Newbie straight

[Tolduonce]

I just started using a straight myself. I bought an entry-level Dovo from VintageBlades. It's a 5/8" 1/2 hollow, round point. I also ordered one of their 3" strops. All Vintage Blades' razors come professionally honed and shave ready.

Vintages' Jim Ayars was terrific to deal with and was very helpful.

I really can't say how the Dovo compares to other razors as it's the only one I've ever used. It seems pretty good to me. More importantly, it got me started with a shave-ready razor for $79 (+sh) and the cost of the strop.

I don't mean to plug VB as there are likely other vendors who provide similar value and service. Just relating my experience and my choices to get started.

Good advice.
I started with the exact same set-up after shaving DE for a long time. VB is an absolute pleasure to deal with and the blade and strop were good choices. Still using the strop daily and the razor every couple of weeks. Needless to say that I've acquired lots of razors since then, but the Dovo was the one that made me know that straight razors are for me. Go ahead, take the plunge, you won't be disappointed. Know that once you get your feet wet, you'll be up to here in razors and accessories before you know it, but I'll bet you'll still be using the Dovo.

 

[Seraphim]

OK, mbrossar:

How about this one:

Swedish steel is smooth steel.

$70 New Old Stock


Buy it!


Please!







Before I break down again!

 

[richmondesi]

OK, mbrossar:

How about this one:

Swedish steel is smooth steel.

$70 New Old Stock


Buy it!


Please!







Before I break down again!

BETTER HURRY!!!!!!

 

[Seraphim]

Just an update:

I only looked over that ad once since posting it here.....



I can quit whenever I like....


Swedish




Steel



Eskiltuna



N


O

S





The fever is starting again!

 

[Seraphim]

Seriously though,. mbrossar, those razor look like a great starter razor. Super nice steel, 1/2 hollow, so it's niether to wedgey, nor too hollow. NOS, so it doesn't need any work. I don't think you'd regret it.

 

[leighton]

Maybe you should stop looking at razors for other people....

 

[Seraphim]

Maybe you should stop looking at razors for other people....

Now that would just be selfish of me!



In my defense, I didn't snipe the razor mbrossar mentioned, I sniped the one I myself mentioned.



Plus I'm pleading temporary insanity!





But I'm afraid it may not be temporary!

 

[Fnord5]

mbrossar,
You are just down the street, literally, from me. If you damage the edge, feel it needs a touchup, or want to see if it can be sharper, Let me know.

I'll do the honing Gratis. (or maybe for a pint)

 

[chainfire]

The well respected JimR is selling a really nice looking set over at the shave den here. Looks like a great deal.

Just trolling around over there and this set is now $90 for a straight, paddle strop w/ one side crox-ed, and a chinese 12k. If I wasn't already set and broke I'd buy it myself.

 

[mbrossar]

Okay, I give. I just sent an email to initiate a purchase. I notice the world seems to have an abundance of 5/8 hollow grinds. There's probably a reason for it, but being a bit different myself, I was hoping to find something off the beaten path. This looks like it will fit the bill. I hope the variance wasn't a mistake.

Careful Fnord, I might take you up on a hone or two as I get started here.

Now I need a strop. I've heard that newbies should start with a cheap strop, something like RupRazor's Filly, but I've also heard that strops are put together with screws, not rivets, so nicked parts can be replaced (versus buying a whole new strop). Also, any input on D-Rings versus handles? And on that note, if a Filly is a good option, how does one hold that thing taught with no handles at all?

 

[r0ckrat]

Check this post out for how to hold a Barber's End style strop...

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showpost.php?p=1625223&postcount=8

 

[Seraphim]

Okay, I give. I just sent an email to initiate a purchase. I notice the world seems to have an abundance of 5/8 hollow grinds. There's probably a reason for it, but being a bit different myself, I was hoping to find something off the beaten path. This looks like it will fit the bill. I hope the variance wasn't a mistake.

Careful Fnord, I might take you up on a hone or two as I get started here.

Now I need a strop. I've heard that newbies should start with a cheap strop, something like RupRazor's Filly, but I've also heard that strops are put together with screws, not rivets, so nicked parts can be replaced (versus buying a whole new strop). Also, any input on D-Rings versus handles? And on that note, if a Filly is a good option, how does one hold that thing taught with no handles at all?

Hold it like this galoot

 

[JeffE]

Dude, I'm a newbie too, and I've walked a mile in your shoes.

For razors, check out this guy, www.bobsrazors.com. Seriously, he is one of the best restorers out there, and his cheapest razor kicks the hell out of anything that you would buy for twice the price at a retail website. Buying off eBay is tricky, because not everything being sold there is necessarily 'shave ready', but Bob's steel is always perfect. AND BY THE WAY, BOB IS NOT MY COUSIN OR ANYTHING. Just a satisfied customer.

For strops, there's Tony Miller, and then there's everything else. Buy Tony Miller's strop. For seven bucks more, he will send you a "practice" strop to go with the real strop you bought. I am still using the practice strop, and thank God too, because I have nicked and cut the hell out of it while I'm trying to perfect my stropping. YOU NEED A PRACTICE STROP, so the best deal around is really Tony. After you get to be good at stropping, you can always keep the practice strop for travel or just give it to your dog to chew. For seven bucks, who cares?!

Anyway, that's my take.

 

[gugi]

I think that the best way to hold a barber style strop is similar to this:
http://www.straightrazorplace.com/forums/strops/29677-holding-strop.html#post312603

I do a slight variation where it is between my middle and ring fingers, just as Alan proposes in that thread.

 

[Fnord5]

Careful Fnord, I might take you up on a hone or two as I get started here.

I have no intention of enabling you. Not at all. Nope. Not me.
Do bars in Folsom frown on straight razor honing at the bar?


On second thought, how about you give me right of first refusal on any straights you find in the wild?

 

[ofelas]

I think that the best way to hold a barber style strop is similar to this:
http://www.straightrazorplace.com/forums/strops/29677-holding-strop.html#post312603

I do a slight variation where it is between my middle and ring fingers, just as Alan proposes in that thread.

When I stropped yesterday, I held it exactly like this, not knowing that I did it correctly! I thought it was weird holding a strop without a handle, but it was comfortable

I'm glad I found this thread & then to the one at SRP that confirmed it as OK to hold the strop like this!