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  1. #1
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    Default Basic questions.

    Hello folks, I've thought about using a Straight Razor for some time,

    funnily enough it only ever occurs to me whilst I'm actually shaving,

    after shaving the thought passes and never returns until the next

    shave. Well today is different, Ive remembered after my shave and

    decided to do some research, and the result is... I've arrived here! Never

    in my wildest imagination did I think there would be a whole gang of

    guys and girls signed up on a forum for Straight Razor Shaving!

    I've quickly realised that there's a whole lot more to open razor

    shaving than first meets the eye! I'd better cut to the chase.

    I'm gonna pull the trigger on a Dovo‘Best Quality’ razor and a basic

    Dovo Paddle Strop from Dovo Razors UK (I'm in Scotland) I understand that

    the razor is 'shave ready' and I'm assuming that all it will need is a bit

    of stropping to keen the edge before use. Can anyone see any problems

    with my choice's so far? While I'm ordering I think I'll pick up a

    honing stone for the future, and this is where I'm a bit stuck... what

    stone, and what grit for maintaining a new razor. How about the Naniwa

    8k super stone? Is there one stone that would to do the job?

    Many thank for any advice.

    kev
    Last edited by KCurry; 06-28-2009 at 05:19 PM.

  2. #2
    Bon Viveur dannywonderful's Avatar
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    Default

    They do supply their razors shave ready and even offer a sharpening service if you decide to get yourself a second razor from eBay, or elsewhere. I'd stick to your paddle strop for now and read the wiki on hones before jumping in there. You won't need a hone for a while anyway and I'm only now looking at hones, three weeks after starting shaving with a straight razor. The razor might have a little oil on it to help preserve it, so just rinse that off, give it a wipe and you shouldn't even have to strop for your first shave. You don't mention what brush and soap, or cream, you're using for a lather. I'd read the wiki on preparing for your shave too as that is just as important as anything else if you want a good shave.

    Other than that, you have found the ideal place to get advice and encouragement!

  3. #3
    Senior Member AlanII's Avatar
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    Danny's right and the Invisible Edge do give great service. A finishing stone like a coticule or Barber's hone is all you'll need to maintain the edge that your new razor will come with unless you do something very strange with it, at which point you're better off sending it back to Steve and he'll put it right. Again, for now you don't really need to worry about hones, you will in the future but if you hang around here for long enough you'll be able to absorb the information anyway. Paddle strops work well but I soon found that I wanted a hanging one. With the paddles rest the far end on something solid (eg a window ledge) when using. Other than that the rules are the same, little to no pressure and keep the spine in contact at all times or at least when moving the blade over the surface. There's loads of useful information in the SRP Wiki on stropping and most other aspects but ask questions anyway, it's a really good and generous bunch here.

    Good luck and have fun, there is a learning curve, most of don't get good shaves right off the bat but the learning is part of the enjoyment.

  4. #4
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    Default

    Thanks Danny, I'm one of these guys that shaves in the bath after a 10min soak and always use a Badger and bristle brush with simple soap to work up a lather.
    That's
    the way I was intending to go with the straight razor...but I'll continue reading up in the Wiki in the mean time.

  5. #5
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    Thanks Allan.... who would have thought that there was so much to know about shaving

  6. #6
    Bon Viveur dannywonderful's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by KCurry View Post
    Thanks Allan.... who would have thought that there was so much to know about shaving
    Indeed. I think it may be the ultimate tactile hobby.

  7. #7
    The original Skolor and Gentileman. gugi's Avatar
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    Welcome to SRP Kev,

    Quote Originally Posted by KCurry View Post
    I'm gonna pull the trigger on a Dovo‘Best Quality’ razor and a basic

    Dovo Paddle Strop from Dovo Razors UK (I'm in Scotland) I understand that

    the razor is 'shave ready' and I'm assuming that all it will need is a bit

    of stropping to keen the edge before use. Can anyone see any problems

    with my choice's so far?
    I don't see problems with that. Most people prefer hanging strops for daily stropping, but a paddle strop would work well too. It's probably more newbie friendly too since there's no sagging. May need a bit more strokes, but I can't really tell how much since I haven't used one for regular stropping. But I have quite a few vintage paddle strops which tells me that when this way of shaving was more wide spread it was a perfectly adequate method of keeping your edge keen.

    And yeah hold off on a hone for now. Read some more in the next weeks until you realize there are dozens of options that will all work and at the end you just have to make a fairly uneducated pick of one or few of them... Have fun

  8. #8
    Large Member ben.mid's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by KCurry View Post
    I'm one of these guys that shaves in the bath after a 10min soak
    You might want to rethink that for the straight. If you drop it, you might lop your widger right off!

    Don't worry about a hone right now. You won't need one for a while & when you do you'll have a better idea of what you want.

    I prefer hanging strops. They are more of the standard for your plain strop round here, but that's just my choice.

    Steve at Invisible edge is a member here (blue principle) & has a good reputation.

  9. #9
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    Thanks Gugi.

    Ben thanks...you just might be on to something there. Maybe I should look into a one fingered chain mail glove

  10. #10
    Large Member ben.mid's Avatar
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    If you find one, make sure it's stainless, or it'll go rusty. Good luck!

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