Thread: Starter Gear

This site has so much information that I almost hate to ask this question. I am getting ready to try a straight-edge, and have been reading for a while, and am stuck with a three-way decision on starter gear. The problem is really starting costs, though if this works out I'll be able to invest more in the future.


Option 1: Wapienica and strop from same seller on ebay for ~ $30 + shipping + $20 for Lynn to hone + more shipping = $70-ish

Option 2: Shell out for Vintage Blades shave-ready Dovo @ $57.49 + find a real cheap strop.

Option 3: Throw a WTB in the Buy/Sell/Trade forum and see what I get.

I'm leaning towards #3, then falling back on 1 or 2. I also need a brush & soap, and there seems to be a high cost of entry. I'm told you can find a brush at Wal-Mart for $5 that does the trick, and maybe I could use my old belt as a strop, but I'm loath to scrimp too much. All advice welcome.

Thanks,

--Maeglin

Welcome!

Hate to say it, but all seem good options.

I hear many people like the Wapis - the only thing is the shipping around that would just get to me (just in principle - I hate to pay for multiple shippings )

The starter Dovos I also hear are great, and you can keep overall cost down by using a belt to strop in the beginning. You'll definitely want a real strop if you get into straight shaving - but a belt will work for an economic start.

THe third option - you should PM JoshEarl directly and he'll hook you up with a great value on a starter, I am sure. You'll be certain that you are getting a good shave-ready razor from a guy with great reputation at an extremely competitive price (this is his Vision and Mission - helping new members try the art with quality edges at lower entry costs)

Good luck
Ivo

A $5 brush (Burma Shave) will work, but the brush is actually the only thing you can keep and use well for wet-shaving even if straights and strops turn out too much for you. So you may *splurge* $35 on Crabtree & Evelyn's Best Badger and be certain to use it for years (unless your other shaving system involves an electric). A good soap doesn't have to be expensive. You can get great soaps under $10 and they will last and last and last for months, so actually pretty cheap.

I just bought a pre honed Dovo Classic form Vintage Blades. I realy like it a lot. My brush I got at Walgreens. It's a green handle Van Der Hagen boar hair brush. Seems to get the job done. Good luck.

I think number 2 or 3 are your best options. either way, you can get a good quality starter strop from Tony Miller for around $25ish - not much more than the first option.

Jordan

Just realized - I think I may have some soap samples from Colleen. They are small but will probably last you for 1 month of shaves... at least. So you can scratch this expense.

Really, the cheapest you can get is something like this:

• old belt: free (assuming you have one)
• starter razor (Josh Earl): $25-35 shipped (at this price may not be a stunning looker but will shave well)
• soap / cream sample (from me): free
• brush: 4.99 or so
• mug to whip lather (if not on face): free (assuming you have one at home)

Max total: seems to be $30-40

Not too bad, eh? Of course, if you decide to stick with it you'll spend more

Cheers
Ivo

Maeglin,

Welcome to SRP! You are correct, there is a wealth of info here as well as generous people to lend a hand. What is your budget? Even though the suggestions you have already received are terrific, this number may help us help you more. Have you talked to Tony Miller (thewellshavedgentleman.com) about his starter kit? This is a complete straight shaving kit all is one. Comes with a shave ready Dovo, strop, mug, soap, brush, etc...all for around $150. This will not only get you started but keep you going for a little while. Tony is a great guy and I'm sure he'd be willing to work with you on a full kit or pieces of one.

Just my 2 cents.

Good luck, and have fun!

My budget is the real question, isn't it? I should've mentioned it earlier. Basically, I am about this close to foreclosure and bankruptcy and just lost my car to repossession... Actually, it's been a pretty bad week. There have been complications from a bank dispute, and I don't know when/if they'll be sorted out. On the plus side, I graduate from college in a few days. (And start paying student loans...)

Really, I can pretty easily justify $50 for a try at a better shave, and for my own interest in SE shaving. It looks like I'm stuck with a bit more than that, unless I get a really good offer from the forums here, but I am definitely keeping the startup under $100, preferably below $75 for everything. Really, $75 is about the limit where I say, "Not this month."

I should mention, I also have a full beard currently and am about to start applying for jobs, which is part of why I started researching this late last month. If I need to begin shaving again (likely), I would like to try to make it as enjoyable as possible. I still use the M3 a few times a week, to keep myself presentable, and that leaves me with a constant supply of red dots and irritated skin on my neck and parts of my cheek. It seems SE is the way to go.

--Maeglin

OK. Just on a personal note, if things are currently that dire you may want to hold off on any new purchases right now; but that is something for you to decide.

Well, then I would say the suggestions already given, even your own, are right on track. Contact JoshEarl - he has great shave-ready blades and is a real gentleman. There may be someone around who has an extra strop for you to use but the belt idea is a good hold-over as well.

As for brushes, soaps, and mugs - go with the Omega for right now and a puck of Col Conk or even Williams soap (99 cents). It's a way in to this "life-style" of shaving that won't kill you.

OK someone here is going to hate me for saying this but a DE might just be the way to go for economy and the most comfortable shave this side of a straight. A shavette setup is just a little more than a used DE. This saves you the cost of the strop (about half your budget for a good one) and the cost of hones (as little as twenty bucks to more than your whole budget).

The cost of a Ebay DE or a new shavette and a hundred blades would only be about half your budget allowing you to get a better brush and try a few quality soaps. This would get you back into the swing of wet shaving, and with quality implements, while you save up for a really top notch kit like those from Tony Miller.

The only reason I suggest this is because your budget is very firm and you might be going through some huge life changes in the next few months. Anything from a dream job to a move into the poor house.

Straight shaving is great and can be cheap as all get (I haven't spent a penny for a shave yet this year) But you want to do it right. good gear is costly (when I started last year I spent about $200 and I'm cheep) but lasts nearly forever.

My first purchases were a nice razor from a member here for $35 and an antique strop from e-bay with a hone for $15. I did great except the strop leather was rotten and ruined my edge, and the barbers hone I got required more skill than I had and was too fine anyways for the work. Off to Lynn ($20 plus shipping) with the razor. New leather for the strop (I work leather so I knew what I was doing there and had it on hand). Try again ding the blade on the faucet (razor back to Lynn $yada). Buy hones ($20 sun tigers) for next time. My cheep start add up right quick and nearly had me in a rubber room. Had I not had the money on hand to get me through my beginner mistakes, I would not be using a straight today. That strop is still tough to use, and those hones will need to be upgraded soon. The only really good things to come out of my start were a nice finishing barbers hone (now that I have the skill to appreciate it) and a quality German razor.

This is great advice - for the situation, I think...

It is a hassle to deal with gunk / lather sticking to the DE, but still better than the Crapp III for sure. And cheaper and easier to maintain than a straight set-up. (But, Gosh - I hope I never have to give up my straights and stuff)

Cheers
Ivo