Just won a Dorko straight razor

**Dinder1** · 10-27-2006, 08:41 PM

Hey guys, I just won this Dorko razor on ebay for $59.55 shipped. What do ya think? This will be my first Straight razor, and this seemed like a pretty good deal.http://cgi.ebay.com/Straight-Razor-D...QQcmdZViewItem
Cheers, DJ.

**joel** · 10-27-2006, 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by Dinder1

Hey guys, I just won this Dorko razor on ebay for $59.55 shipped. What do ya think? This will be my first Straight razor, and this seemed like a pretty good deal.http://cgi.ebay.com/Straight-Razor-D...QQcmdZViewItem
Cheers, DJ.

Honestly? Meh...
The "low end" dorko's tend to command a much higher price than they are worth - mainly riding off of their "more expensive" big brothers good name. I purchased one like yours from that EXACT ebay seller, and it arrived with a ding in the blade. He allowed me try to hone it out and give it a few shaves to see if I wanted it - and if not, send it back for a refund (I sent him pictures of the damaged blade) and after honing it up and shaving with it a few times, I was pretty unimpressed, and sent it back - it certainly didn't hold a candle to my swedish steel Dorko's. The blade/edge on that razor in particular looks a little concave as well.

Hopefully it'll work just great for you - but do not count on it to be "shave ready" when it arrives. I've purchased several new old stock razors from him in the past - SUPERB service and superb products, but none of the razors I purchased from him were shave ready. If you need it honed - let me know, and I'd be happy to hone it up for you for free - san's the cost of shipping.

If you'd like - I would be more than happy to help you find a few nice straight razors, for quite a bit less $, that would/should shave a heck of a lot nicer than most razors in the $100-180 range, as there are quite a few REALLY good brands out there that are not really discussed/known of on shaving forums.

**EL Alamein** · 10-27-2006, 09:09 PM

Can't go wrong with Dorko they make fine shavers. The description says it comes shave ready but never used. You may want to ask the seller if it has been honed at least before trying to shave with it. My experience is that most razors don't come shave ready from the factory. If it's not been honed send it out to someone who can hone it if you can't. It will make a world of difference. If you need someone to hone it I'd be happy to, just PM me.

Chris

**Dinder1** · 10-27-2006, 09:19 PM

Thanks for the feedback Joel, I just figured that I would start off with a sub $100.00 razor before I jumped into the big $$$ razors. I did plan on having it honed before I used it though, and I may take you up on your offer. I would like to learn how to hone my own razor, and I did buy a second hand Henckel razor that I plan on practicing my honing on, but any other advise for a newb would be great.
Cheers, DJ.

**rtaylor61** · 10-27-2006, 10:24 PM

DJ,

As Chris mentioned, as Mr. Barence if the razor has been honed. He's pretty well respected with his sales, so I would assume he has either honed it himself or had it honed. If not, let me know and I can hook you up with a few guys that are true honemeisters.

Best of luck...and don't forget...you need a strop! Check with our very own Tony Miller for a first rate strop at a first rate price. You can visit his site at www.thewellshavedgentleman.com

Randy

**Suzuki** · 10-28-2006, 03:52 AM

Originally Posted by joel

If you'd like - I would be more than happy to help you find a few nice straight razors, for quite a bit less $, that would/should shave a heck of a lot nicer than most razors in the $100-180 range, as there are quite a few REALLY good brands out there that are not really discussed/known of on shaving forums.

I'd be interested...

**joel** · 10-28-2006, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by Suzuki

I'd be interested...

Hey bud - I am creating a pm for ya right now...

**darby** · 10-28-2006, 01:41 PM

Hey Joel,
I am new to straights as well. I have learned alot from your posts on this board. Could you pm me a list of the straight razors you would recommend that can compete with the much more expensive ones? Thanks for any help you can provide. Jack

**joel** · 10-28-2006, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by darby

Hey Joel,
I am new to straights as well. I have learned alot from your posts on this board. Could you pm me a list of the straight razors you would recommend that can compete with the much more expensive ones? Thanks for any help you can provide. Jack

Jack,
I have been sending specific links to ebay auctions - so to avoid potential bidding conflict I am only helping one fella at a time. PM me next Saturday and I'll send you a few good deals under the radar on ebay

**darby** · 10-28-2006, 05:51 PM

Thanks Joel. I will pm you next saturday. Jack

**sparky5693** · 10-28-2006, 09:20 PM

Am I the only person thats worried. With a name like dorko...

**LX_Emergency** · 10-28-2006, 11:45 PM

you shouldn't be....didn't you know, it's "cool" to be a Dorko.

**sphughes** · 10-29-2006, 05:05 AM

Welcome to the world of the Straight Edge. I had a bid in on that razor and let it go when it passed what I considered to be the value of it. You may be very happy with it, because this is a very subjective type of thing. For the price point you are at, ~$50.00, I would suggest paying a visit here, http://www.straightedgerazors.com/in...nd=classifieds , John Crowley and some of the other 'pros' post razors they have restored here for sale and they are outstanding. You will get a quality product for your money and it will make a good piece for you to start with.

Another consideration strongly recommended it Tony Miller's starter set. Check out this link, http://shop.thewellshavedgentleman.c...g?categoryId=5 . Feel free to PM any questions.

-Scott-

**sparky5693** · 10-29-2006, 07:37 AM

I'm a dorko and its not all that cool.

**Dinder1** · 10-29-2006, 11:57 AM

Thanks for the replies guys. I guess I will be a Dork....O pretty soon, in the meantime I am going to purchase a Norton 4000/8000 grit wetstone, and some sort of strop (still undecided) So what do you guys think, four sided paddle strop, or a hanging leather one? I like the idea of being able to do a final polish with a paste after the wetstone.
Cheers, DJ.

**TraderJoe** · 10-29-2006, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by Dinder1

Hey guys, I just won this Dorko razor on ebay for $59.55 shipped. What do ya think? This will be my first Straight razor, and this seemed like a pretty good deal.http://cgi.ebay.com/Straight-Razor-D...QQcmdZViewItem
Cheers, DJ.

That straight looks great DJ, have fun with it! Let me know how it shaves.

**EL Alamein** · 10-29-2006, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by Dinder1

Thanks for the replies guys. I guess I will be a Dork....O pretty soon, in the meantime I am going to purchase a Norton 4000/8000 grit wetstone, and some sort of strop (still undecided) So what do you guys think, four sided paddle strop, or a hanging leather one? I like the idea of being able to do a final polish with a paste after the wetstone.
Cheers, DJ.

The paddle strop seems like it would be your best value as you'll have multiple sides for pastes and plain stropping. I prefer hanging strops but a lot of guys say the paddle strops are better for pastes. I can't confirm but that advice would also indicate the paddle as the best bargain for what you intend.

You could get hanging strops - some ebay cheapies to put pastes on then have one good new strop with no paste to do you everyday stropping on. That's the route I've taken in the past when experimenting with pastes. The only advantage to this approach I can see is that you can get as many cheapie strops off of ebay as you want to experiment with as many pastes as you like. Whereas the paddle is limited and you cannot repaste a side with a different paste once it's been pasted already. Hope this helps.

Chris

**Dinder1** · 10-29-2006, 08:23 PM

Thanks for the advice Chris. I feel like such a shaving newbie again.

Cheers, DJ.

**joel** · 10-29-2006, 08:47 PM

I'd get a 4 sided paddle stop for sharpening, and a hanging strop for daily stropping. You shouldn't need more than 4 surfaces for pastes - and with fine grit diamond paste - the best surface is actually balsawood, NOT leather, so hanging strops wouldn't work as well. You can get a razor sharper with a paddle strop, as they do not have "give" as a hanging strop does, so you can create an edge with far greater precision. I would suggest NOT going with a Norton 4K/8K. Sure - they work... and they work well - but they are best for guys who want to get an ebay "special" and turn the butter knife into a shave ready razor. You MIGHT want to do this one day - but honing is a hell of a lot harder than you'd think... touching up an edge on a razor with the correct grind on it (IE a brand new razor) isn't a big deal - but starting from scratch? If you spent a few hours a night on it - I'd be stunned if you could get your first razor shaving comfortable in a months time. It just takes a REALLY long time to get the hang of it. If you get a pasted 4 sided strop from Tony Miller - with 3 micron, 1 micron (on leather) and .5 micron and .25 micron (on balsa) you'll have a strop that can sharpen any new razor into a wicked sharp monster - you have relatively no learning curve, and you have far less time invested in the exercise. Heck - most guys use diamond pastes to get their perfect shaving edges after they have honed the right angle into the razor anyways - as they just plumb work better, faster and are much easier to use. It simply isn't even possible for someone to get a razor sharper JUST using a Norton 4K/8K - so if you just plan on picking up a few nice new (or new old stock, or used non-beaters) a 3/1/.5/.25 micron paddle strop is all you'd ever need for establishing an initial edge, refinining the edge, and polishing it to perfection. Basically - it's all you'd need to start out with - and to maintain your razors to perfection. I'd go with that - and invest in a norton later if you ever have the desire.

Personally - I only purchase razors in superb/excellent condition, and have little to no interest in restoring old, beat up razors - so I have no need/desire for a norton. I did however just purchase one - as I will be offering to sharpen fellas straight razors gratis quite soon. I had a Norton for years, but ended up selling it when I found myself never using it - as I get better results with superb barber hones, belgian hones, and pasted strops - with far less effort, absurd procedures, etc. Some guys like to turn shaving into a science, talk about the physics and metalurgy of the blades, etc etc.... hey - to each their own, but for ME, the joy in straight razors is the simplicity, the "old school" appeal, and the throwback to times of yore. I have no interest in mingling math, microscopes, theories, "pyramid honing schemes", and other overly-complicated mumbo jumbo in a product that should need no instructions, or "technology" to perform.

Again... to each their own - but personally I think it is most fun, and does the whole "classical" approach to the passion of straight razor shaving justice to primarily use the same items/tools that were used 50, 60, heck 100+ years ago. Nothing brings me enjoyment like shaving with an edge I created with my 80 year old barber hone. YMMV.

**Dinder1** · 10-29-2006, 09:01 PM

Thanks a lot for the info Joel, you just saved me $80.00 on the Norton I was about to buy! I had planned on giving Tony Miller a call about a strop anyway, and I love the idea of a simple approach to the whole straight razor maintenance issue.
Cheers, DJ.