Quote Originally Posted by Still_Ged View Post
I'm a grad student, and (as if I don't have enough to do with myself) I want to start using a straight razor (obviously, or I wouldn't be here feeling like a wild donkey). Of course, I'm on a tight budget. Not exactly ramen-and-ketchup, but pretty tight nonetheless.

From what I can see, my options are as follows:

1. Keep using my M3 (yecch) until I'm done and hope for better finances next year.
2. Bite the bullet, invest the $150 in a decent blade & strop, and eat ramen and ketchup (yecch) for a month or so.
3. Same as #2, but offsetting the cost by robbing a liquor store/prostituting myself/giving my friends free shaves.

If anyone has any other thoughts, I'd love to hear them. I've been ready to get all obsessed with this ever since my grandfather died. (I've already looked for his old razor.)

-Scott.
You should be able to get a great shaver, strop, brush and soap for under $100. The big difference from a $35 shipped razor and a $100 shipped razor is condition and collectability. Neither should effect shavability if it honed by one of the guys here.
$30 strop from Tony (awesome) is all you will ever need.
Omega badger with cream - $30. The cream is Prorasso which is awesome.

Save up for a few months and buy a Norton 4000/8000 if you would like to hone the razor yourself.