Learnin me trade

Hows it going everyone!

Yup, i'm new and can you guess whats brought me here.... That's right Star Wars!!!:jedi:

Na obviously Sweeney Todd. I just fell in love with the art of the whole shave after that.

I'm gonna read around and learn allot before i jump into buying a razor, and i think i'm gonna get disposable blades to start. Moneys also an issue so i gotta buy cheap first, and i don't wanna be like a spoilt brat who's just found a new thing and get one of the top razors to start. God i hated those kids who got a Gibson guitar starting out......:rant:

Anyhoo.. I'd love all the tips people are willing to give and I'll respect my Mentors.

welcome to SRP MrToddsApprentice,

I started out the same with a dovo shavette.. I still use it when I'm too lazy to strop(or dont want to take the time for it.. or when my razors need to be honed (I'm not very good at honing yet)..and I plan to take it with me on vacations...

I must tell you that those disposables are very unforgiving..
-Too much pretture and you will bleed
-Wrong angle and you will bleed
-Wrong prep and dried lather and you will bleed..
-moving your face while the razor is on your skin and you will bleed..

But if you get it right and you will because you will get very carefull when you shave.. after a short while you get a BBS in return..

BTW.. the nicks will be very shallow and will heal in a couple of days without leaving a mark.. but after my second shave with it I looked like I was attacked by a cat..so be carefull!!

Maarten

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MrToddsApprentice

razor, and i think i'm gonna get disposable blades to start. Moneys also an issue so i gotta buy cheap first, and i don't wanna be like a spoilt brat who's just found a new thing and get one of the top razors to start
.

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I used to think like that. I've gradually realised that it's better to buy something decent to start with.It doesn't need to be decorative, just good quality functional.
Firstly, because decent kit will at least rule out the ' is it me or is it the razor question' . Secondly, if you continue, you've got something good to use and if not you can sell it. Buying cheap often means buying twice.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by welshwizard

I used to think like that. I've gradually realised that it's better to buy something decent to start with.It doesn't need to be decorative, just good quality functional.
Firstly, because decent kit will at least rule out the ' is it me or is it the razor question' . Secondly, if you continue, you've got something good to use and if not you can sell it. Buying cheap often means buying twice.

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+1. And good quality doesn't always = high price, keep an eye on the classifieds and you could probably pick up a good shave-ready Genco or the like for a reasonable price.
And welcome to SRP!

Welcome aboard and good shaving!

-Rob

just dont follow anything from sweeny todd i walked into the room when my brother and his gf were watchig it and he was stropping with the spine following at like 30 degree angle so i laughed and left.


Welcome to SRP you will meet a lot of great people here

The Wiki is starting to come together pretty nicely so you should be reading there and using the 'search' function to find out more opinions. Any questions? Just ask.

Look to the classifieds for your first blade. great deals and guaranteed ready to shave in the vast majority of cases. No need for disposables at all.

X

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mlangstr

welcome to SRP MrToddsApprentice,

I started out the same with a dovo shavette.. I still use it when I'm too lazy to strop(or dont want to take the time for it.. or when my razors need to be honed (I'm not very good at honing yet)..and I plan to take it with me on vacations...

I must tell you that those disposables are very unforgiving..
-Too much pretture and you will bleed
-Wrong angle and you will bleed
-Wrong prep and dried lather and you will bleed..
-moving your face while the razor is on your skin and you will bleed..

But if you get it right and you will because you will get very carefull when you shave.. after a short while you get a BBS in return..

BTW.. the nicks will be very shallow and will heal in a couple of days without leaving a mark.. but after my second shave with it I looked like I was attacked by a cat..so be carefull!!

Maarten

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I agree with Maarten 100%. Get good with a shavette, and a real straight is a breeze. Knocking the sharpness off of the very ends of the shavette blade will help alot.

From Dublin meself, if you want advice on anything go into Liam in the Waldorf Barbers on Westmoreland St. A wealth of knowledge on this stuff and will sharpen/sell some nice razors and gear too..

G'day & welcome.

I'm with xman - get the real thing. You don't have to spend a lot for a good workhorse.

I think they are both valid options...but you will want a real straight after a while anyway. I now have six real straights, three are shaveready, two on their way and one needs a lot of work. And I have the Shavette.
I dont agree that buying a shavette is throwing money away in the end... I still use it quite a lot and plan to do so for a long time..In my shave world both the Shavette and the "Real Straight" have a place.

Maybe a list of pros and cons will clarify my view and help others make their decisions.

Shavette

Pros
++Not expensive
++Always sharp or easy to get sharp (just replace blade)
+no need to strop
+no need to hone
++Easy to take along while traveling (shavette in cary on lugage, the blades in the suitcase) worst case you need to find some blades on your destination. no need to take a strop along.

cons
---very unforgiving
--less comfortable at first
-Not the same feel as a real straight

"Real" straight
pros
++Available from cheap to very expensive (I've got my razors from $7 up to $90)
++++can give a very comfortable shave
++I love to hone a razor and shave with it.. it gives me an idea of accomplishment.
+I love to cleanup razors that were given up.
+Most are well balanced and heavier.
+They look great

cons.
--you need to strop so you need something to do that with..
-you need to hone your razor every now and then.. so you need a hone or you can send it out to get honed..
-traveling with a straight brings some risks (cannot take it on cary on lugage on an airplane) and you have to take along a strop

Of course this is just MHO and most of these things are very subjective.
If I were new to straight razor shaving, had to start from scratch and I was on a budget...tough call but I would buy a shavette again take the time to learn how to use it and in the mean while save up some money to buy a nice strop and a razor from the classifieds.. then you will have best of both worlds..

But as I said getting a real straight to start out with is a good option as well.

JUST DONT BUY A ZEEPK or such!!! that would be throwing away money..

Maarten

i've had a shavette for years , DE for weekdays and the shavette for weekend . i loved it and it only cost a £10 (thinks that about $15:confused:) any way i loved it .but just made the jump to str8 and got a dovo strop and a wapi from Invisibleedg.co.uk. . I think you are all on the right track with the shavette but just make sure you have a alum block for the first time out:jedi: