stainless or not... that is the question

marsos52 · Post by **marsos52** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 5:00 pm

so i am looking at straights i used to shave with a straight in the 80's

for some reason i am thinking to do it again... so do i want to go stainless
or carbon steel?

and full hollow or not?

and 6/8 or 5/8?

help me

the dovo with the micarta handle is talking to me

thanks
marc

RetroGrouch · Post by **RetroGrouch** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 5:11 pm

Marc,

I totally relate to the allure of straights...

Stainless steel is harder to hone, so perhaps carbon is an easier option. As for size and shape... totally a matter of preference.

You'll end up buying a whole bunch anyway, so why fight it?

Mike

oldfat1 · Post by **oldfat1** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 6:56 pm

I could not agree more.

Start with a carbon blade, hollow ground. To me these are the easiest to maintain. If you find you still like it, the market is wide open.

Post by **drmoss_ca** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 6:57 pm

I think stainless is for those who feel very confident in their honing ability. I can hone stainless razors to the point where I get good daily shaves from them, but they are still not as sharp as my carbon steel razors.

Likewise, full hollows will get sharper than half-hollows or wedges, but the thicker blades are satisfying to use and cause less skin irritation even though the shaves may not be quite as comfortable whilst being performed. As for blade width, it is a matter of what you are used to using. A full hollow 5/8 carbon steel razor is the vanilla flavour of straights - likely the best choice for beginners. Whether you choose to move into other sizes and types once you have that one down pat is something to explore at that stage.

Chris

superbleu · Post by **superbleu** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 7:03 pm

What a timely post, I was just thinking maybe I should look for a stainless razor. I think I will wait.

Mike and Chris thank you for all your info and guidance.
EDIT:Oldfat1, you are not chopped liver, I am sure if I PM'ed you would have helped also.

KenS · Post by **KenS** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:51 pm

[quote="superbleu"]What a timely post, I was just thinking maybe I should look for a stainless razor. I think I will wait.

Don't let the folks here spook you. I just picked up a Dovo Renaissance, and it sharpens up just fine. For a few bucks you can get a pre sharpened one, and then it's just maintenance.
Go ahead and get what you want. Yu'll be getting more later anyway.
Ken.

loueedacat1 · Post by **loueedacat1** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 10:15 am

Like everything else, it depends on which stainless razor. I bought an unused (or nearly so) but old henckels 5/8s friodur on ebay, and had no trouble honing it, and couldn't tell you any difference in the experience from honing other razors. The big monster herbert wacker friodurs are probably a different story.

There are also plenty of carbon steel razors that are extremely hard to hone, and some that are very easy to hone. And of course the hardest thing to hone for me is a big wedge, but those are doable too.

But I think most carbon steel 5/8s from German manufacturers (like Dovo or any of the solingen brands you can find on ebay) will be pretty straightforward to hone. I think most US steel brands like robeson and cattaraugus are a little harder to hone (in my experience) because the steel is so hard.

So I'd get a basic 5/8 solingen full hollow razor, even a simple new best Dovo, and it should be smooth sailing.

grottolord · Post by **grottolord** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 7:56 pm

drmoss_ca wrote:I think stainless is for those who feel very confident in their honing ability. I can hone stainless razors to the point where I get good daily shaves from them, but they are still not as sharp as my carbon steel razors.

Likewise, full hollows will get sharper than half-hollows or wedges, but the thicker blades are satisfying to use and cause less skin irritation even though the shaves may not be quite as comfortable whilst being performed. As for blade width, it is a matter of what you are used to using. A full hollow 5/8 carbon steel razor is the vanilla flavour of straights - likely the best choice for beginners. Whether you choose to move into other sizes and types once you have that one down pat is something to explore at that stage.

Str8 on Brother

ive been into straights for 3 yrs now
stainless is for after you get comfortable honing your own, the full hollow
5/8 is the way to go to get started , look to Straight razor palce .com for the information you need, is the holy grail of str8s
good luck on you quest
Grottolofd
Chris

Squire · Post by **Squire** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:19 pm

Marc, if I were starting, and know what I know now, I would choose carbon.

Seraphim · Post by **Seraphim** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 10:08 am

I have never had any issues with honing a stainless over a carbon steel razor.

I do not think that they are any more difficult to hone than carbon. I think perhaps some hones are less effective on stainless than carbon, but that it a problem with the hone, not the stainless.

I use diamond lapping film (the 3m aluminum oxide film works fine too...), and have had excellent shaves from the Dovo 5/8 stainless, and 6/8 stainles Renaissance razors.

They certainly are less worrysome then carbon razors as far as obsessing about making sure they are bone dry, oiled, etc...

Pudu · Post by **Pudu** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:21 am

I have to agree with Seraphim.

I only have one stainless blade, an extra hollow Friodur. Once I discovered that I didn't much like CrO2 paste, and that the Frio hated it, I've never had any issue putting a great edge on that razor. In fact it's probably my easiest razor to hone. However, that may be due to the fact that it is my only full hollow grind.

I'd say go with the one that will give you the most please to look at and fondle...uh, I mean handle on a daily basis. When people ask me the most important thing to look for when buying a bike, my response is "the colour".