That's a gorgeous razor, LFF! Also thanks a bunch for the recipe; it seems like a really fun project to attempt one weekend.

BTW guys, what straight razor did you guys tried. I did my research and was narrowing down to Dovo. Also, is the Merkur stuff any good?

Dovo is good. If you want a good entry point, try the Dovo Shavette.

Feather is also a good brand, from Osaka Japan, and most of their razors don't require sharpening. I have their Artist Club DX stainless steel folding razor, and it's magnificent.

I'm partial to vintage blades however. Dorko is kind of harder to find, but the quality of their blades is really good, and I personally prefer the way they feel when working with them. You can find them on Ebay, but they can be pretty expensive.

Feather's are awesome.

I use Shark Stainless Razors which are very similar to Feathers.

MuppetFace...You have an awesome razor yourself! 

I have only shaved with a razor a few times in my life.  I always bleed like crazy.  As soon as I could grow a thin beard I did, and have only shaved it off completely a few times since then. 

One of those times was in India at a barbershop, and I only shaved because the barbers there are amazing.  I think I talked about this with Guru once.  More different splashes and lotions than I ever knew existed, super rough face massage, then they break your neck, and shave you with a real blade. 

@MF: Did you find an improvement in going from a shavette to a regular straight razor? I've been told that a regular straight razor is easier to handle and one has less probabilities of cutting oneself with it than with a shavette.

@LFF: I followed the HF thread. I was very sorry to hear that Bob passed away. What's your opinion on the Merkur saftey razors?

EDIT: Wet shaving can be challenging. It requires one to develop some skill. But I found it rewarding once I got a hang of it

@MF: Did you find an improvement in going from a shavette to a regular straight razor? I've been told that a regular straight razor is easier to handle and one has less probabilities of cutting oneself with it than with a shavette.

I think it comes down to the individual, as I've read quite a few reports from people saying the Dovo Shavette is easier for them to work with, either coming from another type of straight razor or as beginners. Like the Feather Artist Club, its main appeal is in the convenience of having disposable blades, so you don't have to bother with stropping and honing. However I found the feel of the Shavette to not be to my liking, and I much preferred the Artist Club because it felt much more solid.

I'm not the best person to ask about this however, as my needs are a bit different. Since I'm shaving my legs primarily, I tend to prefer a heavier feel and a larger blade (to cover more surface area), but at the same time a finer blade. The Artist Club DX is sort of a compromise for me, because it's heavy and the disposable blades allow me to use finer blades (and also be lazy lol), but ideally I'd like a slightly larger blade and a blade with a rounded edge. Dovo and Thiers-Issard make some nice rounded-edge blades, so I'm thinking of switching back and just dealing with the maintenance.

In either case, definitely go for stainless steel blades rather than plated brass. Also if you're worried about cutting yourself, try going with the grain rather than against it until you've got your technique down. Straight razor shaving is all about technique. That, and using as sharp a blade as possible. The benefit of a heavier razor and sharper blade is that you'll be able to let the razor do most of the work, rather than exerting more force on it. That's why you're less likely to cut yourself with a sharper blade, ironically.