Thread: Thinking of trying straights

My first post on this board, just wanted to say hello! I switched to DE shaving about four months ago (thanks to mantic's youtube videos), and I've had a closer and less irritating shave than with Mach3s and goop. So far, my shaving life has improved!

The problem is that I have a pretty wiry and tough beard. The only way I've found to get a really super-smooth shave is by using a Merkur Vision wide open for a final pass, but that really brings on the razor burn. So usually I don't bother. Reading this board it seems like straight shaving is less irritating and closer (at the expense of seeming kind of risky!). Did I get the relative pros/cons right?

Okay, so if I want to try straight-shaving, I need to buy:
- An inexpensive starter razor
- A strop or paddle (even though I don't know what to do with it)
- Lynn Abrams' DVD (to teach me what to do with it)

This set looks decent: http://shop.thewellshavedgentleman.c...2&categoryId=5
Do you know if the razor actually comes "shave ready"? And should I get pastes? Is that even a good deal, or am I better off buying something on the forum here? I'm a bit worried about getting a crummy razor with a bad blade for $20 on the forum, but I may not know this forum very well

Okay, sorry about all this, but I want to make sure I'm doing it right before dumping $200 on the starter kit. Thanks!

Can't go wrong with Tony's stuff. If Tony (Heirloom's proprietor) writes (as he does on the page you hyperlinked) a razor is shave-ready it really is. Tony is held in high esteem on SRP so no worries. He's a great communicator as well so drop him a mail.

Thank you Kees!

I have all my razors shipped right from my supplier to one of our own members here, Elbonator who hones each by hand before sending it back to me. I used to do them all here myself but simply cannot keep up and even more importantly, EL is a FAR better honer than I. He has been doing this a long time and none of my customers has said it was not sharp enough.

Lynn, our group owner is another great sharpening resource too producing killer edges. My personal razors are all done by both of these indivduals and I have always been pleased.

Tony

Welcome aboard escargot.

Tony's things – especially his handmade strops – are absolutely top-notch and would be sold for a hell of a lot more if he were corporate instead of an honest craftsman & businessman who loves straight-shaving.

Almost everyone on this board has something made by him.

Ya can't go wrong.

Originally Posted by dylandog

Welcome aboard escargot.

Tony's things – especially his handmade strops – are absolutely top-notch and would be sold for a hell of a lot more if he were corporate instead of an honest craftsman & businessman who loves straight-shaving.

Almost everyone on this board has something made by him.

Ya can't go wrong.

That is the truth. His starter set will make you very happy.

Welcome to SRP! If you look at all of your options, you'll see that you have quite a few. The quickest and easiest way is to order the kit from Tony. He is a nice guy and won't steer you wrong. Also, there are many reputable guys selling razors for newbies on the Buy/Sell/Trade forum. You may look for JoshEarl, that is where I picked up my first straight and he is a stand-up guy who usually has razors from $30-$45 that would be great starters. Also, I hear that Lynn Abrams - AdjustMe69-keeps Wapienica razors ready to go for new guys at a great price. Just ask. Wapis are fantastic 1/4 hollow razors from Poland sold on ebay by Wojtec for like $11 - get one expertly honed by Lynn and you've got an awesome start.
Then you need a strop and later a hone. Everyone says that the DVD is a great place to start (I did not pick it up to begin with - but I will soon).
Most guys find that str8 shaving is waayy more comfortable on the skin than M3 or DE shaving (though if you haven't tried a Gem Safety single edge razor, you should - I love my 1912) and also that after you know what you're doing, you will not nick / cut yourelf as ofter as with a DE. I have a tough and wirey beard, too, and str8s are great for me, though I prefer 1/4 hollow wedge style blades instead of full hollows YMMV. Enjoy -

I too am thinking of the streight, but I have two problems here, one is finding someone to show me how to use these things in the Washington, DC area; second I am paying currently approximatly three cents per day for the blades in my safety razor, if a streight razor set costs me $115 it would take me approximatly 15 years to make up the cost of the streight for the price per blade that I am getting. The fifteen year mark is a bit high for me. Can anyone help.

Originally Posted by jbcohen

I too am thinking of the streight, but I have two problems here, one is finding someone to show me how to use these things in the Washington, DC area; second I am paying currently approximatly three cents per day for the blades in my safety razor, if a streight razor set costs me $115 it would take me approximatly 15 years to make up the cost of the streight for the price per blade that I am getting. The fifteen year mark is a bit high for me. Can anyone help.

How good of a shave are you really getting from the 3 cents per blade shave? How did you come up with the cost of the blade information, because you are only considering the blade. What about all the goo and such you are using with those blades?

Hope you are not dry shaving like my very simple brother

jbcohen, there are more reasons to move to the straight razor than just to save money. You'll be getting great shaves and saving the landfill from those disposable cartridges. As for getting going on a budget; read this.
Lynn has a great DVD for sale which shows a lot about this little obsession, but you can view some guys shaving on Youtube. Just do a search there for it.

X

Originally Posted by jbcohen

I too am thinking of the streight, but I have two problems here, one is finding someone to show me how to use these things in the Washington, DC area; second I am paying currently approximatly three cents per day for the blades in my safety razor, if a streight razor set costs me $115 it would take me approximatly 15 years to make up the cost of the streight for the price per blade that I am getting. The fifteen year mark is a bit high for me. Can anyone help.

You can find quality, shave ready razors here in the buy/sell forum or on ebay for a lot less than $100. Be careful on ebay - check Altima55 and Mannyware - both good sellers. If all you care about is the most cost effective shave, I'd say its hard to beat the DE. But if you're a more hands-on kind of guy, the experience of shaving witha straight and all it involves is much more satisfying. Just my opinion.

Jordan