Thread: Can't decide on a set...

This is great news. Best of luck for the future and keep up the good work.

Welcome to SRP.

I would resist the temptation to invest heavily into hardware you might break, and use that money for things you will keep. I.e. a good brush, good creams or soaps, and good aftershaves. You will be fine with two bottom line razors, or razors from the Classifieds, and either a cheap strop, or an SRD strop whose nicked leather you can replace at a later stage. Added bonus: You can easily get 3-5 razors for USD 150 from the Classifieds, thus trying which blade widths, grinds, and points suit you best.

Good luck, and keep us posted on your progress.

Robin

I couldn't agree more with AlanII and BeBerlin.

Buy a good quality brush, a couple of really great soaps and/or cremes (maybe both), an SRD strop that is high quality and can be easily repaired with replacement leather or replacement fabric WHEN (not if) you make a mistake and damage it, and buy 2 or 3 good solid vintage razors from the classifieds.

IMO, The very very best of new razors are as good as a well honed vintage in good condition, but in terms of the shave they'll give, not any better. There are MANY $50-$75 vintage razors right now that would be every bit as good as a new razor that cost 3 times as much, if not better, and buying them would let you try a couple of different razors, and spend more money on the accessories that make using a straight more enjoyable.

Nothing to add,just a hardy Welcome and enjoy

welcome to the forum.
As far as I can tell, Dovo uses same steel for the carbon blades and same steel (INOX) for the stainless lines. The price difference comes in handle material (and possibly the etch patterns on the blade, but I am suspicious of that) mostly. Thiers Izard is from what I can deduce considered bigger brand than Dovo so most of their razors are more expensive, that does not mean better overall razors.
Imo get a good set strop+razor from SRD and you will be fine.
I got Dovo Ebony spike point with SRD red latigo strop and I have zero complaints. You must be prepared to do some light honing, at least in my case a CrO loaded leather strop helped improve the razor sharpnes and the shave feel.

As far as soaps well there is tens if not hundreds possibilities just get Proraso and go from there.

Hope this helps

I also recommend getting vintage razors over new ones. My post above is only if your heart is set on a new one (for whatever reason).

I have a (maybe slightly under) 5/8 W&B near-wedge with a barber's notch that I'll let go for cheap to the OP as a welcome to SRP, if he so desires. PM me.





Best of luck.