I don't know anything about ANYTHING...many questions need answers please help!

Hey guys,

So this whole straight razor thing looks pretty cost-effective and bad ass. However:

How often would I have to hone the thing ? What exactly is 4000/8000 grit?

How can I tell if it's "shave ready" or not? Will it say somewhere on the site / in the shop? Should I be wary of manufacturers that may tell me it's shave-ready? What's 4/8 6/8 3/8 what's all that supposed to mean?

Can someone post the URL of brands to avoid ?

Assuming you have a budget of anywhere between 50 and 350 dollars, is it really worth buying a super-expensive razor? I read something on wikipedia about hollow, double hollow, double edge and extra hollow. What does all this mean? Is there a list of razors that are hollow, or is that something that would be advertised? What's the best razor for shaving every day?

How much "should" it cost to put together a good straight razor kit? I don't care about material properties like colour or finish or whatever, I just want functionality.

What's the best place to buy a razor? Online? Store? Does it make a difference if you can see the thing up close?

Do I really need more than one razor if I shave once a day at the same time every day?

I don't want to waste anyone's time, so is there a URL to somewhere where I can be brought up to speed on everything I should know about straight razors? I mean all this lingo, it's a little confusing and it makes me feel like I should know way more than I currently do before just buying something that says "Dovo" or "Solingen" on it.

Any replies from anyone who knows about this stuff would be greatly appreciated.

Welcome to SRP ! Here is where you'll find what you need.:tu

Welcome . . . you kinda walked right into that one.

Read all that and then return for more questions . . . :)

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Originally Posted by JFD

Hey guys,

So this whole straight razor thing looks pretty cost-effective and bad ass.

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I will buy bad ass, because it truly is! Cost effective? :rofl2: If you are married I'd recommend the following actions: (1) always get the mail; (2) use your neighbors address for UPS/Fedex deliveries. In short order you'll understand the meaning of this.

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Originally Posted by dward

I will buy bad ass, because it truly is! Cost effective? :rofl2: If you are married I'd recommend the following actions: (1) always get the mail; (2) use your neighbors address for UPS/Fedex deliveries. In short order you'll understand the meaning of this.

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Wisdom this man holds. Follow you should.

The wiki should have most of the information you need, along with google, the sticky topics on SRP & previous forum posts. If after all this you still have any more questions don't hesitate to report back or make a new thread entirely.

:gl:

hi and welcome to srp,
i would suggest reading the wiki here on this site and you may also want to order lynn abrams dvd on here. ask a lot of questions about anything you do not understand. everyone here is willing to help others.
most important is to have a shave ready razor, if you buy from several of the sites they come shave ready by lynn himself.
the next thing is to not rush things. it takes time after you have your setup to learn correct shaving. do not worry it will come with practice. you will begin to enjoy more with each shave. hope this helps and you have fun with you new experience

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Originally Posted by dward

I will buy bad ass, because it truly is! Cost effective? :rofl2: If you are married I'd recommend the following actions: (1) always get the mail; (2) use your neighbors address for UPS/Fedex deliveries. In short order you'll understand the meaning of this.

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Dward...
I hear you Brother!:beer1:

Welcome to SRP, JFD,

You raise a number of interesting questions. Since you were asking for "a URL to somewhere where I can be brought up to speed on everything I should know about straight razors", let me guide you through the resources available on SRP. The forum search function is not always the easiest to use, but a number of users here have tried to compile salient bits of information into a knowledge database (we call it SRP Wiki). You will be able to find most answers to your questions in the beginner section of the Wiki. If you should have further questions, feel free to ask them here or in the chat.

So without further ado, let's see what you've got.

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Originally Posted by JFD

How often would I have to hone the thing?

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Frequently Asked Questions - Straight Razor Place Wiki
How long will a razor stay sharp?

There are too many variables involved to give a definite answer (quality of razor steel, stropping and shaving techniques, etc.). The general consensus seems to be that a shave ready razor will, if treated properly, stay sharp for between 15 and 50 shaves. After that, it will require touching up with a pasted strop or a finishing hone.

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Originally Posted by JFD

What exactly is 4000/8000 grit?

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What hone(s) do I need? - Straight Razor Place Wiki

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Originally Posted by JFD

How can I tell if it's "shave ready" or not? Will it say somewhere on the site / in the shop?

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Frequently Asked Questions - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Is the razor I got (or plan to get) really shave ready?

There seems to be a lot of confusion on what shave ready means to dealers, and what a truly shave ready razor means to an experienced shaver. Shave ready according to a vendor (generally concerning new razors) are razors that have been mechanically sharpened (generally on a waterstone type wheel) and then hand honed on a stone of some sort.

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Originally Posted by JFD

Should I be wary of manufacturers that may tell me it's shave-ready?

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Frequently Asked Questions - Straight Razor Place Wiki

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Originally Posted by JFD

What's 4/8 6/8 3/8 what's all that supposed to mean?

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Frequently Asked Questions - Straight Razor Place Wiki
What do the numbers 5/8, 6/8, 11/16 mean in reference to razors?

This is the width of the blade in inches which is the main factor in how 'large' a razor feels. It is measured from the edge to generally the spine (some manufacturers measure to the inside of the spine, some to the outside).

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Originally Posted by JFD

Can someone post the URL of brands to avoid?

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Frequently Asked Questions - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Which razors are considered bad?

While the quality of a shave is highly subjective, there is a certain consensus amongst the members of SRP that razors listed in the article Brands of Straight Razors to avoid will usually not deliver good shaves.

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Originally Posted by JFD

Assuming you have a budget of anywhere between 50 and 350 dollars, is it really worth buying a super-expensive razor?

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Only if you think so.

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Originally Posted by JFD

I read something on wikipedia about hollow, double hollow, double edge and extra hollow. What does all this mean?

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File:GrindForm.GIF - Straight Razor Place Wiki

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Originally Posted by JFD

Is there a list of razors that are hollow, or is that something that would be advertised?

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Search by property - Straight Razor Place Wiki

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Originally Posted by JFD

What's the best razor for shaving every day?

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Frequently Asked Questions - Straight Razor Place Wiki

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Originally Posted by JFD

How much "should" it cost to put together a good straight razor kit? I don't care about material properties like colour or finish or whatever, I just want functionality.

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You will be able to get along with under USD 50.

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Originally Posted by JFD

What's the best place to buy a razor? Online? Store? Does it make a difference if you can see the thing up close?

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We usually recommend to stick to our Classifieds section and the vendors listed in the sub forum. SRP is not affiliated with any of these vendors.

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Originally Posted by JFD

Do I really need more than one razor if I shave once a day at the same time every day?

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No.

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Originally Posted by JFD

I don't want to waste anyone's time, so is there a URL to somewhere where I can be brought up to speed on everything I should know about straight razors?

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I would take it from here: Beginner's guide to straight razor shaving - Straight Razor Place Wiki.

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Originally Posted by JFD

I mean all this lingo, it's a little confusing and it makes me feel like I should know way more than I currently do before just buying something that says "Dovo" or "Solingen" on it.

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Frequently Asked Questions - Straight Razor Place Wiki
What makes a good starter razor?

http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...uality_6-8.jpg http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...gnify-clip.png
Dovo Best Quality 6/8


Size = 6/8 A wider blade is easier to keep flat on the strop, which is very important for a beginner. 6/8 is also dead center on the size chart, so you can decide which direction to go on your second razor. Finally, it has some heft for those less than confident first strokes, and is still easy to handle. Grind = Half hollow Again dead center on the chart, so you can decide which direction to go after your first razor. A half hollow grind offers enough heft for beginner shaving, yet also has some flexibility for comfort. Round point A round point is a little safer, anyway, not a lot but every little bit helps at first.

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Happy reading.

Regards,
Robin

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Originally Posted by dward

I will buy bad ass, because it truly is! Cost effective? :rofl2: If you are married I'd recommend the following actions: (1) always get the mail; (2) use your neighbors address for UPS/Fedex deliveries. In short order you'll understand the meaning of this.

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Wait, so it's not cheaper to shave with a straight razor than to shave with those Mach 3s and Fusions that you always have to buy the refill packets for? Does it at least give you a closer shave?
This may be utterly simplistic, but so far this is the plan:

Buy the 74.99 Black Dovo from vintage blades llc that comes shave ready, and hone it every 2 months

Buy a Norton 4K/8K, nothing fancy just one stone

Buy the black 2" strop that they sell

And that's it. I have shaving cream and I have a brush. I figure with these 3 items I'll be good for the next 15 years or so. Thoughts? I dont think this'll actually realistically suffiec for the next decade and a half, but I was wondering what problems would occur that would necessitate more purchase. Feel free to utterly shoot this down, but the bottom line for me is not that it's a hobby, just that it's more efficient than running to the store every 2 months to pay $34.99 for refills. Truth be told, I'd probably enjoy stropping and shaving with a weapon every morning, but yeah in terms of cost-effectiveness I think I'm seeing it through different eyes than you guys, and I was wondering if I could get some guidance there. What am I missing here, guys? What'll happen in a few months, a few years if I buy these three things?

They're joking because once you start down the road of using a straight razor, it's hard to stick to just owning one razor, one brush, one strop etc. There is always something pretty that catches your eye!

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Originally Posted by JFD

Wait, so it's not cheaper to shave with a straight razor than to shave with those Mach 3s and Fusions that you always have to buy the refill packets for?

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That depends. A razor from the classifieds, and a bunch of homemade paraphernalia will get you going for under USD for a long time. There is a comparison of straight vs. disposables in the FAQ, too.

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Originally Posted by JFD

Does it at least give you a closer shave?

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It can.

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Originally Posted by JFD

This may be utterly simplistic, but so far this is the plan:

• Buy the 74.99 Black Dovo from vintage blades llc that comes shave ready, and hone it every 2 months
• Buy a Norton 4K/8K, nothing fancy just one stone
• Buy the black 2" strop that they sell

And that's it.

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Yes, that's it. Plain and simple. We believe that some people on this site have gone way overboard on the technical issues of shaving! Straight razor shaving is not rocket science!

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Originally Posted by JFD

I have shaving cream and I have a brush. I figure with these 3 items I'll be good for the next 15 years or so. Thoughts? I dont think this'll actually realistically suffiec for the next decade and a half, but I was wondering what problems would occur that would necessitate more purchase.

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If you have a quality brush, and maintain it well, there is not reason whatsoever why your proposed setup should not get you going for 15 years. None at all.

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Originally Posted by JFD

What am I missing here, guys? What'll happen in a few months, a few years if I buy these three things?

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That depends. If you can avoid the various acquisition disorders some of our members rejoice in, there is absolutely nothing that will happen, other than yourself getting comfortable with these tools, getting a better shaving experience, and saving money in the process. Nothing at all.

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Originally Posted by JFD

Wait, so it's not cheaper to shave with a straight razor than to shave with those Mach 3s and Fusions that you always have to buy the refill packets for? Does it at least give you a closer shave?
This may be utterly simplistic, but so far this is the plan:

Buy the 74.99 Black Dovo from vintage blades llc that comes shave ready, and hone it every 2 months

Buy a Norton 4K/8K, nothing fancy just one stone

Buy the black 2" strop that they sell

And that's it. I have shaving cream and I have a brush. I figure with these 3 items I'll be good for the next 15 years or so. Thoughts? I dont think this'll actually realistically suffiec for the next decade and a half, but I was wondering what problems would occur that would necessitate more purchase. Feel free to utterly shoot this down, but the bottom line for me is not that it's a hobby, just that it's more efficient than running to the store every 2 months to pay $34.99 for refills. Truth be told, I'd probably enjoy stropping and shaving with a weapon every morning, but yeah in terms of cost-effectiveness I think I'm seeing it through different eyes than you guys, and I was wondering if I could get some guidance there. What am I missing here, guys? What'll happen in a few months, a few years if I buy these three things?

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That is a good plan IMO. Some guys get into the ADs. IOW, acquisition disorders and get many razors, hones, brushes or whatever. If you're not prone to that then you can do fine with the items you're planning on getting.

BTW, I shave with a straight daily and if it wasn't the best shave I ever got in terms of closeness and comfort I would probably be shaving with the next best thing which for me personally is a slant DE with a Gillette Swede blade. So even though there is a learning curve before you reap the rewards stick with it and you will be glad that you did.

and don't ding your razor edge on the faucet!

I'm going along with the last few posts. I suspect straight shaving would be very cost effective if you were able to stick to one strop, one razor, one brush, and only buy soap or cream when you run out. However, it seems to become a passion/hobby/addiction after a short while. As Lynn likes to put it, there's not one experienced person here that doesn't strive for the perfect shave and perfect razor.
I'm very new to straight razor shaving and in addition to my favorite mug and grandfathers EverReady brush, I've already purchased two soaps, three creams, aftershave, after shave balm, and have my eye on a full razor set from SRD (this shavette thingy is for the birds). Incidentally SRD is partially run by Lynn, the founder of this site and a mentor to all.
Dward, nail on the head buddy. SWMBO is already starting to get 'the look' after those few things I mentioned. Can't wait to see what happens after I get the full setup. :cry::whipped:

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Originally Posted by SlickWillyTFCF

SWMBO is already starting to get 'the look' after those few things I mentioned. Can't wait to see what happens after I get the full setup. :cry::whipped:

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http://tohserver.com/%7Erobin/intern...n_fuer_ehe.jpg

As an aside, we have tried to compile relevant information for beginners in a PDF file, available from here if you click this link.

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Originally Posted by BeBerlin

http://tohserver.com/%7Erobin/intern...n_fuer_ehe.jpg

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Haha wow you guys are hilarious. I really hope I end up buying those things and start straight shaving when I get back to Toronto because I can just tell I'm gonna have a lot of fun on this site. I wasn't raised in North America, so I'm assuming there's a cultural or Westerner bias involved with this whole "acquisition disorder" concept, I find it thoroughly amusing. Thanks a lot for clarifying on the simplicity of this whole endeavour guys, it was very reassuring.

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Originally Posted by JFD

I'm assuming there's a cultural or Westerner bias involved with this whole "acquisition disorder" concept,

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Nah, it is a global phenomenon among straight razor shavers. Nobody is safe. You've been forewarned. :D

Even without AD, I would think that after you shave for a few months and are more experienced you may want to consider buying 1 or perhaps 2 more razors. It's just a practical matter.

If you have 2 razors honed shave-ready and use just one for a month, then start using the other on an every-other-day basis, then the first one will finally need to be honed about a month sooner than the second. Even if you have your own hones, you don't want to get halfway through a shave one morning and discover that your only razor is finally too dull to shave well with. And of course, if you chip or ding the edge, you may have to send it off for a repair and re-honing.

The third razor should be for travel (presuming you do that) and kept pretty sharp and unused except when you suddenly have to pack and go. It should be a plain, very economical razor, which will ease the pain somewhat if it's stolen from your checked luggage. (Realize that TSA will gladly confiscate it if you try to carry it on the plane.)

On the matter of cheap or not, I was shaving my first 2 or 3 months on a kit that cost less than $50. If I wanted to continue, add a barber hone for touch ups, so +$10-$20ish, and maybe a second razor to alternate, so, +$15-$30ish. That would be all I needed to shave for life. Now on the other hand, I like COLLECTING razors. I don't think I have RAD, just I-Wish-I-Had-That-Disorder, as I'm too cheap to shell out much for a razor. My only two razors that cost more than $15 were because they were deals I couldn't pass up ($200 razor going for $35, and a real beauty at that!, $100-$200ish razor going for $80 that I really really wanted). I just spent some money on a barber hone and a few finishers, and am about to buy a basic workhorse set so I can sharpen my collection. But all that is definitely not necessary, and by no means a rush. I save for a couple weeks, then buy a razor or a hone.