Thread: Any reason not to buy this razor/kit?

Hey all, I'm new here, and have a few questions.

I've been looking to buy a straight razor for a while now, but hadn't gotten around to it. For the last 7 years or so I've usually had a full beard, so would have only been using it for the neck and cheek line. However, I recently started a new job that requires me to shave, and I get irritation something fierce trying to use the Gillete Proglide razors. I've tried a few others, with no better luck.

Anyways, here's the kit I'm thinking about buying:
50% off Wet Shaving Set German Made DOVO Solingen Straight Razor - StraightRazors.com

Any others I should be considering? I've read the FAQs on this site, and understand it may need some honing prior to first use?

Originally Posted by Catrentshaving

Even thought it's marketed as 50% off it's not. Have a look here...better quality stuff for the same price. And the razor will come honed so you won't have to worry about paying extra for that either.

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Originally Posted by vd295

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Whoops...give it a try now

Also notice their Dovo sets are $30 cheaper and come with a better strop, brush, etc. But those are out of stock

It certainly ain't a whopping deal IMHO. DOVO razor can be had for less than 100 $, strop doesn't look to me to be a high end one, probably brandless. Stitching looks cheap. You'll be better off buying the things you really need separately and creaty your own set with higher quality items.

At its original price of 300 $ the set is a rip-off.

+1 on the link to Ralf Aust kit. I purchased this razor as my first str8 and wasn't disappointed...and you know it comes truly ready to shave.

Go to SRD for your stuff to start, they have a lot of higher end stuff. I didn't find this site in time and purchased from another source and the razor was a Dovo but not shave ready. Get from SRD and the razor will be shave ready. I've been picking up other items to replace the cheap ones I first got. Wish I had found SRP earlier, would have saved me money in the long run, JMHO.

I'm a +1 on the Ralf Aust kit as well. I purchased it a few weeks ago as my first straight razor. I was looking for a Dovo kit but everyone was out of stock. I did upgrade to a 3" strop which seems great quality and I love the brush. The reviews i had read about the razor being shave ready from SRD were right on and it's nice to know I'm a step in the right direction there. I'm really enjoying the whole shave ritual now where it used to be a chore. I've now shaved more in the last two weeks than I did in the past year.

Not to put a damper on your enthusiasm, but shaving with a straight razor is not quite as simple as putting on a shirt and tie, and shaving with one on a 5-day-a-week basis for a work environment is not something to be taken lightly. Might I suggest that, instead of a Gillette ProGlide, you pick up a vintage Gillette double-edged safety razor and a couple of packs of blades -- along with a nice badger shaving brush and a puck or two of shaving soap -- and get back in the swing of things (after your 7-year hiatus from shaving).

There will be a lifetime of opportunity for you to become a straight-razor shaver, but it needn't be uphill from the start, and "baby steps" are the rule, not the exception.

I purchased a kit from SRD to start with and was happy with the Ralf Aust razor that came with it. The first month or two of shaving you will more than likely be using a disposable or something more conventional to touch up with until you get the finer points of shaving with a straight razor down. JBHoren is correct, it takes some time and you need to learn to maintain your razor as well. The razor will need to be stropped after every shave, although it isn't hard, the right technique needs to be used to enhance the edge as opposed to dulling it. A second razor is nice to have if you need to have the first sent away to be sharpened, which will need to be done at some point.
It is an enjoyable way to shave.