Thread: Newbie sayin' HI!

Hi, Dave, and welcome! I'm still kinda new here myself, but I'm happy to share my experiences and observations with you.

First, you won't find a more professional and polite group of folks anywhere on the internet than right here in the SRP. I'm a member of a few other forums (including one for USAF personnel), and this one is far and away the most helpful and friendly. Everyone here is truly interested in seeing new blood like us (pun intended) succeed in this hobby. With that, my advice would be to become a regular in the B/S/T forum. Good deals are always popping up there...in fact, right now there's a Keen Kutter 4/8 for sale...$15!

Deals move fast in the BST, so you have to be patient and quick with the mouse. Or, you can post a wanted ad. Folks here have impressive razor collections, and they frequently "thin the herd," especially if the cause is to introduce a newbie to straight shaving. I needed a strop, so I posted a want ad looking for a decent starter strop. I was offered a very nice Tony Miller strop at a very good price. It was slightly more than I was looking to spend at the time, but the product was MUCH nicer than what I was initially looking for, so I took the deal. I'm 100% certain that if you post an ad looking for a nice starter razor, someone will offer one up at a great price. And unlike eBay, you know that the person you're buying it from stands behind the item and isn't gonna sell you junk.

You're in good company here, Dave. Welcome, and good luck!

Edit: After re-reading your post, it sounds like you're asking which razors are good and which ones to avoid. Honestly, you don't have to worry about that here. None of these folks will sell the garbage razors, especially to a new guy. If it's on SRP, you can be assured that it's of at LEAST good quality.