Suggested sticky for the "Newbies Corner"

I know I'm new here but it only takes a few pages of reading to see there are a number of posts that start with...

"I want to get started with straight razors but I'm on a tight budget."

...or something similar.

When I was searching for my set up it took me pages before I saw the suggestion of "The Filly" strop from RupRazor or the Van Der Hagen soap and brush that can be purchased at wal mart.

So my suggestion is a sticky or something similar on the site where you seasoned members can list where good (or at least non-worthless)beginner items can be found, for the beginners on a budget. Obviously razors would still be under the canned response of "it varies by person, read the wiki and visit the classifieds". Yet all the suggested items that go with the razor could be easier for us broke newbs to find.

or has this already been done and I somehow missed it.

I think that's an excellent idea. Why don't you draft it in the Wiki, and together we'll take it from there? Most of what you need should be in http://straightrazorpalace.com/newbi...resources.html (and similar threads).

Thanks in advance,
Robin

ok...

I'm not sure if you were being sarcastic when you said I should start a wiki article on this.

I've never written a wiki article before and I have yet to even use a straight razor (still waiting for my equipment to arrive).

At this point a smart person would say "I'm in over my head" and gracefully bow out.

I am not said person...

Beginners On A Budget/ - Straight Razor Place Wiki

...get a crackin' pros, this article needs your input (as well as numerous grammar corrections I'm sure).

I tried to write it as if I knew what I was talking about even though I was just regurgitating information from the smarter members here. Let me know if I did a good job at faking it.

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Originally Posted by TheBaron

ok...

I'm not sure if you were being sarcastic when you said I should start a wiki article on this.

I've never written a wiki article before and I have yet to even use a straight razor (still waiting for my equipment to arrive).

At this point a smart person would say "I'm in over my head" and gracefully bow out.

I am not said person...

Beginners On A Budget/ - Straight Razor Place Wiki

...get a crackin' pros, this article needs your input (as well as numerous grammar corrections I'm sure).

I tried to write it as if I knew what I was talking about even though I was just regurgitating information from the smarter members here. Let me know if I did a good job at faking it.

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Did a great job should be a writer. Do not think the statement was being sarcastic.
Thanks for the time and effort:tu

It's not as hard as it looks, eh!

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Originally Posted by TheBaron

ok... I'm not sure if you were being sarcastic when you said I should start a wiki article on this.

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I'm German. Due to a genetic enhancement, we do not do humour, or sarcasm.

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Originally Posted by TheBaron

Beginners On A Budget/ - Straight Razor Place Wiki

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To quote an unnamed source: "amazing what one can do when one doesn't know what one can't do". Seriously good stuff, for which many thanks.

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Originally Posted by TheBaron

...get a crackin' pros, this article needs your input (as well as numerous grammar corrections I'm sure).

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Well, I added some links: Buying a beginner's set on a budget - Straight Razor Place Wiki. Hope you like it.

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Originally Posted by TheBaron

I tried to write it as if I knew what I was talking about even though I was just regurgitating information from the smarter members here. Let me know if I did a good job at faking it.

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This site is about sharing, not outsmarting other members. The Wiki is as much of a community effort as are the forums. So, many thanks for your valuable contribution. We've wanted to write an article like that for quite some time... :)

Best regards,
Robin

Well I am glad you all liked it, and your update made it look pro Robin. Happy I could offer something back after all the help I've already gotten here. Hopefully we get some more links and info up there from the community.

I tried to make my links to products manufacturers site, as opposed to the sellers. I wanted to link to the product without suggesting to buy from a particular vendor. I wasn't sure what the rules are for linking to specific retailers on the wiki so I figured I'd play it safe.

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Originally Posted by TheBaron

Well I am glad you all liked it, and your update made it look pro Robin. Happy I could offer something back after all the help I've already gotten here. Hopefully we get some more links and info up there from the community.

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Thanks. It will improve over time. I think it will eventually be merged, or at least prominently linked to, the beginners' guide. We might also want to link to Category:Do It Yourself - Straight Razor Place Wiki. There's some seriously good stuff in there.

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Originally Posted by TheBaron

I tried to make my links to products manufacturers site, as opposed to the sellers. I wanted to link to the product without suggesting to buy from a particular vendor. I wasn't sure what the rules are for linking to specific retailers on the wiki so I figured I'd play it safe.

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You did very well. Preferably, the links should point to our reviews section, I think. Not sure whether all your products have been reviewed yet, though.

I started the creams section. But only because I was so impressed with your willingnes to jump in and write.

And I can attest that Robin doesn't get sarcastic :)

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Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I started the creams section. But only because I was so impressed with your willingnes to jump in and write.

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Just added the DIY bit.

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Originally Posted by AFDavis11

And I can attest that Robin doesn't get sarcastic :)

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Talking about saving face, and all that...

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Originally Posted by TheBaron

Well I am glad you all liked it, and your update made it look pro Robin. Happy I could offer something back after all the help I've already gotten here. Hopefully we get some more links and info up there from the community.

I tried to make my links to products manufacturers site, as opposed to the sellers. I wanted to link to the product without suggesting to buy from a particular vendor. I wasn't sure what the rules are for linking to specific retailers on the wiki so I figured I'd play it safe.

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I added a few items you can buy retail. I noticed that there's a paragraph about buying Proraso in Target -- I don't think that's correct but I left it there because I'm honestly not positive on that. Bath & Body Works carries rebranded Proraso sold as C.O. Bigelow.

I can add some sources of Naniwa, and alternatives, since I have no access to the page maybe a moderator can modify the section for me?
Just shoot me a pm if interested

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Originally Posted by mainaman

I can add some sources of Naniwa, and alternatives, since I have no access to the page maybe a moderator can modify the section for me?
Just shoot me a pm if interested

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Log in here:
Log in / create account - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Information on writing wiki articles is here:
How to write a Wiki article - Straight Razor Place Wiki

:tu

Added a bunch of sites that sell @ reasonable prices , not only Naniwa, but other great stones including naturals.
By the way if anyone is interested I know where one can get baseless 2cm 12k Naniwa SS at a very reasonable price imo.

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Originally Posted by mainaman

Added a bunch of sites that sell @ reasonable prices , not only Naniwa, but other great stones including naturals.

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i don't think these are appropriate for newbies on a small budget, so i changed that section altogether to say the completely opposite thing.
i like wiki, nothing's ever lost so we still have the links if we decide they're actually useful.

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Originally Posted by gugi

i don't think these are appropriate for newbies on a small budget, so i changed that section altogether to say the completely opposite thing.

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The one thing I like about Wikis is that they improve over time. Just question everything.

Robin,

Might I reference an old thread from RayG? This was a big help for me starting out....


http://straightrazorpalace.com/newbi...irt-cheap.html

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Originally Posted by Oglethorpe

Robin,

Might I reference an old thread from RayG? This was a big help for me starting out....


http://straightrazorpalace.com/newbi...irt-cheap.html

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I actually used that page as refrence when I created the article, I think I only took from the strop section at the time so i'm sure there's plenty more information that can be pulled from that page.

I think his thread is useful, but looking back the current wiki looks better and cheaper.

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Originally Posted by khaos

I think his thread is useful, but looking back the current wiki looks better and cheaper.

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I'm speaking from personal experience, and I've used Ray's list basically to a T (Ogallala, Filly, AS's, etc). Getting started, I did it all for about 70 bucks, and that was with spending 50 bucks on a vintage razor in excellent condition from the Classifieds.

VDH and Williams can/should be avoided IMO, because they can be murder on your skin if you are sensitive. Might as well use bar soap.

So, since it's all a matter of preference or what works best for you, it's best not to deal in absolutes (i.e. "better") but to consider as many of the inexpensive options as possible. We all know there are threads about every product imaginable. My reason for suggesting Ray's thread was not because I thought it was better, but because it provided several options that newbs could research on their own.

I made out like a bandit as a result (of course now I've spent a stupid amount of money on this stuff since I've gotten started).

Ogie

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Originally Posted by Oglethorpe

VDH and Williams can/should be avoided IMO, because they can be murder on your skin if you are sensitive. Might as well use bar soap.

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perhaps it should be noted, asterisked, or footnoted on the wiki for soap that are not good for sensitive skin. Perhaps even add a sensitive skin friendly budget soap to the list.

I have super sensitive skin so even if I was going for budget items I would want to make sure I didn't use anything that is harsh for my skin and would be willing to up my budget for soap that suits my skin better.

However if I did not have sensitive skin I would probably say, hey I can go get that stuff at walmart right now for $10 and try it out, and if it's crap I can always replace the soap but then I have a starter brush and bowl.

Just saying, cus I was shaving for <$45 for 2 or 3 months.

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Originally Posted by TheBaron

However if I did not have sensitive skin I would probably say, hey I can go get that stuff at walmart right now for $10 and try it out, and if it's crap I can always replace the soap but then I have a starter brush and bowl.

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Exactly. You can add colonel conk for $3.50, or TGQ for around that much, etc.

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Originally Posted by khaos

Just saying, cus I was shaving for <$45 for 2 or 3 months.

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It's certainly possible... Like I said in my post, I bucked up for my first razor (more than your $45 initial outlay) and still came in at under $70. My point is, there are plenty of options. I wasn't taking offense to the post, just saying that to call one thing "better" while actually just different is doing a disservice to the newbs!

P.S. The conk pucks are the 1oz for the cheap ones. Those $4 Ogallalas are 4 oz.

Cheers!

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Originally Posted by TheBaron

perhaps it should be noted, asterisked, or footnoted on the wiki for soap that are not good for sensitive skin.

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You can now do that by using the following in the article:

Code:

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<ref>This is a reference</ref>

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It will come up at the bottom of the page.

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Originally Posted by Oglethorpe

It's certainly possible... Like I said in my post, I bucked up for my first razor (more than your $45 initial outlay) and still came in at under $70. My point is, there are plenty of options. I wasn't taking offense to the post, just saying that to call one thing "better" while actually just different is doing a disservice to the newbs!

P.S. The conk pucks are the 1oz for the cheap ones. Those $4 Ogallalas are 4 oz.

Cheers!

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I stand corrected. I now appreciate the deal I got a lot more! SRD was selling them here for $3.50 for the big one I think. I may be looking to pass it on so we'll see.

I added links in the refrence section to SRP, SRP Newbies Section, and SRP Review secion for refrence and further reading.

I also did my best to add the footnote about the particular soaps not being suggested for sensative skin.

Not sure I liked how it came out but I'm still learning wiki tags and formating.

Anyone know a good budget soap good for sensative skin they can add to the article to offset the entry for non sensative skin?

Now that I am thinking about it, I'll stick my neck out and say that the "honing" section shouldn't really be completely blank should it? I mean, the Filly comes with CrO, so surely paste is a newbie-compatible thing. Maybe we should include the make your own pasted strop/paddle for <$10 link? I know its in the wiki somewheres.

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Originally Posted by khaos

Now that I am thinking about it, I'll stick my neck out and say that the "honing" section shouldn't really be completely blank should it? I mean, the Filly comes with CrO, so surely paste is a newbie-compatible thing. Maybe we should include the make your own pasted strop/paddle for <$10 link? I know its in the wiki somewheres.

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I could see the honing section listing a barber's hone or some honing paste for the purpose of upkeep on your razors edge (for those beginners to honing).

Although I imagine the entry already there about sending the razor out to be honed is also a valid point for maintaining the edge.

Possibly also adding a link to the wiki on honing for the beginners that want to get into more advanced honing/restoration.

although I'll leave that entry to someone with more experience than myself.

Barber's hone = expensive (comparitively)
This is a cheap section remember?

http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...ravel-kit.html

Here is one we did long ago

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Originally Posted by khaos

Barber's hone = expensive (comparitively)
This is a cheap section remember?

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I'm aware this is the budget section, I am a newb myself and have not yet priced a single honing product. I was just using Barber's Hone as an example of honing product that exists. Allow me to reword that...

If there is a reputable product out there to hone your razor simply for basic edge upkeep and it is reasonably priced comparative to other fancier honing products. I don't see why It couldn't be added to the statement that is currently listed in the article. :)

There are already multiple hone/honing references in the Wiki from Barber's hones to Shapton's and beyond... I think you guys were on the right track with getting beginners "shaving on a budget" but once people are ready to look at hones they should be able to find the other info....

let me emphasize glen's post.
we're talking low cost here no?
newbies should just stay away from abrasives, there's no faster way to dull a blade while thinking that you're actually sharpening it (breadknifing is faster).

once guys who don't even know how to shave start looking into abrasives the budget should be increased to acomodate a honing job to fix the damage.

touche.
I was just saying CrO, cus the Filly has it and I've it useful. Granted I like and use the Swaty more, but before I had that it was CrO a little and CeO more so on balsa.
I mean, you can roll your edge on a strop and you're not gonna take strops off of there cus of incorrect use right?
I agree honing should be kept out. But strop paste could be a good thing, if used right. That's the last I'll say cus I don't wanna get in over my head. Just IME, strop paste is only slightly harder than stropping. Just need to add the caveat that "if you use strop paste, read up about where to get it, how to apply it, and how to use it before you actually do".

actually all the honemeisters i respect do take the stropping out of it by sending out the razors 'shave ready', i.e. already stropped and telling the new person to just rinse the oil.

i know that some strop makers put a paste on their strops, but it's like manufacturers shipping cars able to run at over twice the speed limits - the availability doesn't mean trying to use it is a great idea.


one of my favorite pieces of wisdom:

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Originally Posted by Alan

Most guys just end up with a stone that is waaaaay too fast, but don't get the concept at all. Its like telling someone they can't handle their hot wife, their fast car, or their credit card limit. Its a bad subject; truth or not. Then, on top of that, everyone wants to do whatever they want to do.

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from what i've seen during my time on these forums if people were actually on a very small budget and not just being cheap the whole straight shaving thing would go a whole lot better for them.