Startup costs

OK, so I've layed out all my capital and got all my gear. Sooner or later I'll actually SHAVE! :) (actually planning on starting next week when my schedule opens up a little.)

I thought it would be helpful for other newbies to see what my outlay was. My choices were not absolutely the most economical, but they were made with cost in mind. I also found some pretty good deals on things that have a wide range of prices (e.g. the hones). Here goes, I hope the formatting doesn't get too messed up...



Straight shaving startup costs

Razors: one professionally honed plus two for honing practice/variety
Dovo Classic “Special” 5/8 classicshaving.com $68.99
Honing by Lynn $20.00
Shipping for Dovo and strop (below) $6.65
J. Wostneholm EBRO 5/8 1/4 hollow + tax, local antique store $32.64
Chinese Double Arrow 6/8 hollow, ebay from Stamps222 $9.00
Shipping for Double Arrow $4.00

Total for razors: $141.28



Honing/stropping equipment (I'll post my reasoning separately):
DOVO Prima Rendleder strop from classicshaving.com $39.99
DMT Dia-Sharp 8EE diamond plate from Craftsmanstudio.com $62.95
shipping for DMT $11.49
Spyderco UF finishing stone from CheaperThanDirt.com $45.01
shipping for Spyderco $ 7.10
60-100x LED microscope w/stand, eBay from oncoso $8.50
shipping for scope $3.50

Total for honing/stropping gear: $178.54


Accessories:
Boar’s hair brush, drug store, inc. tax $7.60
Shaving mug, thrift store $0.54
Shaving soap and cream sample pack, TGQ, inc. delivery $17.99
Stiptic pencil, drug store, inc. tax $1.07
4 oz. jojoba oil for after shave, local co-op (est.) $12
Small bottle of aloe vera gel, drug store (est.) $2

Est. total for accessories: $41.20

Total startup cost: $361 :eek:

A shave that gets nice and smooth without leaving my face a burning bloody pulp: Priceless! :nj

You did well on the accessories. It could have been a lot worse, in regard to a brush, or should I say brushes.

I use three brushes(yes, I have a lot more than that) that set me back at lest $500.00.

Some would consider me a piker at that. :shrug:

Steve

Doesn't look too bad. You are fully kitted to go and ready look after your razors.

You've spent more on razor than I have on my entire kit and you havent even shaved yet? :o


My first kit:

$35.00 razor from Joe Chandler (a restore)
$15.00 for a lot of three e-bay specials
$40.00 For Tonys #2 origional in Latigo
$15.00 for a loom strop, a Swaty, and a lithide from E-bay
$5.00 for a brush from the dugstor
$1.00 for williams mug soap
$20.00 for 4000 and 8000 grit slipstones
$3.50 for 1000 grit sandpaper

Total $134.50

Yes some of these item have gone up in price, but none of them have doubled!

Don't be to afraid of the prices. Some of the above could have been cut out in the name of economy had I just wanted a good shave not gotten into a hobby.

tim> I guess it would have paid for me to get more stuff off B/S/T here! lol A good note for other noobs!

Actually, it looks like the biggest difference btwn you and me is the honing equipment -- you spent < $40 on honing stuff (not counting the strop) compared with my $138. (Your first razor was also a lot cheaper as a restore than my brand new one -- noobs take note!) The hones were the big expense I wasn't counting on when I started buying stuff, but once I got the razor it was too late. ;-P I've already tried my DMT on the EBRO and got out the nicks and it seems nice and sharp now, even without using the Spyderco (though I can't tell from shaving since I haven't done it yet!) so I'm happy with my purchases so far.

zepplin> I dropped some pretty big hints to my wife (including some web links) about a best badger brush for Father's Day. She's already a little worried at the outlay for my new hobby though, so we'll see...

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Originally Posted by BurnBeGone

She's already a little worried at the outlay for my new hobby though, so we'll see...

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She should be :roflmao

My startup was fairly minimal:

free razor
hot water

Needless to say my first two shaves were worthless.

So I added a $35 razor, a $50 strop, and some shampoo. My $85 shave was still sucky.

So I added a $25 razor that gssixgun sharpened for me, and a $40 Wapi that Milke sharpened for me, and a $65 Norton stone. My $215 shave was better but I finally conceded I needed soap and possibly a brush.

So I added $50 in a huge pile of soaps and creams from LX, and got some free strop paste and aluminum oxide for maintenance and a $30 silvertip from Ivo. Finally, my $295 shave paid off :)

The hundred dollars I spent since then haven't really improved my shaving much at all, and I will eventually liquidate what I don't need. I guess I was happy to have bought most everything from SRP members. Thanks everyone!

Good story, Lee! Glad to know it was worth (most of) the investment.

How's the aluminum oxide? I have access to some free 3 micron powder and 1 micron suspension -- if the Spyderco UF is about 12-14k as I've seen estimated, that should make it about 2 micron equiv., so I would guess the 1 micron would help the edge a bit. (Sorry this is off-topic!) What are you using?

P.S. I've tried to learn GO several times, but can't seem to get the hang of it. (As they say, a minute to learn the rules, a lifetime to master!) Maybe you can teach me a thing or two sometime -- but one new hobby at a time!

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Originally Posted by BurnBeGone

Good story, Lee! Glad to know it was worth (most of) the investment.

How's the aluminum oxide? I have access to some free 3 micron powder and 1 micron suspension -- if the Spyderco UF is about 12-14k as I've seen estimated, that should make it about 2 micron equiv., so I would guess the 1 micron would help the edge a bit. (Sorry this is off-topic!) What are you using?

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I forgot to mention the .5 / .25 micron paddle strop that mslovacek gave me. I found it a lot more useful than the oxide on the strop I put it on, but it's the strop's fault. Can't help you there.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BurnBeGone

P.S. I've tried to learn GO several times, but can't seem to get the hang of it. (As they say, a minute to learn the rules, a lifetime to master!) Maybe you can teach me a thing or two sometime -- but one new hobby at a time!

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Study the ladder. I am leego on KGS catch up with me there sometime

I believe my start-up cost was a lot closer to $500 or $1000, don't quite remember. I'd have to dig through my paperwork again. I bought eveything new from Classicshaving.com before I discovered this place. Looking at other people's start-up prices, I may have to snag a razor or two from here. Seems like a good deal.

razor $15 Dubl Duck Special #1 from eBay
strop $35 Illinois 361
cream $15 Lush Ambrosia - no brush required.
hone $80 Norton 4k/8k combo from Lee Valley
TOTAL $145

There were additional shipping costs and some practice razors which probably gets me up to around $200, but right from the start the shaves were great.

X

Golly, my Double Arrow startup kit is a razor, strop (with .5µ chromium oxide on the rough side), boar brush, soap, styptic pencil for $75.00. Lots of happy customers too. :tu

I could do a primo restored Boker razor, my premium horsehide strop, badger brush, TCQ soap, styptic pencil, alum block and mug for $275.00.:D

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Originally Posted by Kenrup

Golly, my Double Arrow startup kit is a razor, strop (with .5µ chromium oxide on the rough side), boar brush, soap, styptic pencil for $75.00.

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Where were you when I needed you? :LOL:

Actually, I only paid about $86 for the items you list here (minus the CrO), and that's with the fancy soap sample pack from TGQ, so if I had just gotten a Williams or VdH cake it would have been more like $70. My other ~$275 was for "all that other stuff" -- hopefully enough to keep me in shaving forever (except for replenishing the soap and jojoba), unless I give in to one of the various AD's going around!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BurnBeGone

Where were you when I needed you? :LOL:

Actually, I only paid about $86 for the items you list here (minus the CrO), and that's with the fancy soap sample pack from TGQ, so if I had just gotten a Williams or VdH cake it would have been more like $70. My other ~$275 was for "all that other stuff" -- hopefully enough to keep me in shaving forever (except for replenishing the soap and jojoba), unless I give in to one of the various AD's going around!

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RDs are good, RDs are good, RDs are good, RDs are good, RDs are good, RDs are good:D

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Originally Posted by BurnBeGone

" -- hopefully enough to keep me in shaving forever (except for replenishing the soap and jojoba),

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I hate to tell you that this is only the begining, you'll add razors of various types on a regular basis, as well as other accessories

When you visit any store, the first thing in your mind will be to look for "shaving items"

My recommendation, drive less miles to save $$$$ on gas, and spend more on shaving products, that you can enjoy

Good luck

I got it easy, I am converting from a safety razor so I already have the brush and mug and I have all of the skills that I need for the safety that I can apply to the straight.

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Originally Posted by jbcohen

I got it easy, I am converting from a safety razor so I already have the brush and mug and I have all of the skills that I need for the safety that I can apply to the straight.

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Good luck! I've never shaved with a double edge razor blade, but I have a feeling it will be a different experience for you. I hope the skills are transferable for you, I have heard different things on this forum regarding that

I guess I should ask. Does the straight require different skills then the safety?

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Originally Posted by jbcohen

I guess I should ask. Does the straight require different skills then the safety?

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Yes many. in fact there is very little similarity between handling a straight and a safty razor.