Thread: Introduction with specific questions.

My name is Joshua, I have been shaving for twenty-two years with disposables and electric shavers. I have a five o'clock shadow by 8am. The day of my wedding, I was planning on getting my barber to give me a straight razor shave, but noticed his hands shaking. After doing some in depth reading, I have come to the conclusion how much money I could save by switching to straight razor. I am trying to find a brand new, round point, near wedge, with a sythetic handle. I would prefer to find a three pin if it is made. Could anyone help me with this? Thank you,
Joshua

Hello Joshua, and welcome!

Many of us, myself included, started with the intention of saving money, but found it all too interesting. So many grinds, steel types, soaps or creams, badger or boar, horse or cow or kangaroo. THEN there are the hones. It's a dangerous hobby. It's kind of like an ocean beach, safe and predictable if you only ever go ankle deep, but with undertows and riptides not too much farther out.

That said, have a look at our Wiki's list of razors to avoid, especially if you are intent on buying brand new. I don't know if any of the mainline (and reputable) manufacturers make near wedge blades; you're much more likely to find exactly what you're looking for if you shop for vintage blades. In addition, any blade described as Shave Ready in our classifieds very likely is; the folks here know their stuff and value their reputations.

Dovo makes a lot of nice entry-level blades, and they even have a half-hollow in their Best Quality line. Unless you go for a full-blown custom made razor, I think this is as close to wedge as you'll find new from a quality manufacturer. However, it seems very few vendors carry it. The Superior Shave, in Florida, does. Here's a link. The razor is $70.00. I've done a lot of business with Superior and have always come away happy.

Many of us recommend having two razors around, so you still have one in house when you send the other out for honing. I think that's practical, though any more than two and you're flirting with the dangerous tides. Whippeddog.com is a go-to vendor for inexpensive but highly functional razors--he cleans and hones razors that probably don't have any value to collectors and sells them to people who just want good sharp blades. His reputation is very good.

You will need a strop. Start with a bare-bones one and practice on it first with a butter knife, until you've got the stroke down and build up a little muscle memory. Sad, sad things can and do happen when very sharp blades flip too soon and dig into very expensive pieces of leather. Whippeddog sells good starter strops. The new-blade vendors often sell kits of strop, razor, and maybe brush too... and they're usually good deals. If you go for one of these, I still recommend a starter strop. Later on, if you haven't cut it in half, you can use that strop with paste.

Brushes vary a lot in price and material. I've seen a lot of synthetic ones recently, in stores that otherwise sell nice bath stuff. Skip those and get a modest badger one. Boar bristle is cheaper, and there are people out there who prefer it, but badger is commonest because (in my opinion) badger is just right. $40-50 isn't too much to spend for a good brush--but (also in my opinion) $200 is. I mention this because there are plenty of $200 brushes out there. I think whippeddog has brushes, too, but you have to dig a little in his site. Click on the All Item List link and scroll through the text. There's stuff for sale that isn't pictured on his front page.

Again, welcome and good luck.

Best wishes,

Tim

Welcome to SRP. Check out Straight Razor Designs if you're set on getting new gear. They have a razor and strop sets available. Be sure to read the Wiki and FAQS, which should answers most of your questions regarding shaving with a straight razor. If you can't find an answer you're looking fo, please post the question and you will find the members here more than willing to help a new guy out. Keep us posted on your progress.

As far as saving money, that is probably one of the funnier things I'ver heard today. Stick with this hobby and you will find out there all kinds of acquisition disorders you did not even know you had.

Hart razors are made in the US and are 1/4 hollow (somewhat near-wedge). But those aren't cheap...

what kind of budget are you working with? you'll need a razor a strop and shaving soap

eleblu05,
I am trying to key it all under 250. That's razor, strop, cream. As I hunt 3/4 of the year, sharpening a blade isn't new to me. I can put an edge on any of the hunting knifes in my household that will shave off a five o'clock shadow. I have a 12k hone that is pretty discolored, but she works every time.
Joshua

Tim,
Thank you. I took a look at the link. The only thing I question is the blade is etched Solingen, the description says Sweden blade. The price is comparable to what I am looking to spend, I spent a little time on Dovo's website last evening. I found three that grabbed my attention. However, the problem is finding near wedge and a reasonable fee.
Josh

Hi Josh...
Can you explain why you are looking for a near wedge blade ?
I am myself in the market for a first blade but for some reason I was more attracted to the other end of the scale (ie full hollow+)

Josh, the most economical way to get into this hobby is by going to Larry Andros/whippeddog's website and buying the "sight unseen" package. Grab an Omega 10049 brush and a tub of Proraso shave soap. That all will run you under $100. It won't be a pretty razor, the nicest strop, the best brush, or the fanciest soap (but the soap is still pretty awesome) but they will all work. By buying like this, it will give you an opportunity to get started, and then really decide what you want and what you don't want. It's VERY easy to get sucked in. Believe me. Had I stayed with my GEM 1912 SE razor, proraso soap, and boar brush, it would have been cheaper than cart shaving. However, 15 SE and DE razors and a shave ready straight and three project straights later, I'm just getting started!

Any questions, ask 'em. People are really great here. Really great. Welcome.

Brian

If you have your heart set on a wedge or near-wedge, the vintage Red Imp 132 (9/13) is a good razor and is generally available. Just make sure you get a good one that has not been overhoned. The Red Imps were made in the USA by the W. R. Case Co. There are also German made Red Imps that seem to command a little higher tariff. I have a Case Red Imp 132 that I bought new 50 years ago and it is an excellent shaver.

The Red Imp 133 is a 5/8 Hollow Ground. It is a good razor but doesn't meet your desire for a wedge. The Morris Red Imp 133, manufactured in Germany, often has three pins.

If you decide to go new, look for a quarter-ground razor like the 6/8 Hart Steel. If you can find one still available anywhere in the classifieds, I highly recommend the 6/8 Thiers-Issard Le Grelot. I fooled around until all the quarter-grounds were gone and wound up getting a half to full ground Thiers-Issard Le Grelot. However, I am not real disappointed because the TI LG is absolutely my favorite razor.

Happy Shaving!