Posted on 06/26/2014 12:28:00 PM PDT by Chasaway
I need some straight razor advice, from some straight razor veterans. I've been shaving with a safety razor, mug and brush for 12 years. I've moved to a shavette straight razor in the last 3 months.
It seems to me that moving to a pure straight razor will mean sending razors off to be honed 3-4 times per year @ around $30 per pop.
Besides the "romance" and general badass-ness of using a true straight razor, what would be the advantages/disadvantages of moving to a pure straight razor/throat cutter?
I’ve used a straight blade for a couple of decades, and never needed to have one honed for me. My present razor (I’ve owned two) is a Solingen stainless (DOVO En Vogue No. 105) and it has served me very well with proper care and use of a strop.
My 20-year-old son gets those. It saves him money compared to whatever he was doing before that (but after I told him, “No, buy your own razors.”)
“...likely be some bleeding involved..”
You could have left that part out! :)
I know there’s a learning curve to it. That’s part of the intrigue. I want to get to where I can sharpen/hone/stop my own stuff.
Off topic a bit, but I also want to get to where my knife/axe/hatchet blades are crazy sharp. I’ve been researching/studying/practicing that, too!
I think I already accept that it’s worth the effort. I guess I’m just looking for some kind of reassurance from guys that are as “crazy” as I am...guys who get it.
I did the straight razor thing for a while when I was young—mug, brush, the whole nine yards.
But then they invented disposable twin blade safety razors and canned shaving cream.
I also gave up my hand saw for a Skill saw, my manual typewriter for a computer, and the pitch-soaked rag on the end of a club for a flashlight.
One of my shavettes is a Dovo. In my research, I’ve seen that Dovo is a go-to straight razor.
Do you do your own sharpening/honing? Besides stropping, I mean?
Or do you not need it at all?
Oh, stop.
I’m not doing this because it’s easier and/or faster.
I enjoy the experience.
I could, but he’d ignore me.
I pound my whiskers in with a hammer and bite them off on the inside.
you can extend cartridge blade life by drying them after shaving. water rusts and dulls the edge. i shake the razor, then do several strokes across my towel to dry the blades. you’ll get more life out of them, lots depending on how you personally shave.
Actually, I thought about that.
But I was worried that I’d have too much tooth wear.
Or buy them direct from the manufacturer.
www.dorcousa.com
Much less expensive than the name brands, and in my experience much longer lasting.
YMMV
I’ve been doing the same thing for years. It works great.
Iwasaki Kamisori
Another son poured rubbing alcohol on his arms and lit it with a match. Whoooosh! hair-free arms.
More than a joke, it’s a true story. It took place around the Algonquin round table in the days of Dorothy Parker.
Doumo arigatou gozaimasu.
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