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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A guide for beginners, July 26, 2010
This review is from: Dovo Spike Point Bismarck, White Bone Handle, Full Hollow Carbon Steel, 5/8" (Health and Beauty)
I purchased this item with high expectations and the manufacturer has fulfilled them.
This is one of the few razors I've purchased that has a sturdy handle. The bone is high quality, and, thick. It can stand up to my meaty paws.
The blade is beautifully etched and gold trimmed. I expect this blade to last a long time. The edge was perfectly straight when I got it. I had to put an edge on the back side, but, it honed nicely on an old Nox-all stone from the 1940's, and, with the thick, good quality handle, it strops very nicely.
If you are buying a straight razor for the first time, here are some general guidelines to get you started:
First, DO NOT BUY STAINLESS STEEL. Stainless steel has many advantages in terms of hardness, durability, low maintenance and the ability of the steel to take an edge. However, if you are using a razor with a stainless steel blade, you will find that you have to strop it every few strokes. Most stainless steel, including surgical grade steel, usually will not hold an edge through an entire shave. You will have to hone your razor after almost every shave. BUY razor's with carbon steel blades. They sharpen, you can sharpen them easily, and, they stay sharp.
Second, Solingen blades or Toledo blades are usually, reliably, the best quality. If you care for them, they will last a lifetime.
Third, the best strop is horsehide. Most of the strops manufactured today are cowhide, but, horse will take stop dressing better than cowhide, and, produce a superior edge of your razor. Body Toolz Horsehide Leather & Canvas Barber Strop. You need to use strop dressing in order to keep the best and straighest edge on your razor. Fromm Strop Dressing, 4-Ounce Bottle
Fourth, buy a razor with a quality natural handle such as ebony or bone. Your razor will be constantly subjected to water, heat (if you sterilize it before shaving) Germ Guardian Dry Heat Nursery Sanitizer, and torque from stropping. Ebony and bone have withstood the test of time and require very little maintenance to withstand constant wetting, drying, re-wetting, and, will maintain their supple nature longer than plastics or ordinary woods. Olive wood is a good substitute and it's beautiful, but, you need to oil it with a little olive oil once in awhile. You should get yourself a genuine "badger hair" brush with an ebony or olive-wood handle. (I had a woodmaker turn a special handle for me from a five inch long block of ebony - easier to grip if you have meaty hands like King Kong).
Fifth, a good quality razor will usually need its first edge from you. This is an opportunity to give yourself the best edge possible. The first thing you want to do is make sure the edge is straight. You will need a dual stone. The best I've found are the old fashioned razor hones from pre-1950 days. If you can't find one, then, the best substitute is a Japanese 4,000/8,0000 grit stone used to sharpen Katanas (samurai swords). (A Sumurai sword is fairly described as a three foot long razor blade). Norton 24336 Japanese-Style Combination Waterstone 4000/8000 Grit, 8-Inch by 3-Inch by 1-Inch.
The proper way to straighten, hone and sharpen your razor is to draw its length along the long surface of the stone about fifteen or twenty times (alternating sides as you hone). Keep the entire razor flat on the stone as you draw it. The thicker edge of the razor will elevate it just enough to give you the proper angle for honing and setting an edge. If you are putting the first edge on your razor, then, use the 4,000 grit to hone and straigthen it. You might need as many as fifty strokes to get the edge. Then, finish honing it on the 8,000 grit. Then strop it on the canvas (not too hard), and, finish it on the horse strop (properly dressed). Repeat until you can shave the toughest part of your beard with comfort and ease.
Sixth, BE CAREFUL. Until you have shaved fifty or sixty times, don't let the kids watch you, or let your lover initiate foreplay in the bathroom, etc. You WILL cut and knick yourself at first. Have alcohol pads (or Benzalkonium chloride pads) Antiseptic Towelettes, w/ Benzalkonium Chloride, 100/BX (UMIPBAT077100) Category: Hand Sanitizing Wipes available to stop the bleeeding. Have an antibiotic ointment available in small quantities.First Aid Only Triple Antibiotic Ointment Pack, 0.5 Gram, 10-Count Boxes (Pack of 10). Eventually, you will be dealing with only minor knicks and scrapes from your razor. You will be able to graduate to a styptic pencil. Clubman Pinaud Styptic Pencil 1.0 oz
Seventh, hot towels are a real luxury, but enhance the experience of shaving to a new level. You can get some excellent mini hot towel cabinets from any beauty supply, including Amazon. You want one with a UV sterilizer (trust me - the wet towels will otherwise eventually accumulate mold and fungus and so will the cabinet interior). ADORABLE MINI STAINLESS COLORED HOT TOWEL CABI W/UV LIGHT. You can purchase excellent quality barber towels at a modest price right here on Amazon. Partex Barber Towel- 100% Cotton- 22oz- 15" x 26"- White w/ Green Stripe- 12ct. I like to soak my towels in scented water before heating them in the towel cabinet for a shave. Clubman Pinaud Lilac Vegetal After-Shave Lotion 12 fl oz (355 ml).
Finally, you need a high glycerin shaving soap. The best I've found is called "Old West Shaving Soap." The higher the glycerin content, usually, the thicker the soap, and, the softer and smoother the shave. Failing that, this stuff isn't bad and its cheap. Col. Conk World's Famous Shaving Soap, Bay Rum (Net Weight 2.25 Oz)
I had a lot of fun decorating my bathroom like an old, turn of the 20th century 1900's barber shop. I bought a real Marvy barber pole for one of my lights for shaving, a hot towel cabinet and wonderful antique shaving mugs from all of the countries of my ancestors. I display all of them in a provincial curio cabinet hung on the log cabin walls of my bathroom.
The advantages for shaving with a straight are:
(1) You can shave incredibly close and your shave will last two or three days.
(2) You save on having to pay for plastic, manufactured disposable razor refills.
(3) Women love it if you shave with a straight razor. It gives them an erotic thrill to see you with a sharp knife at your throat . . .
(4) It's good for the environment (saves all of the energy and plastics needed to make razor refills).
(5) It requires you to relax, take your time, and enjoy your shave.
The Ultimate Trust Exercise for Your Blossoming Relationship: Let your woman shave you with a straight edge . . . . Have a hot bath and chilled wine ready . . . .
Finally, if you want the absolute best shave in the world, take one more step. Collect rain water in an old whiskey barrel outside and use that water for your towels and rinse (I learned this fifteen years ago when I took a couple of horses across the Serengetti and collected rainwater off of my lean-to for a shave).
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