Thread: help choosing razor for this beginner!

hello guys,
first time poster.

I've done my research and i've learned a few things:

-Gold dollar razors are conversation pieces
- china does not make quality razors
-you get what you paid for

I mistakenly purchased a "gold dollar" razor from ebay. It was advertised as "shave ready".
when i got it, it was approximately as dull as a butter knife. I tried to hone it with a whet stone and an Arkansas stone, and i got it to the point in which it would easily shave the hairs on the back of my forearm, but putting it to my face wouldn't even shave the longer hairs on the soft part of my cheek - a task that even a cheap bic disposable razor would accomplish....


I went into a store recently and looked at a " Colt 175th anniversary " straight razor. I've browsed a discussion on this forum about that particular razor, and the general consensus was less than favorable. I believe one guy went as far as saying he wanted to buy one for a novelty letter opener. The razor seemed pretty sharp doing a thumb pad test, and when the shop owner wasn't looking, i easily removed hair from the back of my arm totally dry - with ease. But then thinking back on the gold dollar razor that did the same, I was wondering the effectiveness of removing hair from my face.

Here's the scoop...
With a brand new hydro 5 or schick titanium I can quickly shave my face with ease, and after a few ATG passes, obtain a relatively smooth shave... The problem is, after the 3rd shave, the razor is ready to be tossed. My facial hair is EXTREMELY coarse! It's rougher than 40 grit sandpaper! I'm in the army, and I would get in trouble at my unit for " not shaving properly " by about 9AM - when i shaved around 0600.
I'm the kinda guy that grows the 5 o'clock shadow around 11AM in the morning. For a while I had to switch to electric razors because I was tired of disposables tearing up my face because I would have to go WTG,XTC,ATG,ATG,ATG, on my chin in order to get it all off. 5+passes just to get a smooth shave is ridiculous! And yes, I know how to prep my face for a close shave, hot towel, let the lather sit for a few mins, stretch the skin, yadda yadda yadda, I can promise you 95 % of you guys out there DON'T have coarse hair like mine.. only people I ever saw that was bad as me was me and my grandfather.
I can grow a full beard, that is thick and black in just a week!

I need help choosing a razor that will cut through my retardedly coarse whiskers. All I know is that I should look for one from Soligen, Germany.
I trust German engineering, that's what I want.. Not America,England, or Portugal, not that I have anything against those places, but I've never had anything that was made in Germany fail, whereas the other three I have.

I want to know what kind of razor would probably be best suited for me.. 5/8" 6/8" What are the main differences between the different angle and bevel sets?
What does " hollow ground " mean?

I want my face to be cleanly shaven and not worry about it being rough around supper time... clean as a baby's bottom.. and no more shaving twice a day BS for me..

Thx in advance for helping me choose my steel

oh and btw, my budget on a vintage razor or whatever is $50

Cheers,

Mark

Look in the classifieds. Most suggest 5/8 round point for beginning but really didn't hurt me using a square point to learn on. The grind of a razor is described in the library and this is all something you will have to decide what you like on your own. Trial and error, test drive etc.

Welcome to the most friendly, helpful and informative site on the web!!

You will find members here of all different backgrounds, ages and occupations from all corners of the world and all with a quest for more knowledge about using and maintaining a straight razor!

As far as your beard of Steel, I had an apprentice with about the same thing! He tore up razor edges like there was no tomorrow!

As far as your predetermined 'German only' steel, I think that you are 'unfairly' leaving some excellent razors out of the equation! Especially vintage razors made in NY USA!

Heavier grinds like a 1/4 grind should help.

With that said, if your beard grows as rapidly as you say, you may never have the clean shaven look 8 hours later! However with practice and a good shaving razor you may find it tolerable!

It's a long strange trip but well worth the journey!

If you intend to get a strop as part of the "whatever" you are going to be fairly limited as to what razor you get, you will either have to take what is available for the $30 or so remaining, or wait a while for what you want to come up at that price.

thx for the replies so far guys! I have nothing against the good 'ol USA razors, just am partial to stuff made from Germany..

The Strop is not limited in my $50 budget, neither is the stones I will be upgrading to.

Lee Valley tools sells a combination 4k/8k stone for honing for about $85.

the strop and paste I already have, but according to my research, some sources say strop just straightens out the razor, and keeps it's edge, other sources say with the 'diamond paste' it actually makes the strop like 80k grit and will polish AND put an even finer, sharper edge on your razor.... so what do you guys think? Strop sharpen as well as keep straight?

First of all for you razor I would get a near-wedge vintage. I just shaved with my Wosty and it is a fantastic shaver.
As far a Diamond I don't use it...yet. But I am in the process of hunting down a board strop and diamond spray. I would have a separate strop for that, and one for everyday.
Good luck.

i know this is straight razor forum but with a $50 budget, how about a Merkur 37c with feather blades?

I agree. Try a good double edge like a Merkur and some Feathers. That might be a better option for you.

I think that you need to think about a stiff grind razor like a quarter hollow. Something with a reasonable bit of "heft" to it so I'd do for a minimum size of 6/8. Properly honed and maintained, that will shave you as well as any other shaving implement ever made.
A vintage Thiers Issard or Le Grelot, both from France come to mind. I think that you might struggle with a $50 budget though.

Yes, I feel your pain with the wire stubble growing from the face. Mine is like that too. It doesn't grow quite as fast as it once did but it is still as tough to shave as ever with soft skin underneath. For the fifty buck budget let me suggest you squirrel away a few more to get a nicer blade. The classifieds in the forum are good places to shop but, being new to this game try Revisor.de for a new 5/8 or 6/8 quality German made razor. You may even find one of the vintage razors they sell that are unused, never sold that you like. They have Schwartz razors on this site as well and some of them are very reasonably priced. As for the paste, in my opinion they are messy and unnecessary. Learn your hone work and your clean strop work well. There are plenty of recipes for pre-shave oil on the internet. They really help. Once you get this down pat you are going to surprise the little lady and never look at another disposable again.

By the way, those Thiers Issards, Le Grelots, most English razors and the Swedes are some fine shavers. I have a Filarmonica, a CV Heljestrand, two Wade and Butchers, a TI Spartacus and two Le Grelots that give great shaves. That's not to say that my German made razors don't. I'm just giving account of others out there that will make you rather fight than switch. Dang, I just gave away my age group didn't I.

Regards

Chasmo