Thread: New Interest in Shaving

Originally Posted by dkirkc

Well, ****.

I could go ahead and back out of the sale. I think it said something about that somewhere.
I've asked what brand you would suggest, though, and no one said anything.

I've been at work all weekend, and have only been able to get online to make a few posts, so no. I did not read the stickies like I usually do when I join a site.

The thing is that brands are pretty hard to manage, there are plenty of old brands that are very good, you need to learn what to look for and not depend so much just on brands especialy if you are trying to save money.

Buying on Ebay unless it is from a well respected person here is probably not a good way to start. And when buying on ebay look for old razors not new razors.

Things you don't want to see are the 440 stainless steel, or that it was made in pakistan. But in general stear away from cheap new razors.

Buying a barbers hone on Ebay might be the only thing that could be useful and it is still a bit of a crap shoot.

Never buy anything from Zeepk.

A starter set from here is probably the best way to start, and add in a vintage hone from ebay and you should have a reasonable set.

Minimums for shaving would be a brush, a strop and a sharp razor, but most razors do not come truely sharp from the factory.

Originally Posted by dkirkc

Unfortunately, I didn't have time to read them. I wasn't planning
on looking for one next week, and I bought without thinking. I rarely
do it,, but I guess everyone does it in some point.

Look everyone does that sometimes. But the more you do your research here the happier you will be and the less you will spend. Sure it is temping to just jump in, but you will end up with a certain amount of crap. I spent $20 on a pakistani razor myself.

There are many things to learn in this, and it will take time, if you rush you will not get good results and might give up because you sunk a fair ammount of money on crap, when the same ammount of money could have gotten you much better results.

I usually dive in with so much research that it is slightly rediculous.
I think I did buy a strop from Zeepk, but I'm not sure about that. Hopefully
the strop will be fine, because it would be a shame to realize I spent
about thirty bucks on useless crap in thirty minutes.

David

hate to break it to ya but the strops are crap to.

Originally Posted by dkirkc

I usually dive in with so much research that it is slightly rediculous.
I think I did buy a strop from Zeepk, but I'm not sure about that. Hopefully
the strop will be fine, because it would be a shame to realize I spent
about thirty bucks on useless crap in thirty minutes.

David

You might be able to with a lot of work get the strop useable for something, but as is, I would not recomend them for anything. I worked with the one I got with a lot of strop dressing and got it resonably supple, and currently have some crome oxide on it.

But it is pretty likely you did blow $30 on useless crap.

Rob was able to help me out.
Today was my first shave!