Thread: Cheap way to start out

hello,
I was wondering if I could get some advice from members on the cheapest route begin the foray into straight razor shaving. I have been using a de for about a year, and when I joined this forum in in around May (i believe) I was trying to use an old razor that we had at home that had a pronounced smile. I tried to hone it but as this post explains it did not work out.http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=12500
I am strapped as I just graduated from college up to my eyeballs in debt. What I want to get is a strop and a razor (the old leather belt just wasnt cutting it) .
Apparently I just missed a secret razor giveaway of Wapienicas. I also cannot get into the newbie raffle because I joined too long ago. I would buy a razor that is shave ready on here and an old strop and have tried to for a long time but they usually are sold in 5 minutes.
Maybe a newbie only buying section could be made? But then again there are many newbies. If anyone has any shave ready razors and an old strop that is cheap please let me know, or steer me in the best path thanks alot

Hunting the B/S/T threads would work, or you could check with a few of the members that have been posting larger (bulk) deals such as the Wapis that Mike was posting about. Drop a request in the B/S/T forum WTB Shave Ready Starter. The Topher has been working really hard recently to put together kits for Newbies, and you can always order one of those once they come out. If they have too much in them, or are too expensive, try hunting around on Ebay or a few local antique stores. If you find a deal, kerryman71 would probably be pretty happy to try his newly trained hand at fixing it up and making it shave ready for ya, like many of the more experienced members around would likely be happy to get it into usable shape. Good luck, and let us know what you end up doing!

Originally Posted by xcugat

hello,
I was wondering if I could get some advice from members on the cheapest route begin the foray into straight razor shaving. I have been using a de for about a year, and when I joined this forum in in around May (i believe) I was trying to use an old razor that we had at home that had a pronounced smile. I tried to hone it but as this post explains it did not work out.http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=12500
I am strapped as I just graduated from college up to my eyeballs in debt. What I want to get is a strop and a razor (the old leather belt just wasnt cutting it) .
Apparently I just missed a secret razor giveaway of Wapienicas. I also cannot get into the newbie raffle because I joined too long ago. I would buy a razor that is shave ready on here and an old strop and have tried to for a long time but they usually are sold in 5 minutes.
Maybe a newbie only buying section could be made? But then again there are many newbies. If anyone has any shave ready razors and an old strop that is cheap please let me know, or steer me in the best path thanks alot

Go to ebay or a antique store buy a cheap strop. Some of those old worn ones are great anyway one of my vintage ones is one of my favorites. and shoot me a PM I will send you a shave ready razor I am a sucker for college debt you earned it

Go to this thread and sign up for the giveaway.....SRP is doing one a month using donations from members!

http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=16392

Or go here - Chris (The Topher) is selling these starter kits put together with vendors from the site and his own stash of razors.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=16163

thanks for the replies
I saw the starter kits, but since I already have a good brush and soaps I did not want to take the oppertunity away from others who have nothing at all to get in on these deals, and I did not need another brush or soaps.
As for the givaway I would love to sign up but i joined in may and the rules say from August, so maybe I could ask the member who is running it but I did not want to "cheat" If i dont qualify. I have been watching ebay every day, and that seems to be the route I will go If I cannot find anything on here--my only concern with ebay is after getting a razor I would have to send it out to get honed by a member here and people can go crazy with the bids on there. But it seems the best route to go so far though

Originally Posted by xcugat

thanks for the replies
I saw the starter kits, but since I already have a good brush and soaps I did not want to take the oppertunity away from others who have nothing at all to get in on these deals, and I did not need another brush or soaps.
As for the givaway I would love to sign up but i joined in may and the rules say from August, so maybe I could ask the member who is running it but I did not want to "cheat" If i dont qualify. I have been watching ebay every day, and that seems to be the route I will go If I cannot find anything on here--my only concern with ebay is after getting a razor I would have to send it out to get honed by a member here and people can go crazy with the bids on there. But it seems the best route to go so far though

Don't worry - there's a mid-termer's giveaway as well: http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=16394

Sign up on that. Prize looks similar to the new member's one.

James.

Vintage blade shave ready $30-50
Beginner Strop $30

70$ too expensive?

With a bit of luck you might be able to get a member to loan you a blade till you get a better one..

A cheap ebay strop is only $5-15 .. and will get you by until you get something better..

Totally disagree on the strop.

You should get a decent strop, it is the biggest money saver in your arsenal. Unless you know what you are doing, you will buy garbage strops on ebay that will wreck your razors.

Tony Miller's basic Latigo strop will last you for many years and give excellent service. At ~$50, it is the cost of about 12 Mach III Turbo inserts.

Check with Izlat or Cutz. They have have both offered me razors for less than $70.00 that shaved well. Izlat just sold a razor for $35 that was sweet.

I would be happy to loan you one of my shave ready razors to get started with.

It might not be the most primo shaver on the block, but it will be way better than anything you can get from a retailer, and it will shave nicely.

The silver lining: It looks like inflation is going to help you out with your student loan debt. Good luck!

Originally Posted by xcugat

I also cannot get into the newbie raffle because I joined too long ago.

i'll trade you my spot on the newbie raffle for yours on the intermediate

If I were you I'd take up Taz on his offer. I may have something for you, so PM on the way.