Thread: Monitarily Confused

When I first started looking into this straight razor thing (begining of the week?) I found a good vid that talked about str8 shaving and the guys said he never pays more than a couple bucks for his blades bc he gets them at junk stores etc.

Well I have called: Antique shops, flea markets, barbers, and barber suppliers and I can't find anything but disposables. When I looked online I have found a lot of str8s, but they are all pretty pricey.
Now, I don't mind paying good money for a good str8, but I have never used one before and I don't want to sink that kind of green into something that I may not like in the first place.

Was the guy in the video just lucky, or have you all found deals on straights around your neck of the woods.

I am in Raleigh, NC btw.

Personally I have never found any junk stores what so ever nor have I ever found anything at any antique stores and have been forced to buy what I need either from members of these forums or other internet shops. So I tend to think the person that you indicated has no idea what he is talking about.

Finding a razor in good condition at antique stores, etc. can be really hit or miss. I've never had much luck. You're more likely to find a blade that needs some TLC before it can be used, and you kind of have to know (or learn) what you're doing to make them work.

Your best bet is to purchase a vintage "shave ready" blade from the classifieds here. It will cost more than a couple bucks, but you can be reasonably sure that its been properly restored and honed. Also, keep your expectations realistic. You have to learn how to shave with a straight, and your first few shaves probably won't be great. Just enjoy the experience.

Best of luck.

Yeah, I think I will probably come out with a couple "battle scars" but it is something that I want to try.
I also would not mind mudleing through a moderate restore as long as the blade isn't nicked or something.

It's like shopping for a car. You can get one at a junkyard for $50 but it might take some time and some tools to get it running, no matter the name brand. Or you can buy a brand new one or get a used one in any condition you like. But you generally get what you pay for, or so has been my experience

Like OS said, if you don't like it just resell.

Good advice also ebay can be an option but as a gneral rule I advise never to pay more than $80 for either a carbon or stainless steel razor. Classic Shaving will sell for that. On ebay you get a lot of idiots that have inherited this thing from pop or gandpa, have been conned into using one of those terrible things that pass for shavers these days and have no idea what they are holding in their hands or the actual value of what they have. They typically want to get rid of it ASAP and as a consequence often will part with their inheritance for far less than its worth now that you know what the item is worth.

well, the answer to your initial questions is to find out how old is that video and where is the author located. if you go back in time to that place you may be able to also buy them for few dollars.
i've seen two razors a person bought in a local antique shop for few dollars each - guess what he just lost his money, the razors were a trash can material and i absolutely refused to hone them for him. eventually he took me to another antique shop where he had reserved 10 razors and there were 3 out of them that i approved and i honed one of them. he managed to pay $10 each (he's spending few thousands dollars a year at that place) and the rest are back on the display at the original asking price $20 per razor.
if you're looking to save money this is not the way to do it, unless you want to stay in it for quite some time. the most cost effective solution is a razor from the classifieds.

the big thing to consider is that if you cheap out and get a crap razor you simply won't enjoy yourself. i have read many threads from people saying that they can't get the hang of it or the shave was crap and it turns out they bought a cheap razor that won't hold an edge or a razor that isn't shave ready.

the best thing you could do is get a shave ready razor from the classifieds here and a strop and see how things go, if it isn't for you then resell it in the classifieds. the nice thing about a straight razor is that it is an investment really, as long as you take care of it it will out last you.

hopefully you give it a try as it a very enjoyable hobby and more rewarding then one would think.

good luck!!

I have seen way to many new guys do the "I am going to get an E-bay razor/antique store razor and fix it up routine" to even count...

Restoring a razor to even a shave ready condition, let alone mint condition, is an art... and the tools required to do it right cost $$$$$....

Take these guys advice, and start with a shave ready razor from the Classifieds from a reputable member here, and enjoy your first outing with a straight razor... Then decide which direction you want to take this hobby...
Just so you know RRD (razor restoration disorder) is one of the worst to catch

Welcome to SRP !!!!!

+ 1 there Glen.

Hopefully some good soul will create a Razor Restoraholics Anonymous