Newbie on a super-budget

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.:w

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.

I don't know about strops, but for a decent newbie razor you can always find on in the buy/sell/trade forum.

Be sure to check that it is described as shaveready.

Listen to Bruno.....otherwise I'd pick #3.....that one could result in some very interesting outcomes....:tu

Also check out the eBayers recommended in the "CRITICAL INFO FOR NEW MEMBERS" sticky. I picked up a very nice straight from altima555 for $48 shipped.

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Originally Posted by crichton

Listen to Bruno.....otherwise I'd pick #3.....that one could result in some very interesting outcomes....:tu

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As you should not drink and drive you should not drink and shave straight!:D

I would do the Wapi route. Ya might decide straights are not for you, but pretty much any razor you choose just needs to be TRULY shave ready!

Good Luck and Welcome!!

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Originally Posted by Still_Ged

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.:w

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.

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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.

Hang out on the BST for a couple evenings and pick up a shave ready razor for $30 to $50 and a beginners strop from TM and you are good to go for a month or two. After that get a pasted paddle and you can maintain your razor for a long time. This is about the cheapest way to go.

bj

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Originally Posted by 2Sharp

Hang out on the BST for a couple evenings and pick up a shave ready razor for $30 to $50 and a beginners strop from TM and you are good to go for a month or two. After that get a pasted paddle and you can maintain your razor for a long time. This is about the cheapest way to go.

bj

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Can you keep a shave-ready razor sharp for a month with just leather and no linen, along with no stropping experience? I don't think it's practical.

Separate out the brush and soap. You can use canned gel until the time is right, or get a brush and soap for about $15 in Walgreens.

Other than that, I've started a thread on what the real starting cost might be. I don't think you want to start with a setup you'll have trouble maintaining a sharp razor with. I really think you're talking about $90-$110 to start with a setup you won't find frustrating, and that's with a $30 razor.

#2

But you can shave the costs a bit. As was suggested Tony's starter strop is first rate and a bargin. Add that to a $30 razor and you are at like sixty bucks. A $5 burma brush from walmart and a cake of Williams mug for $1 is a great step above the canned goop.

The Lithide hone on this page:

http://redtrader99.com/hones.html

Will keep you going indefinately for $13.50 to your door.

A set of these, one 4000 on e 8000, plus a piece of 1000 grit wet dry will handle any razor sharpening task:

http://www.w-u.com/wucatresults.htm?snum=26375


All together about a hundred bucks, and you are ready to go.

Hey, everyone, thanks for your warm and helpful replies. Even if a bunch of you apparently want to read about the guy arrested for barbering without a license while soliciting an undercover cop at a liquor store that he was robbing at the time.

I'll have my lawyer send you the newspaper clippings.

I'm looking forward to participating some more.

-Scott.

Thats the spirit! :tu