Thread: Best Straight razor

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

Thomas and I spoke on the phone earlier today and my suggestion for somonw who really wants a "custom" is to figure out his preferences with a more affordable piece first. I'd start with a $50 to $80 Dovo or similar, maybe 6/8 size and learn to shave well first. This will teach you whther a lighter 5/8 may be a better fit or you may still be wanting larger. Once proficent at shaving you will have a better idea of what custom fits your needs.

Tony

Tony has the right idea, Thomas....my first "new" razor was a $100 Dovo that turned out to be one of my best shavers....I still use it regularly. Another of my best is a restored Wade and Butcher that I purchased off the B/S/T forum for $45 a while ago. On the other hand I paid $250 for a nice TI a couple months ago and only shaved with it once because I disliked the quality of the shave. Everyone is different!

Bummer! Everybody beat me to the punch with really good advice!


Welcome to the SRP,

What no-one has mentioned yet though is the fact that your blades are going to need sharpened at some stage.

You have 2 choices.

1) You send them to someone to hone for you each and every time they need it

or

2) You buy your own stones and learn how to hone yourself

I vote for #2 and one major implication of this is that your gonna ruin a razor or two 'learning' You'd be best to buy one of those cheap WAPI razors to practice with because you dont want to be trying out honing for the first time on one a new custom razor. Start off cheap and if that means it takes you a little longer then so be it.

You wouldn't take a brand new Ferrari out on track on your first go either so best to stick within the low budget range until your adept at handling it first.

Hope this helps.

My dubl duck special no1 has the highest price to shave ratio of all the razors i own.

Originally Posted by ernestrome

My dubl duck special no1 has the highest price to shave ratio of all the razors i own.

+1 on this - mine is my best shaver.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Can't be bothered to search right now, but Iwan said that his wapi outshaved his high end razors, including his Livi Takeda damascus.

Shave quality wise, a wapi can be just as good.

Yup, purely in terms of the comfort and closeness of shave, I found the Wapi to be as good as anything else I've used. That's still true now.

Does that mean it's the razor I most enjoy shaving with? Not necessarily.

Personally I'd buy a cheaper razor or two until you've discovered your preference for blade size, grind, scale material/weight etc. Once you know what you like, then splash out on a custom if it's really what you want and you can honestly justify the outlay.



My recommendation would be an entry level 5/8 full hollow Dovo to try a light blade. And maybe also a 6/8 'Le Grelot' 1/4 hollow if you want to try a much stiffer/heavier blade.

I would never fault someone for wanting to start with a $500 or $700 razor.

One of the biggest handicaps to young musicians is having to start with cheap instruments that are harder to play and master. More expensive instruments are easier to play and much more enjoyable.

You can't cut yourself with a violin. You can make permanent scars with a razor.

My advice: If you can afford a high-end razor to start with, go ahead and get it.
It will be a joy to use and you will be less likely to get hurt.


Remember, you can always re-sell it. Just because you paid $500 for a razor doesn't mean you will be out $500. You can put it on the B/S/T page here and easily get a large percentage of your money back. Not that big a risk. It may take a little patience is all.

Just my $.02 worth.

A premium razor would be nice to start with, indeed.

But you can get a life long scar from a high end razor just as easily as an affordable one, and that's assuming you get such a scar. I don't have one yet.

Also, it may be of concern that inexperienced hands are more likely to drop a razor or just treat it with a little less respect by not knowing how much is required first. I'd never forgive myself if I ruined a $500 plus razor just because I had to start with a nice one.

another $.02

I agree with gssixgun and am all for redheads, brunettes and blondes...

I was fortunate with my first razor, a 5/8 Kropp I purchased on ebay for less than $20. Fantastic shaver.
That said, you can kiss a lot of frogs before you find the prince, and spend an equal amount of money to what you would have spent for a really nice razor in the end.
You might consider a Livi regrind with initial honing by Lynn. Much less expensive than a true custom, no undisclosed problems, a 6/8 round point carbon steel blade that provides a very nice shave, and nice scales all for around $300.
I'll vote for any hair color!