Thread: Noob to Straight Razors.

Hello all, I just got off of Active Duty Army and we weren't permitted Straight Razors but I've always wanted to use one. My budget is pretty tight. I've purchased the $25 "gentlemans shaving kit" from wal-Mart. It included a brush, mug and soap puck. I believe all I need now is a SR, a strop, and oil. I'm new to all of this and have watched a few videos from Lynn as well as read his SR for beginners article on here.

I am considering purchasing a SR from whippeddog.com since
It seems to be the cheapest and they are "shave ready". Has anyone had experience with them?
Also do I need a honing stone and all that other fancy jazz? Am I missing anything?

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated,
Thank you,
-Scott.

ScottyK9, welcome to SRP. You are thinking in the right way. Limited budget aside, going with whippeddog.com is an intelligent solution. His blades don't win beauty contest, but the will win the shaving contest. It will come shave ready. He has several price points to look at. I've had a few from him and I was quite pleased with them. His basic strops will also be a good intro to straight razor shaving. I take it the "gentleman's shaving kit" is the VDH variety. Again a good basic beginning. If you are careful in your stropping you shouldn't need a honing stone (as you put it) for a few months. The art and skill of honing a razor from bevel to shave ready edge is a slow learning curve. Concentrate for the next several months on learning to use your straight edge properly, and that includes stropping. So enough you will find that your edge needs re-freshening. Told that goal read up on barbers hones and chrome oxide, a less expensive way to go till you can get some one on one experience with a mentor on the how to hone from start to finish.

I would suggest that you revise your info so we can see where you are. There are mentors and willing SRP members all over the place that can, and happily will, give you face to face tutoring and answer a lot of your questions.

+1 on Whippeddog! Got my first straight from him. He doesn't "restore" them, but he does hone them and they are shave ready out of the box. Plus, he's a great guy to deal with. Welcome to the forum, and thank you for your service!

Originally Posted by billyc4362

+1 on Whippeddog! Got my first straight from him. He doesn't "restore" them, but he does hone them and they are shave ready out of the box. Plus, he's a great guy to deal with. Welcome to the forum, and thank you for your service!

Sounds good to me! I will be ording from him tonight, I'm super excited. And again thank you so much, I didn't mean to put it in there as like "hey look at me" lol, more as so you guys kinda know where I'm coming from. Shaving has always been a chore rather than a hobby and really an art form.

Thank you,
~Scott.

ScottyK9, there are a lot of SRP members in Florida. If you go to the membership list and under advanced search put in your city and see what comes up. If no one try easy driving cities to you and see who surfaces. I'd suggest a few I know in Florida but I don't know the geography of the state.

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

ScottyK9, there are a lot of SRP members in Florida. If you go to the membership list and under advanced search put in your city and see what comes up. If no one try easy driving cities to you and see who surfaces. I'd suggest a few I know in Florida but I don't know the geography of the state.

Will do, thank you. To be specific I live in Orlando and work for disney.

Originally Posted by ScottyK9

Sounds good to me! I will be ording from him tonight, I'm super excited. And again thank you so much, I didn't mean to put it in there as like "hey look at me" lol, more as so you guys kinda know where I'm coming from. Shaving has always been a chore rather than a hobby and really an art form.

Thank you,
~Scott.

Didn't think you were putting it out there like, "Hey look at me". Both my older brothers served in the Navy. The eldest did 6 years, my other brother did 8 active duty, and has been in the Pa National Guard for the last 20+, and did a tour in Iraq. I know what you guys go through, what a sacrifice it is, and how thankless it can be.

Originally Posted by billyc4362

Didn't think you were putting it out there like, "Hey look at me". Both my older brothers served in the Navy. The eldest did 6 years, my other brother did 8 active duty, and has been in the Pa National Guard for the last 20+, and did a tour in Iraq. I know what you guys go through, what a sacrifice it is, and how thankless it can be.

Thank you and it means a lot more than you know. I'll probably be going National Guard eventually. When you get a chance thank them for me. I appreciate it greatly.

~Scott.

Originally Posted by ScottyK9

I didn't mean to put it in there as like "hey look at me" lol, more as so you guys kinda know where I'm coming from.
~Scott.

I doubt anybody took it that way. Many of the gentlemen (and perhaps some of the ladies also) served in the armed forces of their respective country, and most of us on the board sincerely appreciate your service to your country. (There is a thread on here somewhere that the members list their service -- looking for you to add yours)

Looks like you are ready to start. Don't get discouraged from any blood the first few times -- it's pretty much a right of passage. Good luck, and continue to study the board and videos -- lots of good information here.

Originally Posted by BDRebel

I doubt anybody took it that way. Many of the gentlemen (and perhaps some of the ladies also) served in the armed forces of their respective country, and most of us on the board sincerely appreciate your service to your country. (There is a thread on here somewhere that the members list their service -- looking for you to add yours)

Looks like you are ready to start. Don't get discouraged from any blood the first few times -- it's pretty much a right of passage. Good luck, and continue to study the board and videos -- lots of good information here.

Thank you and it really does mean a lot me and many others. Well I'm sure I'll get a good but of blood out of myself, haha.

It seems I am nearly ready to start I am waiting on Larry @ whippeddog to get back to me and send me an invoice. Not sure how that works sent him an order and haven't heard anything but it must be the holiday.

Thank you,
~Scott.