Need Some Advice on Buying a Razor

Hi!
I just joined this site, and I could desperately use some advice. My boyfriend has been talking about wanting to buy a straight razor for awhile, but he doesn't really have the money to spend on something that isn't a necessity right now. Because of this, I've been planning on getting him one for Christmas this year. The only problem is that I have no idea where to start looking. I'd like to get him a nice razor, but I'm a college student so I can't spend an outrageous amount on one. If anyone could give me some advice on brands or types of razors or anything really, that'd be a huge help to me! Right now, I'm just kind of lost haha
Thank you!!

Welcome aboard,,,,,,,
You can start your search here;
Purchasing straight razors - Straight Razor Place Library

a little reading there will give you a good idea on nhow to choose.

Also our "Classified" section is a good place to buy, we don't allow junk to be listed there.

Main Index - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

Also click on the sponsor links that are on our site.

Good searching,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

As a fairly new member I wish I had made my first purchase of a razor from one of the members of SRP forums from the classified section mentioned by Hirlau.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by willi963

Hi!
I just joined this site, and I could desperately use some advice. My boyfriend has been talking about wanting to buy a straight razor for awhile, but he doesn't really have the money to spend on something that isn't a necessity right now. Because of this, I've been planning on getting him one for Christmas this year. The only problem is that I have no idea where to start looking. I'd like to get him a nice razor, but I'm a college student so I can't spend an outrageous amount on one. If anyone could give me some advice on brands or types of razors or anything really, that'd be a huge help to me! Right now, I'm just kind of lost haha
Thank you!!

---

Get something from the classifieds section.
If you want a new razor , let us know what your budget is so we can give you more focused advise. I would avoid custom razors for a beginner.
You will also need a strop to go with the razor.

Welcome on board,
A big consideration would be your budget, that would help us to point you at something that will provide good value for what you want to spend.

As gugi says, you WILL need a strop or the razor will quickly become unusable without sending it away to a professional for honing.

Does your boyfriend tend to stick with things? The reason I ask Is that learning to use a straight razor generally takes around 100 shaves (3 months of daily shaving, exponentially more if he only shaves once a week), and the learning can be frustrating at times.

Are you planning this as a surprise or are you going to tell him? If you are going to tell him then it might be worth getting him some soap and a brush ($20 all in if you don't go fancy) in advance so he can get lathering under control, it isn't particularly difficult to master but it is one less thing to need to get right whilst he is learning to shave. The same would go for stopping, learning good technique takes a while so being able to practice in advance would probably be beneficial, just a strip of newspaper and a butter knife will work for this, all he needs to do is master the flip, pressure and motion, I would definitely suggest watching a few videos for technique AFDavis11 has some very good ones.

Obviously he can do all of this at once (like most of us) but having some idea of the extraneous skills will make the actual shaving that much easier.

Oh wow! Thank you all for responding so quickly! He usually sticks to all his new habits, so I'm not too concerned about him quitting. He also already has a brush and soap that he uses with his current razor. After looking at things on the internet, I'm looking to spend around $100 for the razor, but definitely not more than $150 with the strop. I'll check out the classifieds on here!

I'm not 100% sure how much it cost to have a razor restored these days but you might want to try ebay for for a vintage razor and send it out for restoration. I've picked up some very good razors this way. Just pay attention to hone wear, rust, and chips. My razor budget it's $50 and I own some really nice wade and butchers.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by aaron1234

I'm not 100% sure how much it cost to have a razor restored these days but you might want to try ebay for for a vintage razor and send it out for restoration. I've picked up some very good razors this way. Just pay attention to hone wear, rust, and chips. My razor budget it's $50 and I own some really nice wade and butchers.

---

Sorry for reviving a thread that seems to be past its "fresh by..." date. But considering the experience level (or lack thereof) by both the OP & her boyfriend, eBay is NOT the route I would suggest. Insert the train of thought "WOW! This one looks nice, and it's only $15!?!! 'Gold Dollar'? Sounds fancy! And I don't even need to have it restored!" here...

And when he gleefully tries to shave with the Chinese ripoff of a "razor", and emerges from the shave with hamburger where his face used to be, it will have soured his view of this wonderful hobby.

Moral of the story is this: Straight Razor Designs is a great way to go for the $150~ish range for a razor & strop. You can shave some of that cost by picking out a round point razor here in the classifieds. The vast majority are shave ready, and the ad usually specifies if it isn't.

Btw, as you may be able to gleem from my profile, I'm in N.E. Indiana. I am still learning the nuances myself, but may be able to give some hands-on advice & tips. Had I had the opportunity, it would have likely helped quite a bit in the beginning :shrug:.

I'm necroposting here, so maybe I should also send a message via pm or email...

I got a Gold Dollar for Christmas this year. It definitely didn't leave my face as hamburger and it definitely didn't harm my enjoyment of the hobby. Quite the contrary. I picked it out because we didn't have much money and for a cheap new razor it had a lot of proponents. I bought it from a store with good reviews and was happy. They knew how to properly finish it. I would agree that buying it for a boyfriend as a surprise may not be the best bet (not that he would care really it would be the thought that counts and these are kids from the sound of it that can't and don't need to be dropping big money on a shaving razor). The plastic scales kind of scream cheap but if the blade is finished properly it isn't bad at all.

All I am saying is let's not unnecessarily set up straw men to be knocked down. There are better options out there but I'm pretty happy with my Gold Dollar Christmas gift so far. Probably replace it in 6 months or a year but it got me started and for now shaves pretty darn well. When I replace it that will mostly be getting different scales and maybe a smaller blade not hamburger face.

Fair enough. And I don't mean to say that EVERY Gold Dollar razor is junk... just most of them. Sadly. I didn't elaborate on what I said previously because I tend to write novels in order to rule out any misunderstandings :shrug:.

As manufacturers of good quality products sometimes let a "fluke" out the door; so, too, does Gold Dollar let the occasional usable razor out into the world. I congratulate you on your luck.

Please don't take my words as insults, that is not my intention. It comes from my experiences of growing up watching the difference in how my parents made purchases after they split. My dad did not buy things (non-consumables) often, and evaluated the options before he did. My mother generally bought whatever was cheapest, and often had to replace these things when they broke quickly (or was in general dissatisfied with the results achieved).

Thanks to the internet, I can now look up reviews on perspective products to find out if the money and/or savings is worth it. Accordingly, I gleam more useful information from negative reviews.

I hope this was helpful.

I don't take it as insults. My main point is that Gold Dollars have the reputation they have because they are popular for a cheap razor. From people who hone but don't sell them I have seen reports of very low rates of unusable blades from them even in the 66 which by all accounts is the bottom end of the current Gold Dollar line. From what I have found most of the negatives I have seen are either about the scales which are terrible, or related to getting an unfinished or poorly finished blade.

Don't misunderstand me I am not saying it is a must have. Only that the forums push vintage and restores and while that will likely get you better quality than a GD, there is a little bit of a gamble with that if you don't know razors and don't hone or restore them. Maybe not in quality if you find the right source but in not getting something that isn't finished or needs work. Some may be nervous about using someone else's razor.

Basically it depends on what your expectations and comfort level are.

I would probably have stuck with the replaceable blade straight until I got used to the process. Then probably still get the same Gold Dollar with the same understanding that it was going to be cheap and replaced in 6 months or a year.

I just don't want someone looking at this because they want to get a boyfriend a straight razor but 55 bucks for a vintage is still a little steep for something they aren't sure he will like thinking that they can't look at that Gold Dollar from a reputable vendor because it will turn his face into hamburger meat. It won't if they hone it right and apparently grind the heel back. Several shops know how to evaluate and finish these. If you are a college kid or teenager and your boyfriend has an interest in it there aren't a lot of good options. For the money you can get the best of the bottom of the barrel, something you can't look at but says it has cosmetic issues and is used, or a project piece that he can learn metal working skills on.

It can still be a viable starter, if you research the seller and ask them about their process. Doesn't hurt if they have a lifetime honing deal where you just send it and they hone it and return it. Or a good return policy.

Sorry to come on so strong. I just think that it gets a bad rap because it isn't a Dovo or whatever. It doesn't need to be. It needs to shave and not fall apart before it can be replaced. I can attest to the shave not the longevity.

All valid points, my good man. In order to get this thread back on track somewhat, I will refer to my original responding post where I quote another member's suggestion of looking at eBay. Yes, if one does a lot of internet web-fu legwork, they might be able to find a reputable source for a Gold Dollar, & it be less risky of a gamble. But if you go looking on eBay for razors, you will be lost down one hell of a rabbit hole! And in short order. It is a can of worms that even experienced collectors can feel daunted & overwhelmed by.

Given the situation presented by the OP, the members here often try to point them towards simple & reliable sources & products. This is often the case when trying to help any newbie, whether it is for them, or as a gift. Especially when there are no, or very few/vague criteria for selection. It's like if someone were to ask me what home theater receiver I would suggest. It would be their first system, so they don't have specific minimums, but they also don't have extensive knowledge in its setup & use. I would suggest an Onkyo, somewhere just above the base/lowest end model. They hit that sweet spot of price vs. quality like an MLB slugger. They are so easy to setup and use, it is nearly absurd. And by avoiding the base model, opting for a 7.1 receiver, they can get the minimum number of speakers they deem appropriate, and expand at a later date. Enough anecdotal comparisons.

Before I get sidetracked by something shiny again, something you said reminded me of another good source of razors. You said:

Quote:

---

...For the money you can get the best of the bottom of the barrel, something you can't look at but says it has cosmetic issues and is used...

---

. If one is somewhat unscrupulous regarding the aesthetics of a razor, and are okay with it being used (obviously sanitized), I have heard nothing but good things about Larry over at Whipped Dog. The "sight unseen" razors are generally considered not "head turning" pretty, but great shavers with a great price. Just food for thought for the OP. If she ever comes back to visit us :chapeau.

Yeah I might have gone the whipping dog route. I don't have problems with the irregular ones. I don't know about a gift unless they are into it and in on it. For the cost of the regular sight unseen you can find some in the classifieds usually. Those you can see what they look like.

I would think a Shavette style, a strop, and maybe a Van Der Hagen kit, though he already has the shave kit. You could give someone a start for like 50 bucks.