Thread: Starting on a tight budget

Thank you again for all the great support and advice here. Thanks to the generosity of this community I will have everything I need to get started here in a few weeks. I'm excited to start this journey and look forward to contributing more on this forum and also to keep returning for advice as I learn the trade.

Crawler, I will definitely hold onto that link. That looks like a great option for getting some low cost supplies, I'm sure it will come in handy.

Originally Posted by Crawler

In considering getting started on a budget, I have heard nothing but good things about Larry over at Whipped Dog.

Disparaging of vendors is not allowed.

Welcome to the forum. If you want I will hone up a razor so you have a back up and give you a barber hone to refresh your edge. Just do some research on using the hone before you attempt it. I would hate for you to ruin the edge. This should keep you busy between learning to shave and strop. Send me a Pm with your address. Good luck.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Disparaging of vendors is not allowed.

Heard nothing but good things about SRD, but never see this kind of "reminder" when praise is heaped on them....

Yes. I am clearly and unapologetically a Whipped Dog fanboy! I spent $100 to get started and have had an absolutely wonderful experience! Spent $300 on shiny new stuff to get my son started and he had an equally wonderful experience! I just had $200 more to spend on cool stuff later...YMMV

Looks like you are all sorted out but if you need a backup razor, I was very pleasantly surprised by the out of the box shave quality of a ZY straight razor I purchased on eBay for $10. It was shave ready and ready to go after a stropping.

Handjam, I know nothing about xy razors, and therefore will not criticise them. However, for a newbie getting into shaving, as Michael is, it is a really bad idea to go for a 10 dollar new blade production. In all likelihood that would be one fifth of his budget down the drain. We like newbies to go for tried and tested methods eg reputable members honing their razors for the simple reason that it vastly increased their chances of enjoying their experience and staying for a longer ride.

Damo,
I stand by my advice. I ordered three ZY razors and they were all excellent. Maybe you should try one. It's money well spent.

Sorry Handjam, was typing the last response on my phone, didn't mean to sound too terse.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...r-arrived.html
There seems to be a solitary thread on the ZY razor that I can find on SRP. Some well established members do indeed say that the razor can be made shave ready and has edge retention. It is also noticeable from the thread that none of the members had a shave ready razor out of the box, and that there were build issues with the razors - see the image of the cut up strop.

Now, at no point did I say that a ZY razor was the end of the world. If people can get an excellent shave from them then great. A few more reviews from established honemeisters on the SRP would be very welcome too. If the build and grind is good, and they hone well then I would be pleased for the company.

However, in the situation we are in currently, where the only review thread of the razor stated the best edge was at 4K out of the box, this is clearly unsuitable for someone who 1. has a limited budget to blow on a razor which might not be any good and 2. needs to feel what a great shave ready razor feels like in order to become enthused with shaving with a straight.
Therefore the best advice is still for a beginner to buy a razor from a person who can guarantee the shave readiness of the razor.

Hi Brother Damo,

No offense taken. We are all friends here. Hopefully I did not offend you.

I would humbly propose that I paypal you $10 so that you might purchase a ZY razor honed my Master Piu from eBay at no risk to yourself and have direct experience with it. Please share your experience with us after stropping it up and shaving.

If it shaves well then it would please me greatly if it became part of your rotation or you passed it along to the next beginner that arrives on these shores looking to get into this hobby. If it shaves poorly, then you can let us know so that others won't make the same mistake, and maybe you could still pass the razor along to somebody who would like to practice stropping or honing.

If it is a complete piece of garbage, then it would still be a good conversation starter as a cheese slicer at your next picnic :-)

In any case, we will all be richer for your experience.

Any further posts related to this ZY razor will be deleted. The OP had a question and lets stick with the topic. The questionable razor has been recommended, and discussed. It is now If anyone wishes to discuss the merits of that particular razor start a new thread. Thanks in advance for your understanding.