give me a darn good shave. The main thing I'm looking for here is edge holding capability

Then, I also want another razor that I put an edge so fine on that I could shave molecules off a drop of water. It doesn't need to be tough or resilient because I will pamper it and only use it when I need a PERFECT super-close shave, and I won't mind spending more time stropping it and honing it more often. The main thing I'm looking for here is the ability to take a SUPER sharp edge that may or may not last through only one shave.

Thanks!

Jester

[FloppyShoes]

Jester,
Generally speaking you can buy two of the same razor, assuming they steel is good, and tune them according to your needs. Hone one (or have it done by someone experienced) to be a comfortable every day shaver, and make the other one ridiculously sharp. The latter will not be able to hold its level of sharpness long, maybe 5 shaves.

My advice to you is to get a good, comfortable edge on one razor, then refine your technique, not your tool. A crazy sharp straight is unforgiving and doesn't provide a shave that is proportionally superior to that of a well wielded everyday shaver.